British expertise Cat Ferguson had fairly the 2023 season. From profitable her first Nations Cup on her debut at Trofeo Binda Juniors and following it up with victory on the Tour of Flanders to ending second on the World Championships in Glasgow and shutting out the highway season because the top-ranked junior rider, Ferguson appears set for stardom.
The Yorkshire-based teenager was exceptionally constant and exceeded expectations along with her haul of victories as a first-year junior. A typical theme of her first few wins was a hand over the mouth in amazement as she appeared to shock herself, however the Briton should get used to having her arms within the air on the fee she’s presently going.
Many groups got here knocking after her quick success, but it surely’s Spanish squad Movistar that has secured her signature. She burdened that the transfer simply felt proper from her first conferences with workforce supervisor Sebastián Unzué.
She’ll be a part of Movistar as a trainee in August subsequent yr after turning 18 in April, along with her first full season within the WorldTour on account of arrive in 2025. Ferguson will shut out her time as a second-year junior for Shibden Hope Apex Tech, a Yorkshire-based workforce run by her father.
Ferguson has impressed not solely on the highway but in addition on the cyclocross area and the monitor. British biking followers might know her for dominating the junior National Trophy sequence, however she introduced herself globally along with her first World Cup win in Troyes final month. It was one other shock for Ferguson, maybe nonetheless uncertain of simply how good she is.
From her work with well-known coaches Seth Smith and Emma Trott, Ferguson has developed right into a rider with nice race-craft and technical potential, capable of make use of a powerful dash to take wins on a variety of routes. Look out for her on all kinds of parcours however sooner nonetheless, the upcoming rounds of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup and World Championships in Tabor.
Cyclingnews caught up with Ferguson after she returned home from the Dublin World Cup and had a second away from washing muddy package and finding out for her A-Levels.
Cyclingnews: I perceive you’re from a area of the nation the place biking could be very well-liked in Yorkshire, however how did you get into the game?
Cat Ferguson: First of all, I’m very proud to be from Yorkshire. My mum’s from Cumbria and my dad’s from Yorkshire and it was him who obtained me into it as he used to do climbing, and to maintain his weight down he used to do mountain biking. So after I was younger he used to take me on a tag alongside on some muddy path centre rides. I used to hate it, to be trustworthy.
All the spray from his again wheel would simply find yourself on me, I can not say I used to be a fan of it. But then I joined a membership and met some associates and actually began to get pleasure from it. Then COVID hit and I began to race extra significantly after that.
CN: What was it like as such a young rider in the course of the pandemic and lockdowns?
CF: I did a number of racing via lockdown and to be trustworthy I hated that. I do not assume I’ll ever return to Zwift racing, however I did actually get pleasure from it being my first go at being an unbiased bike owner. I used to only go on rides with different individuals however due to the lockdown there have been fewer automobiles on the roads so I went out much more simply on my own and began to get pleasure from it for myself.
CN: You’ve had an almost unprecedented yr, profitable your first Nations Cup. It appeared like in all of the winners’ photos you have been very shocked. Did you count on the success to return so quickly?
CF: No, by no means and I went into the highway season with some expectations simply because final yr I went to the European Youth Olympics in Slovakia and gained each the highway race and time trial. So I kind of hoped for some first rate outcomes.
I set myself the aim of a high ten at highway Worlds however I did not count on to enter the primary race at Binda in March and win. It was a giant shock and you can begin to inform from my end celebrations.
Even now just like the final race I gained in France in cyclocross, I used to be so shocked and by no means been so completely happy throughout the end line. It’s nonetheless each race I’m studying extra about myself and my opponents.
CN: Did you might have it in your head that you simply should not be profitable since you have been nonetheless solely 16?
CF: I believe that first race at Binda was only a full shock. I used to be within the break and I do not usually win from a break both. It was my First Nations Cup and first race with like 150 women and I’d survived, I used to be the one on high. It was a mega feeling.
CN: Your season went nice thereafter then we arrived at Worlds the place you got here second and on the time you stated in interviews ‘If you told me this at the start of the year I would have been buzzing with second’. How do you look again on it now?
CF: I believe it is an attention-grabbing one. At the time, I used to be in all probability fairly emotional. I used to be so happy to face on the rostrum and are available second after that race as a result of throughout it every little thing kind of kicked off and I wasn’t anticipating it. To pull second place out of the bag I used to be tremendous proud of.
But now from reflection, I’ve watched it again and listened to criticism and I’m a little bit bit irritated at myself but in addition so pleased with myself. I believe going into subsequent yr I’ve positively realized a lot from that race specifically.
We did not work very nicely as a workforce and I believe if we might caught the French lady, then I’d’ve been capable of win the dash like I did for second place. Then clearly the rainbow stripes could be mine. It’s a bit irritating however second yeah, I’m nonetheless mega happy with that.
Cat Ferguson gained a diminished dash to complete second at worlds in Glasgow (Image credit score: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
CN: What have been the principle belongings you took out of your first yr as a junior and do you are feeling you continue to realized the belongings you wanted to despite the fact that you have been already profitable?
CF: I believe I’m nonetheless studying and bunch positioning, despite the fact that I’m alright in direction of the tip with regards to a dash, might be what I have to work on going ahead. One of my predominant takeaways this yr is stepping up from the UK home scene the place you’re racing 40 women to stepping as much as the large races as a junior when there are 150 women. Even being on the entrance of the race I’m proud of however I nonetheless have to work on it.
CN: You touched in your win in Troyes briefly earlier, how did you get into doing cyclocross alongside highway?
CF: When I used to be round 14ish my greatest good friend on the time was doing cyclocross alongside highway and she or he simply instructed me that she loved it. So that season we went all in, purchased two Cross Bikes and I did all of the National Trophies within the UK and loved it. I wished to keep it up because it gave a little bit of enjoyable to the winter. I could not think about doing a winter of simply base endurance, that feels like hell to me, to be trustworthy.
CN: What was that first win like in France ?
CF: It was insane. I had loads of success on the highway this yr and final cross season as a first-year Junior I used to be completely happy, however I did not ever get a giant win overseas or a Podium. So that win meant lots and to repeat my highway success in one other self-discipline was wonderful.
CN: At Cyclocross Worlds final yr, you have been sixth. What’s the plan from now till then for Tabor?
CF: I’ll be again for the following couple of World Cups in Namur after which Antwerp so each in Belgium, then coaching and racing over the Christmas interval in Belgium. Then I’ll head to Benidorm which goes to be enjoyable and Hoogerheide for the World Cups there. Then my predominant aim is worlds.
CN: Wil you doing the very typical factor that every one Brits racing CX do and transfer to Belgium for Christmas this yr?
CF: It’s my first time doing it, yeah, a lot to my mum’s disappointment.
Cat Ferguson took her first cyclocross World Cup win on the junior race in Troyes (Image credit score: Getty Images)
CN: With your ends in Binda and Flanders, was there already World Tour curiosity earlier than then or did the calls from most groups begin coming in after that?
CF: I had a little bit little bit of curiosity from a few good cyclocross groups in the course of the cross season as a first-year Junior after which I gained Binda and a few groups have been fascinated about me. I began getting approached by a few brokers and signed with Jamie and 258. Then I gained Flanders and that piqued Movistar’s curiosity.
CN: What made Movistar the proper match?
CF: I’d spoken to a few groups earlier than and I simply felt totally different chatting with them, Sebastián, the director. They have been simply so accommodating to my private wants and have been so pleasant. I’m so excited to fulfill the remainder of the workforce. I actually like their ethos and I’m very enthusiastic about such a tremendous alternative.
CN: As you’re nonetheless solely 17, you gained’t have the ability to begin as a stagiaire till August, how does contact with the workforce between now and August look?
CF: At the second they’re simply supporting me with bikes and gear. So I’ve obtained all Canyon bikes now which I’m loving after which I’m going to a coaching camp with them in January in Benidorm simply earlier than the World Cup. Then I begin subsequent August after I can formally journey for them as a stagiaire and hopefully, I’ll have the ability to do a few lower-level UCI races from August to October earlier than 2025 for my first correct season.
CN: Your dad based the workforce you’re presently driving for and there are different nice prospects on the workforce reminiscent of Imogen Wolff. How has driving for them been on your growth?
CF: To be trustworthy, and to not give all of the credit score to my dad, however I’d say it’s right down to him. He’s very eager, not pushy in any respect, however he is simply so private to the riders. The suggestions after races, the workforce atmosphere. Its so particular and it is not generalized to only the entire workforce. It’s very individual and I believe that is why our workforce has in all probability finished the most effective.
CN: At 17, you are after all nonetheless in school for the second, how is combining attempting to turn into a full-time skilled rider with finishing A-Levels?
CF: It’s a bit loopy, to be trustworthy. I’m in yr 13 now and the distinction from yr 12 is a bit mad. Obviously, I’ve obtained to take a seat my exams, however there’s additionally a lot extra that comes with it. It’s simply time administration and utilizing journey to your benefit, revising within the automotive and stuff like that. It’s not very enjoyable but it surely needs to be finished.
CN: What do you make of riders coming via so young these days reminiscent of your self and Zoe Backstedt?
CF: I believe having the backing of my agent reassured me that it was the proper resolution. Lots of people criticised me only for signing so early. I’ve not simply signed it as a junior however as a first-year Junior so I’ve had a little bit of adverse criticism, however in the end for me, it felt proper and I can not see myself in another workforce for the close to future.
I believe with women it is a little bit bit totally different in comparison with boys. You see fewer boys step as much as WorldTour instantly, however that is as a result of as a feminine we do not have loads of under-23 class races or groups. You kind of should step up right away to World Tour in any other case you will get left behind within the Conti world.
CN: With your growth, you have had two well-known coaches Emma Trott and Seth Smith having labored with Zoe Backstedt and Tom Pidcock beforehand. How have they aided your growth driving for the GB Junior Academy and Hope?
CF: Seth lives actually about 5 minutes down the highway and sadly, this yr he’s stepped again a little bit bit from Hope however final yr and the final two years to be trustworthy, he is coached me practically each Wednesday night time. I’d say you’ll be able to actually discover it in my technical skills in cyclocross, it is actually come on due to him. I do not know the place I’d be at this time with out his expertise and Emma’s skilled teaching.
CN: I do know you will not need to pigeonhole your self as a rider but it surely was fairly apparent you stored profitable sprints final yr, however you are not a sprinter from what I perceive. So what sort of rider would you say you have been?
CF: To be trustworthy, I’m probably not certain. I’ve requested myself that query fairly just a few instances this yr and I by no means was once that fast. Then this yr I’ve simply almost by chance finished fairly nicely in bunch sprints. I’d say I’ve been higher within the diminished bunches and fewer a lot within the huge bunches the place I’ve nonetheless finished alright, however I’m probably not certain how I see myself progressing sooner or later. I appear to have finished fairly nicely in climbing, TTS and sprints this yr. So I’ll simply kind of see the place the highway takes me with that.
CN: You’ve simply had an icon of the game go away the workforce you are about to hitch in Annemiek van Vleuten. What type of riders did you look as much as Growing Up?
CF: I’d positively say Lizzie Deignan. She’s from Otley which is like half-hour away from me. 100% her. Emma Trott truly stated that my driving type is a little bit bit just like Lizzy’s, in order that’s fairly cool and she or he’s somebody I’ve regarded as much as my entire life and has been so influential in girls’s biking.
She’s one in every of my greatest inspirations. I met her for the primary time final Wednesday at this Champions of Cycle Sport dinner in London and obtained a stand subsequent yr on stage which was a bit psychological.
CN: Is there a race you’d like to win if you be a part of the World Tour?
CF: I’d like to win the Olympics. It’s not very ‘cyclingy’ however as a child, I all the time tried each sport and stated I wished to go to the Olympics. So to win a gold medal could be insane. Also, in all probability Paris-Roubaix I’d like to win that.
