LISTEN: The Warm Up - Talking cycling with Charlie Tourtel and Paul De Garis

Wednesday 27 March 2024

Charlie Tourtel has been given the opportunity to test himself and learn among the best young cyclists in Great Britain as part of the Guernsey Velo Club’s continual push to maximise talent locally.

Tourtel’s development over the last couple of years has seen him pushing more senior riders locally as he is now looking to establish himself within the top 10 in his age group nationally and eyeing spots on future Island Games mountain bike teams.

He spoke to the Warm Up about his experiences at British Cycling Development weekends: “It’s really good to see where everyone’s at, how people are technically and physically and get a good view for the competition,” he said.

Pictured: Charlie at a British Cycling development weekend.

Guernsey Velo Club development officer Paul De Garis said Charlie was at a level now where he needed to take that step up.

“These British Cycling weekends, like he said, it’s a comparison with where you’re at against better riders, that ups your game as well. Over those weekends Charlie covered quite a lot in terms of race preparation, just that finer detail.” 

Moving forward, the club wants more of its riders racing off island, something that will be seen later this year, the told the Warm Up.

There will be double digit numbers going to the Southern Region cross country mountain bike series, for example.

An academy group will also travel for the third round in June.

Younger riders will also travel to France at the end of August for some road racing.

“If you're racing over here and you're racing the same people it becomes a bit stagnant. You end up winning a race, you could be five minutes clear and what does that do for you? To be challenged helps you develop your skills, helps you develop yourself as a person.”

LISTEN to the latest episode of the Warm Up to find out more about what is happening in the world of cycling, including details of this weekend's Easter Festival.