Shocking Victory for 16-Year-Old A-Level Student at British Track Championships…
In an unprecedented turn of events at the British National Track Championships, 16-year-old Henry Hobbs, still navigating his first year of A-Levels, found himself with an impending math homework deadline after securing an unexpected spot on the podium during his senior debut on Saturday night.
Hobbs clinched the bronze in the men’s kilometre time trial, recording a personal best of 1:02.574, a mere four-tenths of a second shy of the gold. Expressing his disbelief at his achievement in an interview with Cycling Weekly, Hobbs said, “It feels amazing. I was hoping to just enjoy it, but to come away with a medal and be on the podium is more than what I expected. It’s a shock.”
What adds to the astonishment is that shortly after his impressive performance, the teenager participated in the points race, combining sprint and endurance disciplines. Hobbs humorously remarked, “I didn’t realize they’d be so close together.” Despite the brief recovery time, he embarked on a 10-lap solo effort, covering an additional two and a half kilometers alone around the track. Reflecting on the race, he said, “I was hoping someone would go with me, but it didn’t happen. In hindsight, I probably should’ve pulled up a bit earlier and saved myself. But yeah, I ended up killing myself.”
Exiting the points race early, Hobbs witnessed his older brother, Noah, who rides for Groupama-FDJ’s development team, secure third place. The young cyclist is set to follow in his brother’s footsteps within the GB program after learning of his selection for the junior academy earlier in the week.
The news served as a significant motivator for Hobbs, opening doors to more opportunities for road racing abroad, including junior races like Paris-Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem. While aiming to emulate his sporting idols, Mark Cavendish and a “prime Peter Sagan,” he remains focused on his development with the Dutch team, Willebrord Wil Vooruit. Juggling A-Levels in maths, further maths, and PE alongside his cycling pursuits, Hobbs acknowledged the difficulty but expressed determination, saying, “It’s obviously very hard, but I find my way around it. My brother has done the same, so it’s clearly possible. The coaches at GB are helping me out a lot and are very considerate with training.”
Addressing the question of missing school for the Nationals, Hobbs clarified, “I’ve been on half-term this week. There have been a few times I’ve had to miss Fridays, but I’ve been catching up on the classes.””
Leave a Reply