Damien Clayton’s cycling journey has been anything but conventional. An architect by training, he pivoted from drafting blueprints to chasing breakaways, launching a career that culminated in an unexpected UCI victory within three years of taking the sport seriously. Now, as he steps away from the sport, Clayton reflects on the rollercoaster ride that took him from being a casual rider to a seasoned competitor at some of the UK’s top events.
He ends his career at the peak of his powers. After topping The British Continental’s national road race rankings in 2024 with three National B victories and a string of podium finishes, few might have predicted that this would be the Le Col Race Team rider’s final season. Yet, for Clayton, the decision was not about results or rankings; it was about finding meaning beyond the race tape and knowing when to let go.
Winning Marbriers was surreal. I was still finding my feet in the sport, and suddenly there I was, standing on a podium at a UCI race
Clayton’s path had always been marked by rapid progress. His rise in the sport is the stuff of legend: having ridden no more than 10 miles on a bike before the summer of 2016, he won his first and only UCI road race just three years later. That win, at the Grand Prix des Marbriers in 2019, came only a month after joining his first UCI Continental team, Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling.
“Winning Marbriers was surreal,” he reflects. “I was still finding my feet in the sport, and suddenly there I was, standing on a podium at a UCI race.” The accelerated trajectory from an architect with a hobby to a podium regular was breathtaking, and it was this sense of serendipity that made his career so captivating.
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
His time at Ribble was followed by a successful stint with Tim Elverson’s WiV SunGod squad, where he continued to demonstrate his flair for seizing opportunities. Yet despite his remarkable ascent, the challenges of the sport never ceased. In 2020, he came close to a contract with Mathieu van der Poel’s Alpecin-Fenix team after making the Zwift Academy finals.
At the end of the 2023 season, Clayton announced his retirement, but the journey to this decision wasn’t straightforward. He had initially called time on his career after leaving Embark Spirit BSS, a team with whom he had shared a difficult season. “I was going through a bit of a transition,” he recalls. “Leaving Spirit BSS, I wanted to go out on my own terms, which is why I raced Beaumont as a privateer.” Clayton’s sixth place at that race resulted in a rethink, the former architect deciding to continue into racing 2024. “I was hoping for a clean break,” he admits, “but then I ended up doing well in the race, and that stirred something in me again.”
Back in the game in the colours of the Le Col Race team, he enjoyed an unexpected resurgence. “I didn’t have any big expectations,” Clayton says of those early races. “I hadn’t done anything special over the winter—no training camps, no intense preparation. It was just a case of enjoying riding my bike again.”
Clayton wins the 2024 Oakenclough road race. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Clayton’s early season form was nothing short of remarkable. Riding into form in his early race, he then took a stage win and second on general classification at the fearsome Peaks 2 Day stage race. Wins at the Danum Trophy and the Oakenclough Road Race quickly followed, as well as an impressive fifth place in the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic.
The results came as a surprise. Suddenly, I was in winning moves, getting good results in National B races and even mixing it up in the National Road Series
“The results came as a surprise,” Clayton reflects. “Suddenly, I was in winning moves, getting good results in National B races and even mixing it up in the National Road Series”.
At the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic., he rode to a hard-fought fifth place on a course that, historically, hadn’t been his favourite. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he admits. “I hated that course for nationals, but it just clicked. It was almost disappointing—I was racing for second, but I ended up fifth. I was enjoying the races more than I had in a long time. It’s funny how sometimes you’re going well when you’re expecting the least.”
The following month he bagged a top ten at the Rapha Lincoln Grand, another stellar result in one of the toughest events of the year. “I’d always struggled with the course, but that year everything aligned. I was racing for second, attacking the group, thinning it out. It was unexpected, but moments like that remind you why you’re out there.”
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
His performances at events like the East Cleveland Classic and Lincoln Grand Prix reflected a competitor who could still deliver, but as the season continued he began to sense a shift in his own motivations. “I was always tough on myself—nothing less than a win felt good enough. But as the season wore on, the excitement started to fade. I wasn’t enjoying it as much anymore, and the sacrifices—early starts, late training sessions—felt harder to justify.”
Balancing his racing aspirations with a full-time job as an architect was proving to be another hurdle. “I’ve been back working full-time since last December. It’s been fine, but when you’re waking up at five in the morning to train before work, it takes a toll. The structure I once enjoyed was starting to feel restrictive.”
A trip to Mallorca served as a turning point. “Oddly enough, after that, the enjoyment started to fade,” Clayton reveals. “Racing became something I was doing out of habit rather than passion. I was mentally checked out, and the costs- both financial and emotional began to outweigh the benefits.”
The sport in the UK is in a tough spot. So many races are being cancelled, and there’s a general lack of support. It makes you question why you’re putting in all this effort
It wasn’t just Clayton’s personal struggles that were impacting his decision to step away. The British racing scene was facing its own existential crisis. “The sport in the UK is in a tough spot. So many races are being cancelled, and there’s a general lack of support for putting events on. It makes you question why you’re putting in all this effort. You’re seeing fewer volunteers, more logistical hurdles, and frankly, less enthusiasm from communities. I’ve been in races where local farmers have intentionally disrupted proceedings. It makes you question why you’re putting in all this effort”.
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Reflecting on his career, Clayton acknowledges that his entry into cycling came at a unique time, when the sport was transitioning in the UK. He was fortunate to experience some of the last true ‘premier’ events. “I was lucky to have raced some great events before they started disappearing. Nowadays, you look at the calendar and it’s a shadow of what it was even a few years ago. It’s not just the races that have gone; the spirit around the sport seems to be dwindling too.”
There are still bright spots amidst the struggle. Clayton is full of praise for grassroots movements like the Yomp Bonk Crew, who are revitalising the sport with innovative new formats and fresh energy. “Those guys are doing incredible work, creating events that feel different and exciting. We need more of that spirit if the sport is going to survive at the domestic level.”
Clayton’s love for the sport is evident, but he’s also realistic about its future. “I’ve had this conversation with Alex Richardson countless times. If you’re not fully enjoying racing, then what’s the point? You can’t force it.”
There’s a selfishness in cycling that’s hard to overlook. From Friday to Sunday, it’s all about you, and that impacts everyone around you
This time, retirement seems final. “I’ve told enough people now that I’m done, so I guess I have to stick with it,” he laughs. The decision, however, isn’t only about moving on from the bike; it’s about making space for other aspects of life. “There’s a selfishness in cycling that’s hard to overlook. From Friday to Sunday, it’s all about you, and that impacts everyone around you”.
Clayton’s story is not just about a desire to excel on the bike, but also the struggle to balance a demanding career, personal relationships, and the relentless pursuit of athletic excellence. It’s about realising when it’s time to shift focus. “I want to put my time, money, and effort into furthering my career and progressing my life with my partner, Monica. There’s a lot I still want to achieve, and it doesn’t have to be on the bike”.
Looking back, Clayton takes pride in his accomplishments, though he wishes he’d allowed himself more time to savour them. “When I won my UCI race, I was already thinking about the next challenge on the podium. I wish I’d taken a step back to appreciate what I’d done.”
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
The memories are rich and varied. There was the win Grand Prix des Marbriers win that marked his arrival on the international scene, of course. His dominant win at the Bourne Classic later that year is another cherished moment: “That day was like playing a game. I just had this confidence that wherever I attacked, no one could follow. It was one of my best days ever on a bike.”
He also picks out the team display of Canyon dhb SunGod in gruelling conditions in Valencia in 2021 as a memory he’ll savour. “It was tipping down, absolutely chaotic,” he says. “I was racing practically solo against TotalEnergies, just going all out. Those moments, that sense of camaraderie with the team—that’s what made me fall in love with racing.”
It’s been a wild ride, and now it’s time to enjoy cycling for what it is—just riding for the love of it
Even in retirement, cycling will remain a part of his life, just without the pressure to perform. “I’ll always cherish those days when I felt untouchable,” he says. “But the sport doesn’t owe me anything. It’s been a wild ride, and now it’s time to enjoy cycling for what it is—just riding for the love of it. But it’ll be on my own terms, without worrying about tapering for races or nailing my form. I’m looking forward to just enjoying the ride for what it is.”
Clayton’s decision to step away from racing comes after a final season where he left an indelible mark on the UK racing scene, topping The British Continental’s road race rankings for 2024. His remarkable string of victories and podiums saw him capture the National B circuit with a poise and strength that defined his career. For Clayton, this accomplishment is a fitting capstone, a testament to the rapid rise and enduring impact of a rider who only began his journey a few years ago, proving that sometimes, the most extraordinary chapters are the ones we never planned to write.
Damien Clayton’s cycling journey has been anything but conventional. An architect by training, he pivoted from drafting blueprints to chasing breakaways, launching a career that culminated in an unexpected UCI victory within three years of taking the sport seriously. Now, as he steps away from the sport, Clayton reflects on the rollercoaster ride that took him from being a casual rider to a seasoned competitor at some of the UK’s top events.
He ends his career at the peak of his powers. After topping The British Continental’s national road race rankings in 2024 with three National B victories and a string of podium finishes, few might have predicted that this would be the Le Col Race Team rider’s final season. Yet, for Clayton, the decision was not about results or rankings; it was about finding meaning beyond the race tape and knowing when to let go.
Clayton’s path had always been marked by rapid progress. His rise in the sport is the stuff of legend: having ridden no more than 10 miles on a bike before the summer of 2016, he won his first and only UCI road race just three years later. That win, at the Grand Prix des Marbriers in 2019, came only a month after joining his first UCI Continental team, Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling.
“Winning Marbriers was surreal,” he reflects. “I was still finding my feet in the sport, and suddenly there I was, standing on a podium at a UCI race.” The accelerated trajectory from an architect with a hobby to a podium regular was breathtaking, and it was this sense of serendipity that made his career so captivating.
His time at Ribble was followed by a successful stint with Tim Elverson’s WiV SunGod squad, where he continued to demonstrate his flair for seizing opportunities. Yet despite his remarkable ascent, the challenges of the sport never ceased. In 2020, he came close to a contract with Mathieu van der Poel’s Alpecin-Fenix team after making the Zwift Academy finals.
At the end of the 2023 season, Clayton announced his retirement, but the journey to this decision wasn’t straightforward. He had initially called time on his career after leaving Embark Spirit BSS, a team with whom he had shared a difficult season. “I was going through a bit of a transition,” he recalls. “Leaving Spirit BSS, I wanted to go out on my own terms, which is why I raced Beaumont as a privateer.” Clayton’s sixth place at that race resulted in a rethink, the former architect deciding to continue into racing 2024. “I was hoping for a clean break,” he admits, “but then I ended up doing well in the race, and that stirred something in me again.”
Back in the game in the colours of the Le Col Race team, he enjoyed an unexpected resurgence. “I didn’t have any big expectations,” Clayton says of those early races. “I hadn’t done anything special over the winter—no training camps, no intense preparation. It was just a case of enjoying riding my bike again.”
Clayton’s early season form was nothing short of remarkable. Riding into form in his early race, he then took a stage win and second on general classification at the fearsome Peaks 2 Day stage race. Wins at the Danum Trophy and the Oakenclough Road Race quickly followed, as well as an impressive fifth place in the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic.
“The results came as a surprise,” Clayton reflects. “Suddenly, I was in winning moves, getting good results in National B races and even mixing it up in the National Road Series”.
At the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic., he rode to a hard-fought fifth place on a course that, historically, hadn’t been his favourite. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he admits. “I hated that course for nationals, but it just clicked. It was almost disappointing—I was racing for second, but I ended up fifth. I was enjoying the races more than I had in a long time. It’s funny how sometimes you’re going well when you’re expecting the least.”
The following month he bagged a top ten at the Rapha Lincoln Grand, another stellar result in one of the toughest events of the year. “I’d always struggled with the course, but that year everything aligned. I was racing for second, attacking the group, thinning it out. It was unexpected, but moments like that remind you why you’re out there.”
His performances at events like the East Cleveland Classic and Lincoln Grand Prix reflected a competitor who could still deliver, but as the season continued he began to sense a shift in his own motivations. “I was always tough on myself—nothing less than a win felt good enough. But as the season wore on, the excitement started to fade. I wasn’t enjoying it as much anymore, and the sacrifices—early starts, late training sessions—felt harder to justify.”
Balancing his racing aspirations with a full-time job as an architect was proving to be another hurdle. “I’ve been back working full-time since last December. It’s been fine, but when you’re waking up at five in the morning to train before work, it takes a toll. The structure I once enjoyed was starting to feel restrictive.”
A trip to Mallorca served as a turning point. “Oddly enough, after that, the enjoyment started to fade,” Clayton reveals. “Racing became something I was doing out of habit rather than passion. I was mentally checked out, and the costs- both financial and emotional began to outweigh the benefits.”
It wasn’t just Clayton’s personal struggles that were impacting his decision to step away. The British racing scene was facing its own existential crisis. “The sport in the UK is in a tough spot. So many races are being cancelled, and there’s a general lack of support for putting events on. It makes you question why you’re putting in all this effort. You’re seeing fewer volunteers, more logistical hurdles, and frankly, less enthusiasm from communities. I’ve been in races where local farmers have intentionally disrupted proceedings. It makes you question why you’re putting in all this effort”.
Reflecting on his career, Clayton acknowledges that his entry into cycling came at a unique time, when the sport was transitioning in the UK. He was fortunate to experience some of the last true ‘premier’ events. “I was lucky to have raced some great events before they started disappearing. Nowadays, you look at the calendar and it’s a shadow of what it was even a few years ago. It’s not just the races that have gone; the spirit around the sport seems to be dwindling too.”
There are still bright spots amidst the struggle. Clayton is full of praise for grassroots movements like the Yomp Bonk Crew, who are revitalising the sport with innovative new formats and fresh energy. “Those guys are doing incredible work, creating events that feel different and exciting. We need more of that spirit if the sport is going to survive at the domestic level.”
Clayton’s love for the sport is evident, but he’s also realistic about its future. “I’ve had this conversation with Alex Richardson countless times. If you’re not fully enjoying racing, then what’s the point? You can’t force it.”
This time, retirement seems final. “I’ve told enough people now that I’m done, so I guess I have to stick with it,” he laughs. The decision, however, isn’t only about moving on from the bike; it’s about making space for other aspects of life. “There’s a selfishness in cycling that’s hard to overlook. From Friday to Sunday, it’s all about you, and that impacts everyone around you”.
Clayton’s story is not just about a desire to excel on the bike, but also the struggle to balance a demanding career, personal relationships, and the relentless pursuit of athletic excellence. It’s about realising when it’s time to shift focus. “I want to put my time, money, and effort into furthering my career and progressing my life with my partner, Monica. There’s a lot I still want to achieve, and it doesn’t have to be on the bike”.
Looking back, Clayton takes pride in his accomplishments, though he wishes he’d allowed himself more time to savour them. “When I won my UCI race, I was already thinking about the next challenge on the podium. I wish I’d taken a step back to appreciate what I’d done.”
The memories are rich and varied. There was the win Grand Prix des Marbriers win that marked his arrival on the international scene, of course. His dominant win at the Bourne Classic later that year is another cherished moment: “That day was like playing a game. I just had this confidence that wherever I attacked, no one could follow. It was one of my best days ever on a bike.”
He also picks out the team display of Canyon dhb SunGod in gruelling conditions in Valencia in 2021 as a memory he’ll savour. “It was tipping down, absolutely chaotic,” he says. “I was racing practically solo against TotalEnergies, just going all out. Those moments, that sense of camaraderie with the team—that’s what made me fall in love with racing.”
Even in retirement, cycling will remain a part of his life, just without the pressure to perform. “I’ll always cherish those days when I felt untouchable,” he says. “But the sport doesn’t owe me anything. It’s been a wild ride, and now it’s time to enjoy cycling for what it is—just riding for the love of it. But it’ll be on my own terms, without worrying about tapering for races or nailing my form. I’m looking forward to just enjoying the ride for what it is.”
Clayton’s decision to step away from racing comes after a final season where he left an indelible mark on the UK racing scene, topping The British Continental’s road race rankings for 2024. His remarkable string of victories and podiums saw him capture the National B circuit with a poise and strength that defined his career. For Clayton, this accomplishment is a fitting capstone, a testament to the rapid rise and enduring impact of a rider who only began his journey a few years ago, proving that sometimes, the most extraordinary chapters are the ones we never planned to write.
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