Ellie Russell is on the fast-track to cycling success
Shrewsbury cycling star Ellie Russell is hoping to keep up the momentum as she looks to build on an impressive win in the Future Stars competition of last season’s Revolution Series.
The event returns for Season 15 in October with the 16-year-old no longer eligible to compete in the Future Stars event, but she is still hopeful of competing in some races of the senior competition.
The Series showcases some of the best and brightest talents in the world of cycling, with previous winners including three-time champion Emily Kay, who represented Great Britain at last month’s World Championships, as well as 2015 champion Ellie Dickinson.
But it could have all been so different for teenager Russell.
“I initially started out doing triathlon, but I started to love cycling and so I stopped and committed full-time to cycling,” said the SportCity Velo rider, speaking at the launch of Season 15 of the Revolution Track Cycling Series.
“I went to the track for the first time, loved it, and it went from there. The first track I rode on was Wolverhampton about three or four years ago.
“I heard about the Revolution Future Stars and watched it on TV, and thought I could do it, so I entered and went from there.
“My first time in front of a crowd was amazing, absolutely amazing, I can’t really put it into words. The first round of last year I felt a bit nervous again.”
With Kay and Dickinson already having gone on to success at the world level, and the list of former boys winners including Olympic champions Steven Burke and Pete Kennaugh, Russell is pleased to be in such esteemed company.
“The feeling of winning was intense,” she added. “You don’t really get it until half an hour or so after when you’re actually on the stage and I thought ‘Oh my god, I’ve just won’.
“You don’t really think about it until then.
“For young riders, I’d say definitely enter it – it’s one of the best experiences you’ll ever have as a young cyclist.
“It feels pretty amazing to be on that Future Stars winners list – I never thought I would do that. Winning gives you confidence that you can go on – it gives you a massive boost.”
See the world’s best road teams take on the champions of the track in the Revolution Track Cycling Series. Tickets now on sale at http://cyclingrevolution.eventbrite.com
