A year of travelling, training, racing, and putting his new bike to the test, Will Gilbank has sustained a stellar performance throughout 2023.
“Although I have been cycling for over six years now, not much prepared me for the chaos of being a junior bike racer.
The year started pretty simply, with a win at the outdoor circuit of the Olympic Velodrome in London. From that point on, it all became a lot more hectic. I travelled to Belgium at the start of March and bagged a podium, 3rd in my first race on the continent. Then, I tackled the UCI race at Guido-Reybrouck. This had an international field of 150 riders, and I came 48th in the 10 km time trial and then 69th in the 130 km race. Not my best showing, but a savage introduction to the cobbles of Belgium and the very best racing you could find.
Then, it was off to Mallorca for a week of sunny training, before back for the more races in Belgium, The Netherlands and various roads and velodromes of the UK. Lots of miles bagged on the bike and in the van.
Then came my highlight of the year. The Junior National Series is contested across the country and I started off well, with a 9th in the Yorkshire Classic, then 4th in the Hatherleigh National before taking on the Bath Road Club Race. The route was a staggering 120km- 100km of which were spent in the break, before going solo in the last 2km.
It was on the downhill part, away from the windy plateau, that I seized my opportunity, and got to the final climb, with enough of a buffer to take my first national win.
Away from the road, I carried on racing on the track, where I won the Brixton Super Madison at the Herne Hill Velodrome. This was a series of events, culminating in 80 laps of the velodrome, in a 20-strong field, a super hard and fast points race, but we came out on top. I was then in great form going into the Junior National Track Champs, where I managed to get a silver medal in the Scratch race equalling my best result in a National Track competition.
This was my first year racing my Trek Emonda SLR7, and what a difference it has made, Aside from how cool it looks, it is stiff, light and insanely fast. The acceleration is stunning and this is what has allowed me to surge from the bunch and take the sprint, as well as drive away and get the gap, leaving the bunch to chase. It is truly everything I could have wished for in a race bike, and it really was raced to the limit on many occasions.
“I would like to thank the kindness of Highway Cycles for putting their faith in me, I hope that with the results I have achieved, this has been repaid. I am also very grateful to them for looking after the bike, getting it race ready and ensuring it is super smooth. The mechanics are truly the very best.”
I am pretty pleased with my 2023 results, and hopefully 2024 will be my year, potentially getting another national win, or even better, an international one. Whatever happens, I know that I will be racking up a lot of miles and hopefully a lot of smiles!”
To continue following Will’s progress, visit: Gilbank Racing – I enjoy riding and I race to win!
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