Tobyn Horton

Homegrown rider Tobyn Horton, from the island of Guernsey, took time out to answer a few questions. Tobyn is the first professional cyclist to come from the Channel Islands.

How does it feel to be the first professional cyclist from the Channel Islands?

It feels good; it’s always nice to achieve something which hasn’t been done before by someone in the Channel Islands.  It’s what I’ve been aiming for, for the last few seasons and I hope leads onto some good results in the bigger races like the Tour of Bretagne.

Coming from an Island so small how have you managed to get the miles needed to be a professional in your legs?

That has been my biggest difficulty over the last few winters, getting the hours and miles of training needed for a solid season of racing.  Its harder mentally than physically.  On a big week training back home ill do 3.5hrs a day for a week which means you see the same roads a lot day after day, it gets very tedious.  In January 09 I spent 3 weeks in Lanzarote to prepare for that season and it really paid off as I felt the difference in my form from the start of the season. 

This winter I spent 2 months training in Australia and it made a huge difference to my early season form feeling strong from the first race so was well worth it. 

How has the season gone so far?

I started the season well and was getting stronger and stronger every race until I picked up a bit of a cold and some breathing difficulties.  I seem to be back on track now and feeling good on the bike again so am more and more confident for Bretagne everyday.

In my second race of the season I was 11th in the 1.2 Omloop Waasland in Belgium, and finished 5th in the Premier Calendar Tour of the Reservoir

Tell us a little about your team?

The team is managed by Magnus Backstedt and Martin McCrossan.  It’s a Swedish registered team but with an international touch. Australian, American, British and then the majority are Swedish riders.  Everyone gets on really well and that really helps on and off the bike as you spend a lot of time together.  We can all learn a lot from Magnus’s experience as a top professional which helps us improve race after race.

With the Tour of Bretagne starting so close to home this must be a special feeling?

Yeh, for sure it is, I can’t get any closer to home for me than this without being on Guernsey itself so it’ll be a strange feeling racing such a big race in a pretty familiar environment.

There is a lot of expectation on you, does this add unwanted pressure or is this part of being a pro athlete?

Its all part of being an athelete at any level really, I don’t get nervous for races anymore.  It’s almost like someone who works in a normal day job being nervous going to work each morning.  I’m going into the race knowing that I have trained as best I can which gives me confidence.  I will give it 110%  everyday.........I just hope that is enough for the win. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

It’s a difficult question to answer. I want to be riding for a top Pro Continental or Pro Tour team making a good living off riding and racing the early season classics like the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris Roubaix and then obviously the biggest race that everyone knows The Tour de France.  That’s what I want to be doing and the goal but it’s a big step from where I’m at now and it’s not an easy step to make.  I hope that Team Sprocket finds the big sponsor we need to grow and then I can progress with them into the higher pro ranks and races.

Have you had a chance to look at the circuits, if so what do you think?

I have had a quick look at the circuits and there is some undulating terrain most days, some more than others.  I am sure that a few days at least will end in bunch sprints or a big breakaway which should suit me.  We have someone in the team that has a good chance whatever the terrain is.

What advice would you give to anyone inspired by watching the Tour de Bretagne if they want to start cycling?

Get a bike and helmet and get out there, if you enjoy watching cycling then you’ll have much more fun being out there and doing it yourself at whatever level, racing or just as a way to keep fit and healthy.  Wherever you are living there will most likely be some kind of event to suit what you want to do.  Whether it’s an organised leisurely group ride, organised mass start event or full on road racing there is something out there that you will enjoy. 

Do you feel like a pioneer for the Channel Islands?

No, not really but I hope that it shows what is achievable with some hard work and persistence to any cyclists from the Channel Islands that may have similar goals.

Will racing in events such as the Tour de Bretagne prepare you well for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi?

Yeh, racing of this calibre will just make me stronger and stronger as the season goes on so I will go into the Commonwealth Games as best prepared as I can be.

Read more with our Insiders Guide to the Tour de Bretagne >