We are delighted to announce that Sophie Lewis (Lower Sixth) has been selected for the Great British Cycling Team Junior Academy Programme.

The programme is focused on developing the country’s best junior riders, ensuring that they are ready for life as full-time athletes. Sophie has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Girls’ Endurance category. Find out the full squad list here.

We spoke to Sophie about her cycling background, she said: “I started cycling when I was nine years of age, joining the cycle club in my village. At first it was just for a bit of fun and I wasn’t very serious, but it soon progressed to racing on the velodrome and followed by road racing.

“Over the last two years, I have been part of the Olympic Development Apprentice Programme, which has allowed me to develop as an athlete, winning two British national titles, in the scratch race and the madison race, along with other national wins. Over the summer, I competed in the European Youth Cycling Tour in the Netherlands, which was an amazing experience. I was very pleased to claim second place on one of the stages.

“I am extremely honoured to have just been selected for the Great Britain Junior Cycling Team. I am excited to see what this brings over the next year and look forward to racing for Great Britain as well as my team, Cycle Team OnForm.”