Teenage Cyclo-Cross Rider Pursues Olympic Ambition

A young cyclist, Lauren Fox, 13, is aiming for a national championship in cyclo-cross and holds an Olympic aspiration that her family now shares as a collective goal. Lauren, who participates in competitions with her 16-year-old sister Eva, currently ranks second in the sport’s national league. Cyclo-cross combines elements of road cycling, mountain biking, and steeplechase, requiring riders to dismount and run over obstacles like stairs, hurdles, and steep embankments. Although residing in St Ives, Lauren and Eva belong to a club located in Devon, necessitating regular 117-mile (188km) journeys from their hometown to Torbay for training sessions. The family expressed that these trips are justified by the enjoyment the sisters derive from their sport. Lauren stated, “I just always had a love for cycling since being a young girl.” While cyclo-cross is not yet an Olympic discipline, Lauren also trains in track and road cycling, anticipating the opportunity to showcase her abilities on an international platform. She added, “I always dreamed of being in the Olympics, of turning pro.” Lauren acknowledged the competitive nature of the sport, noting, “It’s very hard… there are five of us girls who are really close in the league and we’re battling it out.” She explained that her passion for cycling originated during her participation in triathlons, prior to her discovery of cyclo-cross. The skilled teenager, representing Mid Devon Cycling Club, has already secured victory in the initial round of the national competition within the under-14s category. She mentioned that the two sisters “spur each other on,” and that their shared activity has evolved into a “family thing.” Her mother, Keely Walton, who operates a cafe in St Ives with her partner James Fox, affirmed the value of the long-distance training trips. Ms. Walton commented, “It’s a long way, it’s about two hours every fortnight.” She further praised the club, stating, “They’re such a good club and the support Lauren’s received, and us as a family, they’re just a great club to ride for.” Describing Lauren’s enthusiasm for the sport, Ms. Walton said, “Lauren just loves the mixture you get with cyclo-cross – you get mud, you get grass, sand and it’s 30 minutes of giving it your absolute all and you just never know what you’re going to get.” She added, “And if it rains, there’s a lot of mud.” Ms. Walton also noted that the girls’ father frequently spends time with “mud up to his knees” cleaning their bicycles. Due to insufficient facilities in their hometown, the family occasionally trains at their local rugby club, where they construct a course. Lauren competed in the national cyclo-cross league event held in Torbay, achieving a fourth-place overall finish in the under-14 girls category. For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.