After spending his junior years racing with the Team Ohten Aveas, Scottish climber Callum Twelves set off for Spain as a first year under-23 last season, the Rayner Foundation supported rider finding a home, and a team, in the north of the country.
This year it’s about getting some results
Now a second year under-23, The British Continental caught up with the 20-year-old at the National Track Championships in Manchester where he was competing in the scratch and points races, to find out about racing in Spain, combining road and track racing, and his aims for 2024 and beyond.
Tell us about the team you have been with in Spain since last year?
So I’m riding for a Spanish team, the Fernando Barceló team, who’s a rider for Caja Rural, with the title sponsors Torres-Trigon. It’s an under-23 team in Spain. We ride the Copa de España and this year we’ve got some UCI races planned all over Europe, mostly in Portugal and Spain.
Why did you choose Spain as the destination for your first U23 year?
I’ve had this question a few times! The weather is obviously great. I’m quite a lightweight rider so the hillier races, I’m hoping, suit me; I’ve not found my legs on the big mountains yet – although I am quite a light rider, I’m not light enough to be on those big climbs.
It’s the culture as well, when I was younger I went on holiday there and the country is just amazing.
You raced in Belgium as a junior, is the racing in Spain different?
It’s completely different, in Belgium it’s just wild. 100km races as a junior, and it’s full on. Whereas in Spain, it’s more of a ‘typical’ racing style, so the break will form, a team will take control and then in the last 40km the race gets going again.
How much did you learn in Spain last year, your first as an under-23?
My learning was incredible, not just racing but language, friends, living on my own for the first time, cooking on my own for the first time! And then the racing, learning how to ride in the wheels of a proper team, racing to plans, riding in crosswinds.
Abergavenny, Wales. 28 August, 2021. Callum Twelves, East Mids. Image: David Partridge
Does racing as a junior in Britain prepare you well for racing abroad as an under-23?
The standard of junior racing in the UK is incredible, plus the races we get to do when we go over to Belgium, it benefits you in multiple ways. I also got to race in Spain as a second year junior. Also, racing on the track as a junior is a great skill to have, especially combined with road racing, it’s really good.
We’re here at the National Track Championships, and you started your season with a road race in Spain two weeks ago. How do you combine both disciplines?
It’s a difficult one. Now I’m living in Spain I’m spending most of my time as a road rider and I’m expected to race on the road. But my team are incredibly supportive of racing on the track – they realise I can get results racing on the track. It’s something I really enjoy and it’s a skill that carries over – quick thinking, tactics – in the final of a big race it can be very useful.
What are your aims for this season?
This year it’s about getting some results, on the track this weekend, and also on the road. It’s learning which races I want to achieve in and how I’m going to achieve in them and getting some support from the team in those races.
Josh Tarling is my age, seeing him win the time trial at O Gran Camiño this week I have to remind myself he’s the best in the world
Riders are turning professional at an increasingly young age. Do you feel any pressure seeing your peers in the professional ranks?
Josh Tarling is my age, seeing him win the time trial at O Gran Camiño this week I have to remind myself he’s the best in the world. I’m 20 today, I’m still young! To be a pro on the road, that’s the big goal, and combining that with track racing is also a goal.
Are you getting any support with your track racing from British Cycling?
This winter I’ve been a guest on some of their sessions, but track racing, I’m fully self-funded and self-coached, and it’s been difficult. I’ve never had support from British Cycling, even as a youth, never on any of the programmes. But, I’ve found my way through, and I still enjoy it.
After spending his junior years racing with the Team Ohten Aveas, Scottish climber Callum Twelves set off for Spain as a first year under-23 last season, the Rayner Foundation supported rider finding a home, and a team, in the north of the country.
Now a second year under-23, The British Continental caught up with the 20-year-old at the National Track Championships in Manchester where he was competing in the scratch and points races, to find out about racing in Spain, combining road and track racing, and his aims for 2024 and beyond.
Tell us about the team you have been with in Spain since last year?
So I’m riding for a Spanish team, the Fernando Barceló team, who’s a rider for Caja Rural, with the title sponsors Torres-Trigon. It’s an under-23 team in Spain. We ride the Copa de España and this year we’ve got some UCI races planned all over Europe, mostly in Portugal and Spain.
Why did you choose Spain as the destination for your first U23 year?
I’ve had this question a few times! The weather is obviously great. I’m quite a lightweight rider so the hillier races, I’m hoping, suit me; I’ve not found my legs on the big mountains yet – although I am quite a light rider, I’m not light enough to be on those big climbs.
It’s the culture as well, when I was younger I went on holiday there and the country is just amazing.
You raced in Belgium as a junior, is the racing in Spain different?
It’s completely different, in Belgium it’s just wild. 100km races as a junior, and it’s full on. Whereas in Spain, it’s more of a ‘typical’ racing style, so the break will form, a team will take control and then in the last 40km the race gets going again.
How much did you learn in Spain last year, your first as an under-23?
My learning was incredible, not just racing but language, friends, living on my own for the first time, cooking on my own for the first time! And then the racing, learning how to ride in the wheels of a proper team, racing to plans, riding in crosswinds.
Does racing as a junior in Britain prepare you well for racing abroad as an under-23?
The standard of junior racing in the UK is incredible, plus the races we get to do when we go over to Belgium, it benefits you in multiple ways. I also got to race in Spain as a second year junior. Also, racing on the track as a junior is a great skill to have, especially combined with road racing, it’s really good.
We’re here at the National Track Championships, and you started your season with a road race in Spain two weeks ago. How do you combine both disciplines?
It’s a difficult one. Now I’m living in Spain I’m spending most of my time as a road rider and I’m expected to race on the road. But my team are incredibly supportive of racing on the track – they realise I can get results racing on the track. It’s something I really enjoy and it’s a skill that carries over – quick thinking, tactics – in the final of a big race it can be very useful.
What are your aims for this season?
This year it’s about getting some results, on the track this weekend, and also on the road. It’s learning which races I want to achieve in and how I’m going to achieve in them and getting some support from the team in those races.
Riders are turning professional at an increasingly young age. Do you feel any pressure seeing your peers in the professional ranks?
Josh Tarling is my age, seeing him win the time trial at O Gran Camiño this week I have to remind myself he’s the best in the world. I’m 20 today, I’m still young! To be a pro on the road, that’s the big goal, and combining that with track racing is also a goal.
Are you getting any support with your track racing from British Cycling?
This winter I’ve been a guest on some of their sessions, but track racing, I’m fully self-funded and self-coached, and it’s been difficult. I’ve never had support from British Cycling, even as a youth, never on any of the programmes. But, I’ve found my way through, and I still enjoy it.
Featured image: Eriz Fraile
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.