From BMX to elite road racing in France, Alastair Gardner reflects on his first under-23 season, the realities of the French club system, and how patience and perspective are shaping the next phase of his development. Part of our “Getting to know” series with riders supported by the Rayner Foundation.
Alistair Gardner has taken an unconventional route into elite road racing, shaped by a BMX background, a relatively late switch to endurance sport, and an early willingness to test himself abroad.
Raised in an active, outdoors-focused family, Gardner’s competitive foundations were laid in BMX, where he learned the discipline of training and the satisfaction of gradual improvement. He represented VC Venta during his junior road years, with his strongest result arguably coming in 2024, when he finished sixth overall at the Junior Tour of Wales — a performance that underlined both endurance and consistency.
In 2025, his first year as an under-23, Gardner stepped straight into elite racing with CC Étupes, opting for the intensity of the French club system rather than a more sheltered progression in the UK. The season proved demanding. Illness, language barriers and the realities of adapting to a new team environment tested both confidence and patience, but also provided a sharp education in the practical and psychological demands of racing at this level.
Alongside his French programme, Gardner showed encouraging form closer to home, finishing tenth overall at the Ronde van Wymeswold and tenth at the Otley Grand Prix, before ending the season with a fifth place and best young rider at the Trophée des Champions.
Supported by the Rayner Foundation, Gardner will ride in 2026 for ASPTT Nancy Meurthe-et-Moselle, as he looks to build on the lessons of a formative first U23 season.
In this Q&A, he reflects on his progression from BMX to road racing, the realities of the French club system, and the balance between ambition and patience as he moves into the next phase of his development.
For readers who might not know you yet — how would you describe yourself away from racing and results?
In general, I’d say I’m quite a relaxed person. Off the bike, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I’ve always loved nature and would say I come from an outdoors-type family.
How did you first come to cycling, and what made you want to stick with it?
As a child, my dad enjoyed cycling as a hobby and we were an active family, so I would ride with him and the rest of the family every now and then. He always watched the Tour de France, and as a child this inspired me a lot — watching the likes of Cavendish winning on TV.
My brother and sister started BMX racing and initially I wasn’t interested, as I wanted to stick with football. But when I was around 11 I started racing and completely fell in love with the bike from then on.
I not only loved the freedom of riding my bike, but also the principle of training and working to improve myself, and trying to be the best cyclist I could be
BMX taught me the importance of training. I was very competitive, so I would do sprints or skills practice on the road or in my garden almost every evening when I couldn’t get to the actual BMX track. This quickly translated to results — winning regional events and starting to make National A finals (top-eight national results). I not only loved the freedom of riding my bike, but also the principle of training and working to improve myself, and trying to be the best cyclist I could be.
I always felt I was suited to endurance sport. As a child I was never someone who trained a lot, but I was always naturally very good at endurance sports compared to other kids. So despite loving BMX, I always had the desire in the back of my head to pursue road cycling. I think I was also inspired by previous cyclists who started out in BMX.
I decided to commit to switching to road cycling around May 2023, after a bit of a bad start to my BMX season. I think that snowballed into less desire and willingness to take risky moves in races — which is a key element of BMX — as thoughts of moving on grew in my mind.
I spoke to my BMX coach at the time and he put me in contact with Monica Greenwood, as he knew her from his time at British Cycling. I committed to the switch, and after just a few months of training — with basically no previous endurance background — I finished 13th at the Bath RC Junior National Road Race. I was already pretty set on the dream of being a professional cyclist, but after that, I really started to believe in my talent — and more importantly, I loved it.
Gardner (second from right) in the break at the 2025 Lloyds National Road Race Championships. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What role did clubs, coaches or local riding scenes play in your early development?
The BMX structure is what brought me into the sport. Coming through local clubs and race teams, and working with some great BMX coaches in Bournemouth, helped me get into the British Cycling system through RSR and NSR.
Was there a point where cycling began to feel like more than a hobby — where it started to feel serious?
Probably still when I was a BMX rider and started moving through the British Cycling system. That taught me the basics of being an athlete and really inspired me to pursue cycling as a career.
I wanted to race abroad, either in Belgium or France, and get out of my comfort zone. I felt that was what would push me to develop and improve the most
You chose to race in France at a young age. What drew you to that path, and what were your expectations going in?
After progressing very quickly — from only starting road racing the year before to getting some strong international results as a second-year junior — I was very ambitious. Obviously every junior hopes to get a development team, but I knew that if this didn’t happen I still wanted to race abroad, either in Belgium or France, and get out of my comfort zone. I felt that was what would push me to develop and improve the most.
Right at the end of the season, Étupes got in contact and it was a no-brainer compared to the other offers. They offered a very good calendar and accommodation, but also had a rich history of developing successful professional riders, such as Adam Yates, which really inspired me.
I didn’t really know what to expect, as I’d never raced in France before and was stepping up into the elite ranks. But I think I liked the idea of jumping in at the deep end and pushing myself to be the best I could be.
How has racing in the French club system shaped you — both as a rider and as a person?
To be honest, I struggled a lot to find my feet, particularly at the start of the year. I had issues with illness, and even when I got into good shape, miscommunication became a problem. I think all of that resulted in the team lacking confidence in me, which meant I often ended up working for others. I was happy to do that, but I felt it wasn’t always appreciated, and that was probably the best example of the miscommunication.
I’d also probably go too deep trying to help others, which often meant I’d then get dropped. That didn’t help with my confidence, or with the team’s confidence in me.
All of this taught me a lot and shaped me as a person. It brought me back to the fact that the most important thing is to enjoy the sport. It made me realise the importance of appreciating every day, making an effort to be positive and enjoy everything. The teammates I lived with became really good friends, and I was doing what I love almost every day — so I think that’s how I dealt with the challenging periods.
Image: Ezra Bateman
What have you learned from racing frequently, and often aggressively, in that environment?
French racing was very different to anything I’d experienced before. I had to learn the flow of races, but I feel I’ve developed a good sense for that now. I’m excited to focus more on my own results this year with all that extra experience.
How would you describe yourself as a rider now — and how has that changed since your junior years?
I don’t think my rider type has changed massively — it’s more that I’ve developed aerobically, as I’m still relatively new to endurance sport. From my BMX background, I have very good anaerobic ability, so I’m a punchy, classics- or sprint-focused rider. But honestly, I still don’t know exactly where I’ll end up.
I have an open mind and look forward to seeing how I develop, but I think my explosive ability will always be a key component.
What kinds of races suit you best, and where do you feel you can express yourself most?
I suit flatter or more punchy courses that match my power profile. I can be a very smart racer and enjoy breakaways and tactical racing.
The biggest challenge has been the language barrier and cultural differences, which can make communication difficult and misunderstandings easy from both sides
What has been the biggest adjustment to living and racing abroad?
The biggest challenge has been the language barrier and cultural differences, which can make communication difficult and misunderstandings easy from both sides. I didn’t know any French before going over, which didn’t help, and I think some early mistakes and miscommunications with the team set me off on a bit of a negative footing. That was challenging — not only reducing opportunities, but also knocking my confidence, which is definitely important for performance.
By the end of the year — and hopefully still now — I was at a more conversational level in French, which I think will help a lot. Understanding French culture is important too.
Are there any races or performances so far that stand out as milestones for you?
The first race where I felt really competitive and knew I was at the level to fight for top results was probably the Estivale Bretonne, an elite national stage race. Sadly, no proper results materialised, as I sacrificed chances for teammates, but despite that I took a lot of confidence from it.
At the back end of the season, I really had a good level but repeatedly ran into issues outside of my control that prevented me from showing it. In my final race of the season, I finally managed to show some of my potential by finishing fifth at the Trophée des Champions — an elite national race with a pretty stacked field. Being the best young rider was a really nice bonus, and it definitely made me even more hungry for the future.
Image:: Josh Wheeler / JoWSportsMedia
Racing in France can be unforgiving — what have the harder days taught you?
Again, the importance of having a positive mindset and appreciating how fortunate I am to be able to pursue my dream and ride my bike every day — even in the hard times. It’s about focusing on enjoying everyday life. It’s easy to become too obsessed with performance metrics and results, when at the end of the day I do the sport because I love it.
How important has support beyond the team environment been at this stage of your career?
The Rayner funding really made things much more possible. The extra help bridges the gap, especially with food costs, and makes it more realistic to live in France without too much financial strain. It also gave me confidence in myself — that there is a pathway here, following in the footsteps of previous Rayner Foundation riders — and helped create a community for us Brits in France.
But of course, the biggest factor is my parents. Without them, none of this would be possible — driving me to and from France and supporting me through the rough patches.
My brother has also found a passion for cycling, so being able to ride with him and support each other has been a huge benefit for both of us.
Although I’m very ambitious, taking pressure off myself by reminding myself why I do this — because I love it — and focusing on enjoying the journey really helped.
How do you stay grounded when results don’t come or progress feels slow?
This year I really focused on maintaining a positive mindset. Although I’m very ambitious, taking pressure off myself by reminding myself why I do this — because I love it — and focusing on enjoying the journey really helped.
Looking ahead to the next couple of seasons, what feels most important right now in terms of development?
I know I need time to develop, as I’m still relatively new to endurance sport compared to others. But I’m excited about hopefully taking on more of a leadership role this year. I think a new environment where more people believe in me will be a massive benefit.
Last year, I didn’t have much clarity around my racing calendar. As I wasn’t the team’s priority, I’d often be added to or removed from races at very short notice, which created a lot of stress and made it hard to commit fully to training blocks or target specific races. This year, I hope to have more clarity so I can really focus on getting myself into the best shape possible for key events and periods.
Alistair Gardner has taken an unconventional route into elite road racing, shaped by a BMX background, a relatively late switch to endurance sport, and an early willingness to test himself abroad.
Raised in an active, outdoors-focused family, Gardner’s competitive foundations were laid in BMX, where he learned the discipline of training and the satisfaction of gradual improvement. He represented VC Venta during his junior road years, with his strongest result arguably coming in 2024, when he finished sixth overall at the Junior Tour of Wales — a performance that underlined both endurance and consistency.
In 2025, his first year as an under-23, Gardner stepped straight into elite racing with CC Étupes, opting for the intensity of the French club system rather than a more sheltered progression in the UK. The season proved demanding. Illness, language barriers and the realities of adapting to a new team environment tested both confidence and patience, but also provided a sharp education in the practical and psychological demands of racing at this level.
Alongside his French programme, Gardner showed encouraging form closer to home, finishing tenth overall at the Ronde van Wymeswold and tenth at the Otley Grand Prix, before ending the season with a fifth place and best young rider at the Trophée des Champions.
Supported by the Rayner Foundation, Gardner will ride in 2026 for ASPTT Nancy Meurthe-et-Moselle, as he looks to build on the lessons of a formative first U23 season.
In this Q&A, he reflects on his progression from BMX to road racing, the realities of the French club system, and the balance between ambition and patience as he moves into the next phase of his development.
For readers who might not know you yet — how would you describe yourself away from racing and results?
In general, I’d say I’m quite a relaxed person. Off the bike, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I’ve always loved nature and would say I come from an outdoors-type family.
How did you first come to cycling, and what made you want to stick with it?
As a child, my dad enjoyed cycling as a hobby and we were an active family, so I would ride with him and the rest of the family every now and then. He always watched the Tour de France, and as a child this inspired me a lot — watching the likes of Cavendish winning on TV.
My brother and sister started BMX racing and initially I wasn’t interested, as I wanted to stick with football. But when I was around 11 I started racing and completely fell in love with the bike from then on.
BMX taught me the importance of training. I was very competitive, so I would do sprints or skills practice on the road or in my garden almost every evening when I couldn’t get to the actual BMX track. This quickly translated to results — winning regional events and starting to make National A finals (top-eight national results). I not only loved the freedom of riding my bike, but also the principle of training and working to improve myself, and trying to be the best cyclist I could be.
I always felt I was suited to endurance sport. As a child I was never someone who trained a lot, but I was always naturally very good at endurance sports compared to other kids. So despite loving BMX, I always had the desire in the back of my head to pursue road cycling. I think I was also inspired by previous cyclists who started out in BMX.
I decided to commit to switching to road cycling around May 2023, after a bit of a bad start to my BMX season. I think that snowballed into less desire and willingness to take risky moves in races — which is a key element of BMX — as thoughts of moving on grew in my mind.
I spoke to my BMX coach at the time and he put me in contact with Monica Greenwood, as he knew her from his time at British Cycling. I committed to the switch, and after just a few months of training — with basically no previous endurance background — I finished 13th at the Bath RC Junior National Road Race. I was already pretty set on the dream of being a professional cyclist, but after that, I really started to believe in my talent — and more importantly, I loved it.
What role did clubs, coaches or local riding scenes play in your early development?
The BMX structure is what brought me into the sport. Coming through local clubs and race teams, and working with some great BMX coaches in Bournemouth, helped me get into the British Cycling system through RSR and NSR.
Was there a point where cycling began to feel like more than a hobby — where it started to feel serious?
Probably still when I was a BMX rider and started moving through the British Cycling system. That taught me the basics of being an athlete and really inspired me to pursue cycling as a career.
You chose to race in France at a young age. What drew you to that path, and what were your expectations going in?
After progressing very quickly — from only starting road racing the year before to getting some strong international results as a second-year junior — I was very ambitious. Obviously every junior hopes to get a development team, but I knew that if this didn’t happen I still wanted to race abroad, either in Belgium or France, and get out of my comfort zone. I felt that was what would push me to develop and improve the most.
Right at the end of the season, Étupes got in contact and it was a no-brainer compared to the other offers. They offered a very good calendar and accommodation, but also had a rich history of developing successful professional riders, such as Adam Yates, which really inspired me.
I didn’t really know what to expect, as I’d never raced in France before and was stepping up into the elite ranks. But I think I liked the idea of jumping in at the deep end and pushing myself to be the best I could be.
How has racing in the French club system shaped you — both as a rider and as a person?
To be honest, I struggled a lot to find my feet, particularly at the start of the year. I had issues with illness, and even when I got into good shape, miscommunication became a problem. I think all of that resulted in the team lacking confidence in me, which meant I often ended up working for others. I was happy to do that, but I felt it wasn’t always appreciated, and that was probably the best example of the miscommunication.
I’d also probably go too deep trying to help others, which often meant I’d then get dropped. That didn’t help with my confidence, or with the team’s confidence in me.
All of this taught me a lot and shaped me as a person. It brought me back to the fact that the most important thing is to enjoy the sport. It made me realise the importance of appreciating every day, making an effort to be positive and enjoy everything. The teammates I lived with became really good friends, and I was doing what I love almost every day — so I think that’s how I dealt with the challenging periods.
What have you learned from racing frequently, and often aggressively, in that environment?
French racing was very different to anything I’d experienced before. I had to learn the flow of races, but I feel I’ve developed a good sense for that now. I’m excited to focus more on my own results this year with all that extra experience.
How would you describe yourself as a rider now — and how has that changed since your junior years?
I don’t think my rider type has changed massively — it’s more that I’ve developed aerobically, as I’m still relatively new to endurance sport. From my BMX background, I have very good anaerobic ability, so I’m a punchy, classics- or sprint-focused rider. But honestly, I still don’t know exactly where I’ll end up.
I have an open mind and look forward to seeing how I develop, but I think my explosive ability will always be a key component.
What kinds of races suit you best, and where do you feel you can express yourself most?
I suit flatter or more punchy courses that match my power profile. I can be a very smart racer and enjoy breakaways and tactical racing.
What has been the biggest adjustment to living and racing abroad?
The biggest challenge has been the language barrier and cultural differences, which can make communication difficult and misunderstandings easy from both sides. I didn’t know any French before going over, which didn’t help, and I think some early mistakes and miscommunications with the team set me off on a bit of a negative footing. That was challenging — not only reducing opportunities, but also knocking my confidence, which is definitely important for performance.
By the end of the year — and hopefully still now — I was at a more conversational level in French, which I think will help a lot. Understanding French culture is important too.
Are there any races or performances so far that stand out as milestones for you?
The first race where I felt really competitive and knew I was at the level to fight for top results was probably the Estivale Bretonne, an elite national stage race. Sadly, no proper results materialised, as I sacrificed chances for teammates, but despite that I took a lot of confidence from it.
At the back end of the season, I really had a good level but repeatedly ran into issues outside of my control that prevented me from showing it. In my final race of the season, I finally managed to show some of my potential by finishing fifth at the Trophée des Champions — an elite national race with a pretty stacked field. Being the best young rider was a really nice bonus, and it definitely made me even more hungry for the future.
Racing in France can be unforgiving — what have the harder days taught you?
Again, the importance of having a positive mindset and appreciating how fortunate I am to be able to pursue my dream and ride my bike every day — even in the hard times. It’s about focusing on enjoying everyday life. It’s easy to become too obsessed with performance metrics and results, when at the end of the day I do the sport because I love it.
How important has support beyond the team environment been at this stage of your career?
The Rayner funding really made things much more possible. The extra help bridges the gap, especially with food costs, and makes it more realistic to live in France without too much financial strain. It also gave me confidence in myself — that there is a pathway here, following in the footsteps of previous Rayner Foundation riders — and helped create a community for us Brits in France.
But of course, the biggest factor is my parents. Without them, none of this would be possible — driving me to and from France and supporting me through the rough patches.
My brother has also found a passion for cycling, so being able to ride with him and support each other has been a huge benefit for both of us.
How do you stay grounded when results don’t come or progress feels slow?
This year I really focused on maintaining a positive mindset. Although I’m very ambitious, taking pressure off myself by reminding myself why I do this — because I love it — and focusing on enjoying the journey really helped.
Looking ahead to the next couple of seasons, what feels most important right now in terms of development?
I know I need time to develop, as I’m still relatively new to endurance sport compared to others. But I’m excited about hopefully taking on more of a leadership role this year. I think a new environment where more people believe in me will be a massive benefit.
Last year, I didn’t have much clarity around my racing calendar. As I wasn’t the team’s priority, I’d often be added to or removed from races at very short notice, which created a lot of stress and made it hard to commit fully to training blocks or target specific races. This year, I hope to have more clarity so I can really focus on getting myself into the best shape possible for key events and periods.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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