Suffolk cyclist steals Under 18s Time Trials titles at just 13
Stonham Barns Park – one of Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday facilities – is sponsoring young cyclist Abbey Thompson for a third consecutive year – as she smashes goal after goal, despite having suffered badly with Covid mid-season. Abbey, from Crowfield, near Stonham Aspal, competes in Road Racing, Track and Time Trial events both nationally and internationally.
At only 13 years old, she has just become Champion of Champions for a second consecutive year. To win this award twice is very unusual, this is the first time any female Junior has won the series on two consecutive occasions. It demonstrates her skill and determination at such as young age. The Champion of Champions is made up of five events, the National 10-Mile TT, where Abbey came 2nd to a 17-year-old girl, the National 25TT that Abbey won, the Open Circuit Championship, that Abbey also won, the Closed Road TT Championship at Thruxton, where Abbey came 6th and the National Hill Climb. Each testing the Juniors in a slightly different way.
Abbey has won a number of Female Junior National events this year; the National 25TT, British Best All Rounder, Merlin Series (6 rounds of long and hard courses across Great Britain), National Closed-Circuit as well as coming 2nd in the National 10 Mile TT event. She also completed the national 50 Mile TT championship, setting a fast time, but there were no awards for Juniors, due to the longer distance.
Abbey’s father and Suffolk Youth Race Team coach Leon Thompson said: ‘Abbey has trained hard this season fighting to keep herself in form after she had Covid, through regular physical training and racing in some very tough events. She trains with the team at Stonham Barns Park Showground track. Her riding peers are also putting in regular training and winning at national and regional levels. Abbey with her outstanding skills – and the sponsorship boost from the venue – means she is one of the young cyclists to watch.’
Says Abbey, ‘I’m still in shock to have pulled of the Champion of Champions title for a second year. It has given me a huge boost to my confidence and all in a season when I battled Covid. If I can do it this year, I am hopeful that I could take the title next year too, with a bit of luck.’
Abbey, who began racing when she was just seven years old, races for Stonham Barns Park Suffolk Youth Race Team. Her cycle inspirations are Lizzie Deignan, especially after she won on the cobbles in the Paris Roubaix with blood showing on her hands where the skin had worn off, such was her determination to winning, and Mark Cavendish for his incredible sprinting skills.
Locally, Abbey won the Ipswich District Cycling Association TT Championship at both Junior and Juvenile levels, that anyone can enter. Abbey has also won the regional Juvenile and Junior Best All Rounders competitions too.
To date Abbey has notched up over 160 first places and Championship wins. Her aim for 2023 is for British Cycling to see that she has potential, as well as riding in the National 100 Mile TT championship. Amongst her favourite wins she includes the Paris Roubaix and 25TT National Championship, and the Isle of Man National Youth series wins.
Her long-term aim is to be a professional cyclist and would love to be good enough to race in the World Championships, and the women’s Tour de France!
Says Abbey of her passion for cycling, ‘When I was eight years old, I could do 10 miles at over 16 miles per hour. I love speed and if I have a difficult start to a race, I love to chase back to fight for the win. It’s the challenge that makes it fun. I am now faster, stronger and more motivated with each and every season. I will try my hardest to make it. I think that’s all I can do. If I don’t make it, I know I can hold my head up high and say ‘I did try, and I won a bit along the way’. To win a race is an amazing feeling. It’s not like most team sports, where you can jog along and take a rest, in TTs you must manage your body under extreme circumstances, and you must have to be strong mind to push in a very controlled way to make your body go faster and further than anyone else’s body can. TTs are called the ‘Race of Truth’ for a reason. There is nowhere to hide. We spend a lot of time analysing data to try and make up seconds in a race. To remember that while your body is feeling tired and your head is screaming at you to stop, isn’t easy, but that’s what it takes to win’
The Stonham Barns Park – Suffolk Youth Race Team is affiliated with British Cycling and Cycling Time Trials, where there’s a full calendar of racing each year. There are team members aged from 6-17 years. Its vision is to produce accomplished riders, building skills, confidence and safety on a bike.
For more information on Abbey visit www.abbeythompson.co.uk
