Meet the UK Team!

Marcus Elliott STARTING FTP: 348w WATTS PER KILOGRAM: 4.1

As a child, I’d pretend to be Chris Boardman and adopting an aero timetrial position on a Peugeot mountain bike was ‘fun’. However, football and rugby took over through my teens and twenties. After I stopped, I hit 100kg and my mental health suffered. I’d seen a relaxed charity bike ride (Castle to Coast to Castle), so I bought a bike. The first five kilometres almost killed me, but soon I was getting fitter, losing 10kg in the process. Six months later I’d done my first century. As a larger cyclist, living in flat Lincolnshire suits me. This year was about climbing. L’Etape du Tour was three times the elevation of any previous ride. Now my targets are about building a powerful engine in readiness to try different types of cycling, including time trials, criteriums and cyclocross, once we’re able to.

Steph Clutterbuck STARTING FTP: 312w WATTS PER KILOGRAM: 4.8

I’d describe myself as a competitive cyclist. My focus is on endurance triathlons so strength on the bike is a fundamental part of fulfilling your potential in the race. I was first a swimmer, then a rower, but I had always loved getting out on my bike and going fast. In 2018 I retired from rowing injured and took up the challenge to cycle unsupported from Land’s End to John O’Groats. This is where I fell in love with being out on the road - it’s given me freedom. Much like everyone else, 2020 has not gone to plan, but it has given me the ideal training conditions to further improve my endurance base and prepare for Ironman triathlons in the future. I’m working on bike handling when I’m able to get out on the road and making the most of creating balance in my life through a healthy mindset.

Paul Gillam STARTING FTP: 269w WATTS PER KILOGRAM: 3.4

I class myself as a just-above-average cyclist: no spectacular numbers, no crazy times (although my road sign sprints are something to behold). I live in the Surrey Hills, so chances are that on a weekend you’ll find me riding up Box Hill or on the bun run to Cinnamon Cafe in Windsor. This year I bought a race license to compete in local criterium races so I trained through the winter, researched all the local races and spoke to some experienced riders who gave me some tips. Oh well – it’s knowledge I’ll still have the next time we’re allowed to race! My goals have readjusted from racing criteriums early in the season to seeing how much I can improve on the turbo trainer. I can already feel the benefits, I’ve lost 3kgs in two months and the power numbers are creeping up too.