We’re delighted to kick off of our 2024 journals series by introducing our new team of journal contributors.
Last year’s contributors Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck), the latter now a Women’s WorldTour rider no less, will continue delivering their special brand of unique insights for us this year. Alongside this pair, we have an expanded team of new contributors who promise to bring an exciting and varied insight into road racing both home and abroad.
First up is 22-year-old Lucy Gadd. Born into a family of musicians, with a mother who is a music lecturer, a father holding a PhD in Music, and a brother pursuing opera, Lucy’s affinity for physical activity led her down a very different road.
Lucy joined Storey Racing in 2019, a team dedicated to nurturing young talents. Under the guidance of Sarah and Barney Storey, she flourished both as a rider and an individual, discovering her strengths and gaining confidence in her abilities.
Standout results in her 2022 season, including podiums in the national under-23 time trial championships and the Route Féminine de Loire Atlantique, led her to a contract with the French UCI Continental team Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team last year.
However, it was a tumultuous season for Lucy, as she explains below, facing setbacks like battling COVID during races and witnessing the dissolution of her team due to sponsorship issues.
Opting to ride independently in 2024 after her annus horribilis, Lucy is now seeking to rediscover the joy of cycling and rebuild her confidence free from the pressures and responsibilities of a team environment.
Image: supplied
Tell us how you got into racing bikes.
I don’t come from a sporty family, rather they are all musical. My mum is a music lecturer, my dad has a PhD in Music, and my brother is training as an opera singer! Although I tried, music just wasn’t the path I was going to take. Instead, I loved to be physically active, whether going to ballet class or competing in sports at school. Back in 2011 an Olympic-sized velodrome was built in Bournemouth (my hometown) which my dad had read about in the paper. One afternoon we went to have a look at it. One thing led to another, and at 10 years old I joined the Saturday morning kids’ sessions. I raced first in cyclocross, then at 13 on the track, then two years later I did my first road race.
How would you describe yourself as a rider?
Honestly, I love every style of riding and terrain. I used to love a bit of track sprinting, but I also love suffering super long days on the bike, whether that be in the mountains, or exploring on gravel. I’d say I am a rouleur-type of rider – I can get over punchy, draggy climbs and have a sprint left at the end.
My main skill is time trialling. I learnt the art during lockdown when there was no other racing to do, and I absolutely loved it! I feel that this is the most controllable type of race – you get out what you put in.
The ethos of the team was to be the ‘Best Version of You’, so any pressure that I felt had to come from me, rather than anyone else. This suited my personality perfectly and is where I learnt to race and find my strengths
You spent several years on the Storey Racing team. Tell us what that was like.
I joined Storey Racing back in 2019 when Sarah and Barney had decided to focus their team on developing younger riders. This was the real turning point in my cycling journey. I was under their wing for four years, and Sarah was my personal coach too which worked well. The ethos of the team was to be the ‘Best Version of You’, so any pressure that I felt had to come from me, rather than anyone else. This suited my personality perfectly and is where I learnt to race and find my strengths. I had great opportunities here and really found my place in the peloton. I gained confidence in myself and felt I had an extended family supporting me all the way.
2021 HSBC UK British Cycling Championship, Road. Circuit Race, Women – Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England – Lucy Gadd of Team Storey Racing in action. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
You rode for the ill-fated Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team last season. Tell us about the experience of racing in France for a UCI Continental team. And how did you handle the news that the team was going to fold?
I signed a 2-year deal with SRCM in July 2022 and went out to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Paris to meet up with them. I was in awe and could not believe I was going to race with this professional team. We had our first ‘stage’ in La Rochelle in December where I got to meet everyone. It was exciting, but a big cultural shock. I learnt French in school and studied it up until university, but having to converse in French the moment I arrived meant I certainly felt as though I had been thrown into the deep end.
The race season started very early in Spain with three back-to-back UCI 1.1 races. I absolutely loved them! I raced aggressively, confidently and got my first UCI points. It was the dream start to the year for me.
I raced Omloop van Het Hageland and Le Samyn whilst I was very unwell, but I felt like I had to put my trust the team, and they wanted me to race. It took me until off season in October to recover
Unfortunately, it started to go downhill from there. At the end of February, we had a race block in Belgium and I caught COVID for the first time. I raced Omloop van Het Hageland and Le Samyn whilst I was very unwell, but I felt like I had to put my trust the team, and they wanted me to race. It took me until off season in October to recover from this experience. Still, those two races were an amazing experience, and I loved the brutality of them. Racing on the narrow, and cobbled roads of northern Europe is a proper battle. I found I had the legs, but not the lungs to race aggressively. However, I finished in esteemed company and was very proud of what I achieved.
The next month went by and I started to notice a change in dynamics within the team – between riders and staff. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I just tried to stay focused on my training and to race to the best of my ability. We raced Paris Roubaix which was one of the best days of my life. I had not fully recovered from the virus, but I gave it my all and it was such a cool event to be a part of. I was probably the biggest fan on that start line! My family came out to watch too and it was such an emotional experience when I arrived in the velodrome and crossed that finish line.
Eventually, in May, we were told that the title sponsor had pulled out because we were not selected for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We were told that to protect our salaries, we would not race again in 2023. We had the opportunity to transfer to a new team if we could find one, but my confidence had been totally knocked. I believed it was not worth trying to find somewhere else as I wasn’t good enough to be there.
2023 British National Road Championships – Croft Circuit, Darlington, England – Women’s U23 Time Trial – Lucy Gadd of Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
A couple of weeks later we had a team call in which we were told we would be racing again in August and September. This was a very challenging couple of months for me as there was a lot of miscommunication and uncertainty. I was grateful that I had my part-time job in the UK and could continue training and pay my bills, while knowing most of my teammates who were full-time riders couldn’t do this. This was a stressful time for us all.
Ultimately, my year ended at GP Plouay, followed by the Tour de l’Ardèche. I was involved in a high-speed crash in the downhill sprint on stage 2 of the tour and that was that. I haven’t seen the team since I was whisked away in the ambulance in the centre of Nîmes that day.
The past year has certainly been character building, and I have learnt so much about myself and what I value. It is so disappointing that the team broke down the way it did, but I look back on the experience a stronger person and rider.
My goals are to learn to enjoy racing my bike again and build up my self-confidence
Why have you opted not to ride for a team in 2024? And what are your racing plans this season?
By choice I have opted to race independently in 2024. After the stress and frankly painful ordeal of the last 12 months, I felt like I needed a break from a team environment. I had initially signed with a different UCI team but have since resigned from that agreement – I didn’t feel ready. My goals are to learn to enjoy racing my bike again and build up my self-confidence.
Since the crash in September, I have been recovering physically and mentally, and have made great progress. Riding my bike again was a big step, as was cycling outside on open roads with cars
Since the crash in September, I have been recovering physically and mentally, and have made great progress. Riding my bike again was a big step, as was cycling outside on open roads with cars. In December I went to Mallorca to train. The first descent was a challenge, and I cried all the way down as I was so terrified of something being in the road and not being able to stop. I am happy to say that after more miles and mountains that trip, I am riding almost as confidently as I was before. It will be interesting to see how I cope emotionally when the race season starts next month.
I will be racing predominantly in the UK this year, including the National Series and National Championships. I will also be doing some more gravel as part of my goal to have fun whilst racing my bike! I will of course be documenting my season. Let’s see how it pans out.
We’re delighted to kick off of our 2024 journals series by introducing our new team of journal contributors.
Last year’s contributors Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck), the latter now a Women’s WorldTour rider no less, will continue delivering their special brand of unique insights for us this year. Alongside this pair, we have an expanded team of new contributors who promise to bring an exciting and varied insight into road racing both home and abroad.
First up is 22-year-old Lucy Gadd. Born into a family of musicians, with a mother who is a music lecturer, a father holding a PhD in Music, and a brother pursuing opera, Lucy’s affinity for physical activity led her down a very different road.
Lucy joined Storey Racing in 2019, a team dedicated to nurturing young talents. Under the guidance of Sarah and Barney Storey, she flourished both as a rider and an individual, discovering her strengths and gaining confidence in her abilities.
Standout results in her 2022 season, including podiums in the national under-23 time trial championships and the Route Féminine de Loire Atlantique, led her to a contract with the French UCI Continental team Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team last year.
However, it was a tumultuous season for Lucy, as she explains below, facing setbacks like battling COVID during races and witnessing the dissolution of her team due to sponsorship issues.
Opting to ride independently in 2024 after her annus horribilis, Lucy is now seeking to rediscover the joy of cycling and rebuild her confidence free from the pressures and responsibilities of a team environment.
Tell us how you got into racing bikes.
I don’t come from a sporty family, rather they are all musical. My mum is a music lecturer, my dad has a PhD in Music, and my brother is training as an opera singer! Although I tried, music just wasn’t the path I was going to take. Instead, I loved to be physically active, whether going to ballet class or competing in sports at school. Back in 2011 an Olympic-sized velodrome was built in Bournemouth (my hometown) which my dad had read about in the paper. One afternoon we went to have a look at it. One thing led to another, and at 10 years old I joined the Saturday morning kids’ sessions. I raced first in cyclocross, then at 13 on the track, then two years later I did my first road race.
How would you describe yourself as a rider?
Honestly, I love every style of riding and terrain. I used to love a bit of track sprinting, but I also love suffering super long days on the bike, whether that be in the mountains, or exploring on gravel. I’d say I am a rouleur-type of rider – I can get over punchy, draggy climbs and have a sprint left at the end.
My main skill is time trialling. I learnt the art during lockdown when there was no other racing to do, and I absolutely loved it! I feel that this is the most controllable type of race – you get out what you put in.
You spent several years on the Storey Racing team. Tell us what that was like.
I joined Storey Racing back in 2019 when Sarah and Barney had decided to focus their team on developing younger riders. This was the real turning point in my cycling journey. I was under their wing for four years, and Sarah was my personal coach too which worked well. The ethos of the team was to be the ‘Best Version of You’, so any pressure that I felt had to come from me, rather than anyone else. This suited my personality perfectly and is where I learnt to race and find my strengths. I had great opportunities here and really found my place in the peloton. I gained confidence in myself and felt I had an extended family supporting me all the way.
You rode for the ill-fated Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team last season. Tell us about the experience of racing in France for a UCI Continental team. And how did you handle the news that the team was going to fold?
I signed a 2-year deal with SRCM in July 2022 and went out to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Paris to meet up with them. I was in awe and could not believe I was going to race with this professional team. We had our first ‘stage’ in La Rochelle in December where I got to meet everyone. It was exciting, but a big cultural shock. I learnt French in school and studied it up until university, but having to converse in French the moment I arrived meant I certainly felt as though I had been thrown into the deep end.
The race season started very early in Spain with three back-to-back UCI 1.1 races. I absolutely loved them! I raced aggressively, confidently and got my first UCI points. It was the dream start to the year for me.
Unfortunately, it started to go downhill from there. At the end of February, we had a race block in Belgium and I caught COVID for the first time. I raced Omloop van Het Hageland and Le Samyn whilst I was very unwell, but I felt like I had to put my trust the team, and they wanted me to race. It took me until off season in October to recover from this experience. Still, those two races were an amazing experience, and I loved the brutality of them. Racing on the narrow, and cobbled roads of northern Europe is a proper battle. I found I had the legs, but not the lungs to race aggressively. However, I finished in esteemed company and was very proud of what I achieved.
The next month went by and I started to notice a change in dynamics within the team – between riders and staff. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I just tried to stay focused on my training and to race to the best of my ability. We raced Paris Roubaix which was one of the best days of my life. I had not fully recovered from the virus, but I gave it my all and it was such a cool event to be a part of. I was probably the biggest fan on that start line! My family came out to watch too and it was such an emotional experience when I arrived in the velodrome and crossed that finish line.
Eventually, in May, we were told that the title sponsor had pulled out because we were not selected for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We were told that to protect our salaries, we would not race again in 2023. We had the opportunity to transfer to a new team if we could find one, but my confidence had been totally knocked. I believed it was not worth trying to find somewhere else as I wasn’t good enough to be there.
A couple of weeks later we had a team call in which we were told we would be racing again in August and September. This was a very challenging couple of months for me as there was a lot of miscommunication and uncertainty. I was grateful that I had my part-time job in the UK and could continue training and pay my bills, while knowing most of my teammates who were full-time riders couldn’t do this. This was a stressful time for us all.
Ultimately, my year ended at GP Plouay, followed by the Tour de l’Ardèche. I was involved in a high-speed crash in the downhill sprint on stage 2 of the tour and that was that. I haven’t seen the team since I was whisked away in the ambulance in the centre of Nîmes that day.
The past year has certainly been character building, and I have learnt so much about myself and what I value. It is so disappointing that the team broke down the way it did, but I look back on the experience a stronger person and rider.
Why have you opted not to ride for a team in 2024? And what are your racing plans this season?
By choice I have opted to race independently in 2024. After the stress and frankly painful ordeal of the last 12 months, I felt like I needed a break from a team environment. I had initially signed with a different UCI team but have since resigned from that agreement – I didn’t feel ready. My goals are to learn to enjoy racing my bike again and build up my self-confidence.
Since the crash in September, I have been recovering physically and mentally, and have made great progress. Riding my bike again was a big step, as was cycling outside on open roads with cars
Since the crash in September, I have been recovering physically and mentally, and have made great progress. Riding my bike again was a big step, as was cycling outside on open roads with cars. In December I went to Mallorca to train. The first descent was a challenge, and I cried all the way down as I was so terrified of something being in the road and not being able to stop. I am happy to say that after more miles and mountains that trip, I am riding almost as confidently as I was before. It will be interesting to see how I cope emotionally when the race season starts next month.
I will be racing predominantly in the UK this year, including the National Series and National Championships. I will also be doing some more gravel as part of my goal to have fun whilst racing my bike! I will of course be documenting my season. Let’s see how it pans out.
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