Halesowen Academy's Pat Fotheringham joins the 2024 journal team, bringing a unique cycling journey and a commitment to mentorship and race organisation.
The strength in the depth of the applicants for our 2024 journal series was such that we could not resist recruiting more writers than we had originally intended. To that end, we are pleased to announce that Pat Fotheringham is the latest addition to the 2024 team, following the arrivals of Lucy Gadd and Max Cushway.
As a member of the Halesowen Academy-Mapei, Patrick is part of a vibrant community that nurtures talent and fosters success, illustrated by the Academy’s impressive alumni, such as Joe Brookes, one of the domestic peloton’s breakthrough riders in 2023.
He might be the son of renowned cycling journalist William Fotheringham but, contrary to expectations, Patrick’s journey has been uniquely his own, shaped by his decisions and supported, but never overshadowed, by his father’s legacy.
Patrick’s commitment to cycling extends beyond competition; he is deeply involved in race organisation. And through organising the Nick Clayton Memorial RR, he honours the memory of a beloved friend and contributes to the vibrant cycling culture in the West Midlands.
On the bike, Patrick envisions his role this year as akin to a seasoned mentor, sharing his wealth of experience to guide and inspire the next generation of cyclists.
Tell us a bit about your journey into road racing.
I started racing age 11 at Halesowen Friday Night Track League, progressing my way up the categories until about age 14 where I decided I wanted to race more and more frequently. So, I started at some local circuit races, mainly ones where my Dad could race in the adult race after, as well as youth omniums. However, during these years cycling was playing second fiddle to rugby, which was essentially full time alongside school; there would be days I would do almost five hours of rugby, with PE, school training and club training, and sometimes playing three games a week. It was intense, but the group we had embraced it and made the most of it. At this age, cycling was just something I enjoyed doing, it was different. But as so often happens with youth athletes, the sheer volume caught up with me, the injuries picked up and the love for the sport decreased. And as rugby fizzled out in my life, the spark switched to cycling.
I struggled in my years as a junior. Not small enough to go up hills quick, or tall enough to put out good power
I started to ride every day I could, on the rollers, mountain bike or road after school when the light allowed. In the summer of my last year as a youth, I was able to race alongside the adults on closed circuits, mainly on airfields or motor racing circuits. Bigger bunches, faster racing and wide, open circuits really caught my attention, giving a taste of what road racing would be like.
I struggled in my years as a junior. Not small enough to go up hills quick, or tall enough to put out good power, I had fast legs from years of track racing and no shame when it came to getting a kicking, so I learnt how to survive. I wasn’t too bothered, I enjoyed it, and results came when they came. The opportunity to ride the Junior Tour of Wales arose, which was to be my first taste of high-level racing. It was brutal, but so worth it. A core memory of road racing was the final stage to the Tumble Mountain; torrential rain, I got dropped up the first climb, and found myself in a group of four just off the back of the convoy for 50km. In a lay-by somewhere near Abergavenny was a feed station, where the other three climbed off, and my Dad asked if I wanted to carry on. I did and subsequently rode the rest of the race on my own, accompanied by the broom wagon, crawling up the misty mountain and into the car waiting for me at the summit. I finished dead last, aeons down on winner and now WorldTour pro Eddie Dunbar. It would have been easy to climb off, but for me at 16, giving up just didn’t seem like an option.
I had truly caught the bug, absolutely obsessed with racing push bikes. The more I did, the better I got and the more I loved it, so the more I did. It was a whirlwind that led me to taking a gap year after college, with the dream of racing in Belgium
I had truly caught the bug, absolutely obsessed with racing push bikes. The more I did, the better I got and the more I loved it, so the more I did. It was a whirlwind that led me to taking a gap year after college, with the dream of racing in Belgium. However, such is the way with cycling, I fell into the trap of over-training and under-eating the winter before. I have never been the smallest, gifted with a frame built for a rugby, but I naively let people I respected into making me believe I needed to lose weight, thus starting a painful cycle of barely eating and riding as much as possible. This resulted in a massive dip in form, poor health that took two years to recover from and sabotaged any chance I ever had of making the most of the opportunity to race in Belgium. The U23/Elite z.c races in Belgium are savage, full gas and on fiercely technical circuits. Anything less than ideal preparation and top form, it won’t be pretty. Thus, it was like a lamb to the slaughter. Despite this, it was a great life experience, unforgettable for better reasons and times to those when I had a number pinned on.
Image: Mick Bown
After this, I made the conscious decision to make sure cycling was a positive part of my life. The experience I had in Belgium made me question it as a part of my life, but in a sense of making sure it was something I enjoyed, an escape and my happiness. Since then, I have only taken cycling as seriously as I wanted to at the time. I’ve had years where it has taken the back foot. I’ve had years where I have thrown myself at it with everything I have. There have been wins and podiums. There have been god-awful moments. But most importantly, it has remained a huge part of my life. 2024 will mark my 10th year of road racing (would be 11 if not for the Pandemic).
Perhaps a tricky question to answer succinctly, but how has having a famous cycling journalist as a Dad influenced you as a rider?
In all honesty, probably less than most might think. There have been times where I have been referred to as William Fotheringham’s son or words to that effect, or people at races ask about my Dad. I don’t think it’s ever been a negative thing, as can be seen with other offspring of famous people in cycling. While some parents visibly want to relive their own careers vicariously through their sons and daughters, I have never been pushed or forced to race, but instead, what I have wanted to do, I’ve been supported in.
I also think that my Dad’s attitude to his own racing as I was growing up and starting cycling has had more influence than his status in the sport; never afraid of a challenge, focusing on enjoyment but that coming from working hard to get the best out of himself. I’ve had opportunities come around with the help of my Dad, but I’d say who he is has never been used as a leverage to get me anywhere in cycling.
Tell us about your team, the Halesowen Academy.
The West Midlands is a huge talent factory for UK cycling, and Halesowen A+CC is one of the biggest production lines. Former Conti rider Jacob Tipper, Olympian GB track sprinter Jess Varnish, Paralympian tandem pilot Helen Scott, Irish track riders Emily Kay and Ciara Horne, ex-Zappi graduate and current DSM coach Callum Ferguson, even Giro stage winner Ben Healy in his younger years, to name a few, all rode for HACC at some point. But there were many hugely talented riders who were left at the wayside without the support they needed.
We have had stages wins in the Junior Tour of Ireland, a junior UCI podium, Nat B wins and a top 10 at the Beaumont Trophy, which for a club team is beyond incredible
The Halesowen Academy was founded in 2015 with the aim of providing support for talented junior and U23 riders from the club to help them succeed. In 2020, the partnership with the legendary sponsor of the 90s team, Mapei, helped to increase the support and race programme, leading to one of the most distinctive jerseys in the British scene and elevating the level of the Academy. We have had stages wins in the Junior Tour of Ireland, a junior UCI podium, Nat B wins and a top 10 at the Beaumont Trophy, which for a club team is beyond incredible. Outside of bike racing, there is a huge social aspect too. We have workshops and seminars from sponsors, such as nutrition help from Secret Training and bike care from Fenwicks. There are group rides throughout the winter, as well as the annual go-karting trip. If there is one thing more terrifying than an amateur bunch sprint it is already exceptionally competitive individuals with very little fear put on a racetrack with bragging rights on the line. But it’s what makes the academy more than just a team.
Image: Caroline Kerley
The recent, most renowned success stories are that of Tomos Pattinson, who left for Tofauti-EveryoneActive before joining Team Visma- Lease a Bike Development Team, and Joe Brookes, who, following a stellar 2023 is now riding for AVC-Aix en Provence as one of the Rayner Foundation riders. Both started as young riders at HACC, joined the Academy, and were given support and opportunities to allow them to showcase their talents, and move on to bigger things. There have also been the likes of David Hird, winner of a round of the Under-23 Men’s National Road Series series, and Simon Wylie who has represented GB for cyclocross and ridden multiple World-Cup and Super Prestiges.
I’m hardly a development rider, more an experienced head on the pot-wash, someone who knows what’s what in the wacky world of British road racing
What kind of role do you expect to have on the team in 2024?
I recently saw a post on an Instagram football page of 37-year-old player/coach Tom Huddlestone scoring the winner for Manchester United U21s. That probably is the best way to sum it up. I’m hardly a development rider, more an experienced head on the pot-wash, someone who knows what’s what in the wacky world of British road racing. My role is to help with the development of the younger riders in the races we ride together, offer insight where needed and help with the running of the team. I’ll act as a road captain in some races, someone to travel with at further afield Nat Bs, “tactician” in some instances. In recent years I’ve pulled turns on the front to neutralise breaks, provided a springboard for attacks, helped riders chase on after punctures or crashes and been bottle boy, fetching food and water in stage races. In 2022 I went to the Philippe Gilbert Junior stage Race as soigneur. But mainly, I’m there for advice, leadership in the team sense as opposed to a racing sense. I like to think of myself as a solid, dependable teammate with the ability to get up there in a bunch sprint behind the break if a naughty top 10 is needed to get the ball rolling.
And I understand you organise a race too. Tell us about that and what inspired you to get involved with race organisation.
So, the race I organise is the Nick Clayton Memorial RR. Nick was a hugely talented rider, great teammate and even better friend who tragically lost his battle with cancer in spring of 2021. I helped with the organisation of this race in 2021, took on sole organisation in 2022 before it had to be rescheduled due to road works on the finish straight, and then was helped with the organisation but from a more observational point of view while I finished my master’s degree in summer 2023. This year I am organising it by myself, but the network of support in the West Midlands is incredible, so it should be plain sailing. My dad organises a plethora of races throughout the year, the British Cycling Regional Events Officer Tom Wilson is an absolute legend, and the other essential roles such as medical support, marshals and timing chips are incredible too.
The strength in the depth of the applicants for our 2024 journal series was such that we could not resist recruiting more writers than we had originally intended. To that end, we are pleased to announce that Pat Fotheringham is the latest addition to the 2024 team, following the arrivals of Lucy Gadd and Max Cushway.
As a member of the Halesowen Academy-Mapei, Patrick is part of a vibrant community that nurtures talent and fosters success, illustrated by the Academy’s impressive alumni, such as Joe Brookes, one of the domestic peloton’s breakthrough riders in 2023.
He might be the son of renowned cycling journalist William Fotheringham but, contrary to expectations, Patrick’s journey has been uniquely his own, shaped by his decisions and supported, but never overshadowed, by his father’s legacy.
Patrick’s commitment to cycling extends beyond competition; he is deeply involved in race organisation. And through organising the Nick Clayton Memorial RR, he honours the memory of a beloved friend and contributes to the vibrant cycling culture in the West Midlands.
On the bike, Patrick envisions his role this year as akin to a seasoned mentor, sharing his wealth of experience to guide and inspire the next generation of cyclists.
We sat down with Patrick to find out more.
Tell us a bit about your journey into road racing.
I started racing age 11 at Halesowen Friday Night Track League, progressing my way up the categories until about age 14 where I decided I wanted to race more and more frequently. So, I started at some local circuit races, mainly ones where my Dad could race in the adult race after, as well as youth omniums. However, during these years cycling was playing second fiddle to rugby, which was essentially full time alongside school; there would be days I would do almost five hours of rugby, with PE, school training and club training, and sometimes playing three games a week. It was intense, but the group we had embraced it and made the most of it. At this age, cycling was just something I enjoyed doing, it was different. But as so often happens with youth athletes, the sheer volume caught up with me, the injuries picked up and the love for the sport decreased. And as rugby fizzled out in my life, the spark switched to cycling.
I started to ride every day I could, on the rollers, mountain bike or road after school when the light allowed. In the summer of my last year as a youth, I was able to race alongside the adults on closed circuits, mainly on airfields or motor racing circuits. Bigger bunches, faster racing and wide, open circuits really caught my attention, giving a taste of what road racing would be like.
I struggled in my years as a junior. Not small enough to go up hills quick, or tall enough to put out good power, I had fast legs from years of track racing and no shame when it came to getting a kicking, so I learnt how to survive. I wasn’t too bothered, I enjoyed it, and results came when they came. The opportunity to ride the Junior Tour of Wales arose, which was to be my first taste of high-level racing. It was brutal, but so worth it. A core memory of road racing was the final stage to the Tumble Mountain; torrential rain, I got dropped up the first climb, and found myself in a group of four just off the back of the convoy for 50km. In a lay-by somewhere near Abergavenny was a feed station, where the other three climbed off, and my Dad asked if I wanted to carry on. I did and subsequently rode the rest of the race on my own, accompanied by the broom wagon, crawling up the misty mountain and into the car waiting for me at the summit. I finished dead last, aeons down on winner and now WorldTour pro Eddie Dunbar. It would have been easy to climb off, but for me at 16, giving up just didn’t seem like an option.
I had truly caught the bug, absolutely obsessed with racing push bikes. The more I did, the better I got and the more I loved it, so the more I did. It was a whirlwind that led me to taking a gap year after college, with the dream of racing in Belgium. However, such is the way with cycling, I fell into the trap of over-training and under-eating the winter before. I have never been the smallest, gifted with a frame built for a rugby, but I naively let people I respected into making me believe I needed to lose weight, thus starting a painful cycle of barely eating and riding as much as possible. This resulted in a massive dip in form, poor health that took two years to recover from and sabotaged any chance I ever had of making the most of the opportunity to race in Belgium. The U23/Elite z.c races in Belgium are savage, full gas and on fiercely technical circuits. Anything less than ideal preparation and top form, it won’t be pretty. Thus, it was like a lamb to the slaughter. Despite this, it was a great life experience, unforgettable for better reasons and times to those when I had a number pinned on.
After this, I made the conscious decision to make sure cycling was a positive part of my life. The experience I had in Belgium made me question it as a part of my life, but in a sense of making sure it was something I enjoyed, an escape and my happiness. Since then, I have only taken cycling as seriously as I wanted to at the time. I’ve had years where it has taken the back foot. I’ve had years where I have thrown myself at it with everything I have. There have been wins and podiums. There have been god-awful moments. But most importantly, it has remained a huge part of my life. 2024 will mark my 10th year of road racing (would be 11 if not for the Pandemic).
Perhaps a tricky question to answer succinctly, but how has having a famous cycling journalist as a Dad influenced you as a rider?
In all honesty, probably less than most might think. There have been times where I have been referred to as William Fotheringham’s son or words to that effect, or people at races ask about my Dad. I don’t think it’s ever been a negative thing, as can be seen with other offspring of famous people in cycling. While some parents visibly want to relive their own careers vicariously through their sons and daughters, I have never been pushed or forced to race, but instead, what I have wanted to do, I’ve been supported in.
I also think that my Dad’s attitude to his own racing as I was growing up and starting cycling has had more influence than his status in the sport; never afraid of a challenge, focusing on enjoyment but that coming from working hard to get the best out of himself. I’ve had opportunities come around with the help of my Dad, but I’d say who he is has never been used as a leverage to get me anywhere in cycling.
Tell us about your team, the Halesowen Academy.
The West Midlands is a huge talent factory for UK cycling, and Halesowen A+CC is one of the biggest production lines. Former Conti rider Jacob Tipper, Olympian GB track sprinter Jess Varnish, Paralympian tandem pilot Helen Scott, Irish track riders Emily Kay and Ciara Horne, ex-Zappi graduate and current DSM coach Callum Ferguson, even Giro stage winner Ben Healy in his younger years, to name a few, all rode for HACC at some point. But there were many hugely talented riders who were left at the wayside without the support they needed.
The Halesowen Academy was founded in 2015 with the aim of providing support for talented junior and U23 riders from the club to help them succeed. In 2020, the partnership with the legendary sponsor of the 90s team, Mapei, helped to increase the support and race programme, leading to one of the most distinctive jerseys in the British scene and elevating the level of the Academy. We have had stages wins in the Junior Tour of Ireland, a junior UCI podium, Nat B wins and a top 10 at the Beaumont Trophy, which for a club team is beyond incredible. Outside of bike racing, there is a huge social aspect too. We have workshops and seminars from sponsors, such as nutrition help from Secret Training and bike care from Fenwicks. There are group rides throughout the winter, as well as the annual go-karting trip. If there is one thing more terrifying than an amateur bunch sprint it is already exceptionally competitive individuals with very little fear put on a racetrack with bragging rights on the line. But it’s what makes the academy more than just a team.
The recent, most renowned success stories are that of Tomos Pattinson, who left for Tofauti-EveryoneActive before joining Team Visma- Lease a Bike Development Team, and Joe Brookes, who, following a stellar 2023 is now riding for AVC-Aix en Provence as one of the Rayner Foundation riders. Both started as young riders at HACC, joined the Academy, and were given support and opportunities to allow them to showcase their talents, and move on to bigger things. There have also been the likes of David Hird, winner of a round of the Under-23 Men’s National Road Series series, and Simon Wylie who has represented GB for cyclocross and ridden multiple World-Cup and Super Prestiges.
What kind of role do you expect to have on the team in 2024?
I recently saw a post on an Instagram football page of 37-year-old player/coach Tom Huddlestone scoring the winner for Manchester United U21s. That probably is the best way to sum it up. I’m hardly a development rider, more an experienced head on the pot-wash, someone who knows what’s what in the wacky world of British road racing. My role is to help with the development of the younger riders in the races we ride together, offer insight where needed and help with the running of the team. I’ll act as a road captain in some races, someone to travel with at further afield Nat Bs, “tactician” in some instances. In recent years I’ve pulled turns on the front to neutralise breaks, provided a springboard for attacks, helped riders chase on after punctures or crashes and been bottle boy, fetching food and water in stage races. In 2022 I went to the Philippe Gilbert Junior stage Race as soigneur. But mainly, I’m there for advice, leadership in the team sense as opposed to a racing sense. I like to think of myself as a solid, dependable teammate with the ability to get up there in a bunch sprint behind the break if a naughty top 10 is needed to get the ball rolling.
And I understand you organise a race too. Tell us about that and what inspired you to get involved with race organisation.
So, the race I organise is the Nick Clayton Memorial RR. Nick was a hugely talented rider, great teammate and even better friend who tragically lost his battle with cancer in spring of 2021. I helped with the organisation of this race in 2021, took on sole organisation in 2022 before it had to be rescheduled due to road works on the finish straight, and then was helped with the organisation but from a more observational point of view while I finished my master’s degree in summer 2023. This year I am organising it by myself, but the network of support in the West Midlands is incredible, so it should be plain sailing. My dad organises a plethora of races throughout the year, the British Cycling Regional Events Officer Tom Wilson is an absolute legend, and the other essential roles such as medical support, marshals and timing chips are incredible too.
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