IT is no wonder there is a lot of excitement in British cycling for Warrington’s Seb Grindley.
The 18-year-old from Stockton Heath, who is the son of an Olympic medallist, has produced some brilliant results in 2024 and will be striving for more with his new team after spending the winter in Spain riding in warm weather and on hilly terrain.
Former Warrington-based North Cheshire Clarion junior Seb has been signed for the development team at Lidl-Trek Future Racing for 2025, and is the only UK rider to be so as he sets out in his first year of under 23s racing.
This follows his stunning performance for Great Britain in the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, at the end of last month when he finished second in the junior men’s race - the first Briton to ever medal in the event at that level.
Sebastian Andersen, sports director of Lidl-Trek Future Racing who were established last year, said: “Seb had an incredible performance at the worlds, proving he’s a championship rider.
“He’s professional, driven, and brings great energy to the team. I’m excited to see him racing from the front next year.”
Seb, who studied at The Grange School in Hartford, Northwich, achieved victories in four other events, too, while racing for Fensham Howes this year.
They came in the Danilith Nokere Koerse MJ in Germany in March, the CAMS Yorkshire Classic in June, the Fenwick’s Tour of the Mendips and the SD Sealants Junior Tour of Wales, both in August.
On top of that the 6ft 2ins cyclist had podium finishes in two events in Belgium during the summer.
Those who came through the ranks with him at North Cheshire Clarion will not be surprised by the levels he is achieving now.
He became their first national champion when he won the cyclocross title in the under 14s age group four years ago and he plans to continue racing in that muddy discipline as well as pounding the tarmac.
Seb comes from good stock.
His father Dave, an airline pilot who was born and raised in Wigan, won a bronze medal with the Great Britain 4x400m relay team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
The 44.72secs personal best he clocked during those Games as a Wigan Harriers athlete remains the fastest time in Europe for a teenager, as he was 19 at the time.
Sport is in his mum Zoe’s genes too, as she used to run 5K and 10K races for Wigan Phoenix.
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