Cyclist Ed Lowe has been named in the Great Britain squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics
Stamford cyclist Ed Lowe has been selected to represent Great Britain at this summer’s Paris Olympics, in the Elite Men's Sprint Team.
It’s an outstanding achievement for the 20-year-old who only stepped up to the Olympic Podium Programme Team in October 2023.
Lowe is now in the final stage of training and preparation for the Olympics with his teammates. They will attend an intensive training and preparation camp in Newport, Wales, a few weeks before they leave for Paris in early August.
At Paris, Lowe lead-out the GB Men's Elite Team Sprint, as ‘Man 1’ on August 5. Then, if they are fast enough, and in the top eight countries they will ride on the morning of August 6 in the semi-finals. The top four teams will then ride again that evening in the gold final and a ride for bronze.
There’s a realistic chance of a podium finish for Team GB given their recent successes achieved in GBCT Team Sprint competitions, where Lowe was Man 1.
The Team Sprint competition is often viewed as ‘the blue ribbon event’ in Velodrome Track cycling and the former GB Sprinting greats who have competed in this event include Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Jason Kenny, who is Lowe’s coach.
The Team Sprint is a fast three-rider time trial over three laps. The Man 1 role is pivotal in getting the team cleanly out of the starting gate, and swiftly up to speed (about 45mph) while providing aerodynamic-cover by parting the air for the second and third riders and saving their energy. At handover, Man 1 also provides the cover and opportunity for a ‘gap rush’ by Man 2, and the chance of a critical secondary acceleration.
Lowe started cycling locally and joined Fenland Clarion and Bourne Wheelers as a youth. At 12, he started competing seriously in road endurance races, but it was only when he was 14 that Lowe found the Velodrome and took to Track Sprinting. He was quickly talent spotted and over the last six years, has progressed through all rungs of the GBCT Talent Development programme.
Tokyo silver and bronze medallist Jack Carlin heads up the men’s sprint squad for his second Games, alongside debutant Hamish Turnbull and Lowe. Joe Truman will be the travelling reserve.
Lowe was one of the first 20 athletes named by the British Olympic Association. The selection includes four Olympic medallists and 10 debutants from track, road and mountain bike disciplines with a further six squads to be announced in early July. It will be the biggest cycling delegation ever sent to the Olympics.
Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE, said: “I am delighted for each and every one of the riders we have announced to represent Team GB in Paris and have no doubt that they will make the nation proud over the 18 days of cycling competition in Paris.
“This group includes four previous Olympic medallists, with Tom Pidcock, Ethan Hayter, Katy Marchant and Jack Carlin all looking to get themselves on the podium once again, while on the other side of the coin I’m proud once again of our work to support and nurture the best of British talent through our performance pathway, and to see 10 debutants announced as part of the squad.
“We’re blessed with an incredibly talented, passionate and hungry squad of riders, and we are now fully focused on supporting their final preparations so that they can be at their very best come Paris.”
