Coming to cycling relatively late, a meteoric rise saw Kate Richardson join the Lifeplus-Wahoo team in 2023 for only her second full season of racing.
The British Continental caught up with the 21-year-old Scottish rider at the National Track Championships last month hours before she claimed her first senior title with a dominant display in the individual pursuit, to chat to her about the step up to racing at World Tour, her track ambitions and her route into the sport.
2024 British National Track Championships – National Cycling Centre, Manchester, England – Women’s Individual Pursuit winner Kate Richardson of Lifeplus Wahoo. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
You came to cycling quite late. How did you get into the sport?
So, I was originally a triathlete on the Scottish performance programme, and I transferred over to track cycling at the end of 2021. The coach I have now was actually the coach I had for triathlon, so he was my route into the sport.
I started to notice cycling was my strongest discipline, and to be honest I wasn’t enjoying triathlon so much, so I kind of needed a bit of a change
What made you turn to cycling?
Towards the end of my triathlon career – if you can call it that! – I started to notice cycling was my strongest discipline, and to be honest I wasn’t enjoying triathlon so much, so I kind of needed a bit of a change. I still wanted to be competitive, so I decided to give cycling a go.
Was going from the track to road racing a natural progression?
I started to get my first results on the track, just because that was my entry into cycling. I started to do more road races in 2022 and it just all happened naturally. To be honest, physiologically, the road probably suits me better in the longer run because of the endurance base I have from triathlon, it’s just taken a while to develop the tactical awareness with it, but I really like doing both.
2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift – Denain to Roubaix, France – Kate Richardson of Lifeplus Wahoo. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
You had an excellent season in 2022 racing domestically for the Alba Road Development Team. How did you find the step up to WorldTour racing in 2023 with Lifeplus Wahoo?
The racing is so much harder! There’s a lot more tactical awareness that you need to have, and I didn’t particularly have that. I didn’t particularly go into the season in my best shape either, I had a lot of illness and injury last year.
It’s just finding your way in the peloton, finding a way of moving up and saving energy; I just wasn’t very good at that. I’d say I’ve improved on that a lot, I’m really looking forward to this year, to right the wrongs from last year.
You impressed in Australia last month, how was the start to your season there?
That was a really good way to start the season and I really enjoyed my time in Australia, and as a team we put in a really good performance. I’m starting to feel more and more confident in my team role and individually.
I do have a pretty good punch, so maybe in the future I’ll be looking at the classics on the road. But I’m still very much trying to find my way, I’m not really sure of my strengths and weaknesses yet
What sort of rider are you?
That’s the million dollar question, I’ve no clue at this point! Time trialling does suit me, but I do have a pretty good punch, so maybe in the future I’ll be looking at the classics on the road. But I’m still very much trying to find my way, I’m not really sure of my strengths and weaknesses yet.
2024 British National Track Championships – National Cycling Centre, Manchester, England – Women’s Point Race qualifying heat – Kate Richardson of Lifeplus Wahoo. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
What does your race programme look like?
I’ve got quite a few classics coming up, I’m going out to Belgium on Tuesday, actually. The team starts this weekend at [Omloop van het] Hageland, but my season starts next week at the Ronde van Drenthe. Then, hopefully, a lot more stage racing this year. I was kind of hampered last year after dislocating my shoulder in May, so I’m hoping to race a lot more of those this year.
I’m really hoping to make the World Championships at the end of the year, but I’ll have to see who’s wanting to do it, it’s such a hard team to make, Great Britain
Where does track cycling fit into your plans?
After this weekend I’ll have a break from the track and focus on the road. Hopefully I’ll be back for the European U23 Championships in Germany around July, then I’m really hoping to make the World Championships at the end of the year, but I’ll have to see who’s wanting to do it, it’s such a hard team to make, Great Britain. But that’s definitely my big aim for this year.
Do you receive any support from British Cycling regarding the track?
I’m on the British Cycling Academy, so I’m on the podium potential squad now. It’s the one below the Olympic programme. Hopefully, next year I’ll make the jump up to the podium squad.
Coming to cycling relatively late, a meteoric rise saw Kate Richardson join the Lifeplus-Wahoo team in 2023 for only her second full season of racing.
The British Continental caught up with the 21-year-old Scottish rider at the National Track Championships last month hours before she claimed her first senior title with a dominant display in the individual pursuit, to chat to her about the step up to racing at World Tour, her track ambitions and her route into the sport.
You came to cycling quite late. How did you get into the sport?
So, I was originally a triathlete on the Scottish performance programme, and I transferred over to track cycling at the end of 2021. The coach I have now was actually the coach I had for triathlon, so he was my route into the sport.
What made you turn to cycling?
Towards the end of my triathlon career – if you can call it that! – I started to notice cycling was my strongest discipline, and to be honest I wasn’t enjoying triathlon so much, so I kind of needed a bit of a change. I still wanted to be competitive, so I decided to give cycling a go.
Was going from the track to road racing a natural progression?
I started to get my first results on the track, just because that was my entry into cycling. I started to do more road races in 2022 and it just all happened naturally. To be honest, physiologically, the road probably suits me better in the longer run because of the endurance base I have from triathlon, it’s just taken a while to develop the tactical awareness with it, but I really like doing both.
You had an excellent season in 2022 racing domestically for the Alba Road Development Team. How did you find the step up to WorldTour racing in 2023 with Lifeplus Wahoo?
The racing is so much harder! There’s a lot more tactical awareness that you need to have, and I didn’t particularly have that. I didn’t particularly go into the season in my best shape either, I had a lot of illness and injury last year.
It’s just finding your way in the peloton, finding a way of moving up and saving energy; I just wasn’t very good at that. I’d say I’ve improved on that a lot, I’m really looking forward to this year, to right the wrongs from last year.
You impressed in Australia last month, how was the start to your season there?
That was a really good way to start the season and I really enjoyed my time in Australia, and as a team we put in a really good performance. I’m starting to feel more and more confident in my team role and individually.
What sort of rider are you?
That’s the million dollar question, I’ve no clue at this point! Time trialling does suit me, but I do have a pretty good punch, so maybe in the future I’ll be looking at the classics on the road. But I’m still very much trying to find my way, I’m not really sure of my strengths and weaknesses yet.
What does your race programme look like?
I’ve got quite a few classics coming up, I’m going out to Belgium on Tuesday, actually. The team starts this weekend at [Omloop van het] Hageland, but my season starts next week at the Ronde van Drenthe. Then, hopefully, a lot more stage racing this year. I was kind of hampered last year after dislocating my shoulder in May, so I’m hoping to race a lot more of those this year.
Where does track cycling fit into your plans?
After this weekend I’ll have a break from the track and focus on the road. Hopefully I’ll be back for the European U23 Championships in Germany around July, then I’m really hoping to make the World Championships at the end of the year, but I’ll have to see who’s wanting to do it, it’s such a hard team to make, Great Britain. But that’s definitely my big aim for this year.
Do you receive any support from British Cycling regarding the track?
I’m on the British Cycling Academy, so I’m on the podium potential squad now. It’s the one below the Olympic programme. Hopefully, next year I’ll make the jump up to the podium squad.
Featured image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
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