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Elinor Barker

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Elinor Barker
MBE
Barker in 2020
Personal information
Full nameElinor Jane Barker
Born (1994-09-07) 7 September 1994 (age 30)
Cardiff, Wales
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)[1]
Weight56 kg (123 lb)[1]
Team information
Current teamUno-X Mobility
Discipline
  • Road
  • Track
RoleRider
Rider type
  • Road: Time trialist
  • Track: Pursuitist
Amateur teams
2005–2007Maindy Flyers
2008Kidney Wales For Escentual
2009–2011Cardiff Ajax
2012Scott Contessa Epic RT[2]
2020Tekkerz[3]
Professional teams
2012–2014Team USN (track)
2013–2014Wiggle–Honda (road)
2015–2017Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling
2018Wiggle High5
2019Drops[4]
2022–Uno-X Pro Cycling Team[5]
Medal record
Women's track cycling
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Madison
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Team pursuit
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Minsk Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2014 Cali Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hong Kong Points race
Gold medal – first place 2019 Pruszków Scratch
Gold medal – first place 2020 Berlin Points race
Gold medal – first place 2023 Glasgow Madison
Gold medal – first place 2023 Glasgow Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2015 Yvelines Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2017 Hong Kong Scratch
Silver medal – second place 2017 Hong Kong Madison
Silver medal – second place 2018 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2019 Pruszków Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2020 Berlin Team pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2016 London Team pursuit
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2014 Guadeloupe Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2015 Grenchen Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2017 Berlin Madison
Gold medal – first place 2018 Glasgow Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2019 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2020 Plovdiv Elimination
Gold medal – first place 2020 Plovdiv Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2023 Grenchen Madison
Gold medal – first place 2023 Grenchen Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2016 Yvelines Scratch
Silver medal – second place 2017 Berlin Team pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Plovdiv Madison
Junior World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2012 Invercargill Individual pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2012 Invercargill Omnium
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Invercargill Team pursuit
U23 & Junior European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Anadia Junior Individual pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2012 Anadia Junior Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2011 Anadia Junior Individual pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2013 Anadia U23 Individual pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2013 Anadia U23 Points race
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Points race
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow Points race
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Glasgow Scratch
Women's road cycling
Representing  Great Britain
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Valkenburg Junior Time trial
Silver medal – second place 2011 Copenhagen Junior Time trial

Elinor Jane Barker MBE (born 7 September 1994) is a Welsh road and track racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's Team Uno-X Mobility. Representing Great Britain in international competitions, Barker is an Olympic champion, a three-time World champion and seven-time European champion in the team pursuit, as well as a three-time World champion in the points and scratch races, a World champion in the madison, a two-time European madison champion and one time European elimination race champion. Representing Wales, Barker was also the points race champion at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Career

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Elinor Jane Barker from Heath, Cardiff, is the daughter of Graham Barker, deputy headteacher at St Julian's Comprehensive School in Newport.[6] She has two older siblings, Joe and Harri and a sister, Megan, three years her junior and also a successful racing cyclist.[7] She attended Llanishen High School.[6]

Junior career

[edit]

Barker took up cycling with the Maindy Flyers at the age of 10, as a way of getting out of swimming classes.[6][8] She was recruited into British Cycling's Olympic Development Academy,[7] but remained based in Wales until she completed her A-levels in 2013, after which she moved to Manchester to train full-time at Manchester Velodrome.[9]

She became the Junior Time Trial world champion in 2012, completing the 15.6-kilometre (9.7-mile) course in Valkenburg, Netherlands in 22 minutes and 26.29 seconds, beating Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Denmark by 35.87 seconds. Subsequently, Barker was named Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2012.[10]

Professional career

[edit]

In 2013, she became a senior world champion for the first time as a member of the team pursuit squad at the UCI Track World Championships.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Barker represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, winning silver and bronze medals.[11][12]

In September 2014, it was announced that Barker would follow in the footsteps of teammate Laura Trott and join the Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling team for 2015.[13]

At her home world championships in London, Barker was part of the pursuit team along with Ciara Horne, Joanna Rowsell Shand and Trott to claim the bronze medal; after a disappointing qualifying ride.[14] At the 2016 Olympic Games, Barker along with Katie Archibald, Rowsell Shand and Trott claimed the gold medal in the team pursuit in a world record time of four minutes and 10.236 seconds.[15]

Returning to the track after the Olympics, Barker claimed the silver medal at the European Championships.[16] Barker followed this by winning the points race at the world cup in Apeldoorn.[17] Barker then claimed the title at the Six Days of Amsterdam.[18] Barker closed 2016 with success in the national Madison championships alongside Laura Kenny.[19] Starting 2017 Barker finished second in the ominium event and third in the scratch race at the national championships.[20] Barker finished an impressive third in the points race at the world cup event in Los Angeles, despite having just 15 minutes rest after the Madison event.[21] At the Six days series final, despite not winning a race in Mallorca, Barker won the title.[22] At the World Championships, Barker claimed two silver medals, one in the scratch race and the other in the Madison alongside Emily Nelson.[23][24] Barker went on to win her first individual world title in the points race.[25]

For the 2018 season Barker decided to join Wiggle High5,[26] and joined Drops for 2019, after Wiggle High5 folded.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Barker took the gold in the points race for Wales, ahead of Scots Katie Archibald and Neah Evans. Barker's win was the first Commonwealth Games title for a Welsh track cyclist since 1990.[27] Later that year she was part of the Team GB squad that took the gold in the team pursuit at the European Track Championships on home ground in Glasgow.[28] At the 2019 Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszków, Barker won the rainbow jersey in the scratch race, her first world title in that discipline.[29]

At the 2020 Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, Barker won the gold in the points race on the final day of the championships, taking Team GB's only title of the meeting. She was also part of the team that took silver in the team pursuit.[30] Later that year Barker took two titles at the European Track Championships, one as part of the team pursuit squad alongside Katie Archibald, Neah Evans, Laura Kenny and Josie Knight, and an individual gold in the elimination race.[31]

In 2021, Barker was part of the British team that won silver in the women's team pursuit at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.[32] During the Games she signed a two-year deal to join the Uno-X team from 2022.[33][34] In April 2023, Barker extended her contract with Uno-X until 2027.[35]

Personal life

[edit]

Barker revealed in 2019 that she was suffering from endometriosis, which nearly caused her to retire, as well as potentially affecting her chances of having a child.[36] In October 2021, Barker announced that she was pregnant, and had been so when she competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[37] She is married to Danish cyclist Casper von Folsach.[38]

Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to cycling.[39][40]

Major results

[edit]
Winning gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Gold in the madison at the Europeans with Ellie Dickinson

Track

[edit]
2011
National Junior Championships
1st Individual pursuit
2nd Scratch
2nd Individual pursuit, UEC European Junior Championships
2012
UEC European Junior Championships
1st Individual pursuit
1st Team pursuit
2nd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Cali
UCI World Junior Championships
2nd Omnium
2nd Individual pursuit
3rd Team pursuit
2013
1st Team pursuit, UCI World Championships
1st Team pursuit, UEC European Championships
UEC European Under-23 Championships
2nd Individual pursuit
2nd Points race
3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Aguascalientes
2014
1st Team pursuit, UCI World Championships
1st Team pursuit, UEC European Championships
1st Team pursuit, National Championships
UCI World Cup
1st Team pursuit, Guadalajara
1st Team pursuit, London
3rd Points race, London
Revolution
1st Scratch – Round 3, Manchester
2nd Points Race – Round 2, Manchester
3rd Points Race – Round 3, Manchester
3rd Scratch – Round 4, Manchester
Commonwealth Games
2nd Points race
3rd Scratch
2015
1st Team pursuit, UEC European Championships
Revolution
1st Points Race – Round 6, Manchester
1st Scratch – Round 3, Manchester
2nd Points Race – Round 3, Manchester
2nd Team pursuit, UCI World Championships
3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Cali
2016
1st Team pursuit, Olympic Games
1st Madison, National Championships (with Laura Kenny)
UCI World Cup
1st Points race, Apeldoorn
2nd Team pursuit, Hong Kong
1st Omnium, Six Days of Amsterdam[18]
2nd Scratch, UEC European Championships
Revolution Series
2nd Points Race – Round 1, Manchester
2nd Points Race – Round 5, Manchester
Revolution Champions League
2nd Points Race – Round 2, London
3rd Omnium – Round 1, Manchester
3rd Points Race – Round 1, Manchester
3rd Scratch – Round 2, London
3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Championships
2017
UCI World Championships
1st Points race
2nd Scratch
2nd Madison (with Emily Nelson)
UEC European Championships
1st Madison (with Ellie Dickinson)
2nd Team pursuit
UCI World Cup
1st Madison, Manchester
1st Team Pursuit, Manchester
2nd Madison, Pruszków (with Emily Nelson)
1st Omnium, Six Day Final, Mallorca
National Championships
2nd Omnium
3rd Scratch
3rd Scratch, Champions League – Round 1, London
2018
1st Team pursuit, UEC European Championships
1st Points race, Commonwealth Games
1st Madison, National Championships (with Katie Archibald)
2nd Scratch, Champions League – Round 3, Manchester
2019
1st Scratch, UCI World Championships
2020
1st Points race, UCI World Championships
UEC European Championships
1st Elimination
1st Team pursuit
2021
2nd Team pursuit, Olympic Games

Road

[edit]
2011
1st Stratford-upon-Avon Team Series
1st Stage 1 Essex Giro
2nd Time trial, UCI World Junior Championships
2012
1st Time trial, UCI World Junior Championships
1st Jubilee Road Race
1st Duncan Murray Wines Road Race
2nd Hillingdon Grand Prix
2nd Overall 2 Days of Bedford
1st Stage 4
2013
1st Otley Grand Prix
2014
4th Time trial, National Championships
2017
1st Overall Rás na mBan
1st Queen of the Hills classification[41]
1st Stages 3[42] & 4[43]
3rd Ljubljana–Domžale–Ljubljana TT
National Championships
4th Road race
5th Time trial
7th Overall BeNe Ladies Tour
1st Stage 2a
2023
National Championships
3rd Time trial
4th Road race
7th Gent–Wevelgem
9th Time trial, UEC European Championships
2024
3rd Time trial, National Championships

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Elinor Barker: Biography". Glasgow 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Individual/Points". British Cycling. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  3. ^ Pitt, Vern (21 June 2020). "Meet Tekkerz: Britain's coolest team". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Megan Barker rounds out 10-rider squad for Drops". Cyclingnews.com. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Uno-X Pro Cycling Team". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Gaskell, Simon (18 September 2012). "Cycling gold for Elinor Barker at World Road Championships in Holland". Wales Online.
  7. ^ a b Sidwells, Chris (22 November 2012). "Ride: Elinor Barker in South Wales". Cycling Weekly.
  8. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (19 September 2012). "Cycling: Elinor Barker shows next generation is in very safe hands". The Independent.
  9. ^ Scott-Elliot, Robin (31 October 2013). "Elinor Barker prepares to complete her education on the track". The Independent.
  10. ^ Ransom, Rebecca (11 December 2012). "Elinor Barker named Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year". British Cycling.
  11. ^ "Commonwealth Games 2014: Olympic champion Geraint Thomas and world sprint star Becky James head up Welsh cycling team for Glasgow". Wales Online. 9 July 2014.
  12. ^ BBC Sport – Glasgow 2014, "Glasgow 2014 day four: Elinor Barker denied gold by Laura Trott", 27 July 2014. Accessed 27 July 2014
  13. ^ "Elinor Barker signs to Matrix Fitness-Vulpine for 2015". Cycling Weekly. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  14. ^ "GB women's team pursuit squad salvage bronze at Track Worlds". Cycling Weekly. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Rio Olympics 2016: Laura Trott makes history as GB's women win team pursuit". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  16. ^ Cundy, Jody (20 October 2016). "Medal magic from Great Britain Cycling Team in Paris". Britishcycling.org.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Olympic champion Elinor Barker wins gold at World Cup in Apeldoorn".
  18. ^ a b "Six Day Series » Belgian pair storm to comfortable Six Day Amsterdam success". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Six Day Series » Amsterdam champ Elinor Barker ends year with national Madison title". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  20. ^ "Six Day Series » Away from Six Day: All-conquering Archibald bags quartet of national titles". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  21. ^ Cundy, Jody (27 February 2017). "World cup scratch bronze for Barker". Britishcycling.org.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Six Day Series » Women's Omnium glory for Barker after supreme Mallorca showing". Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Track Cycling World Championships: Elinor Barker pipped for gold". BBC Sport. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Track Cycling Worlds: Elinor Barker & Emily Nelson win madison silver". BBC Sport. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  25. ^ "World Track Cycling Championships: Elinor Barker wins world points race gold". BBC Sport. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Katie Archibald: World omnium champion to join road racing team in 2018". BBC Sport. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Elinor Barker wins points race gold, Scots complete podium". bbc.co.uk. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Elinor Barker and teammates win GB's first gold medal at European Championships". itv.com. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Elinor Barker wins fourth world track cycling title in Poland". The Guardian. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Elinor Barker earns Britain belated gold at end of tough World Championships". shropshirestar.com. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  31. ^ Ballinger, Alex (13 November 2020). "European Track Championships 2020: GB women's team pursuit squad take gold as Elinor Barker takes elimination race title on second night". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Cycling Track – Women's Team Pursuit results". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  33. ^ Falkingham, Katie (8 October 2021). "Elinor Barker: British cyclist on pregnancy and others paving the way for mothers in sport". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Team GB cyclist Elinor Barker reveals she won silver medal at Tokyo 2020 while expecting first child". standard.co.uk. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  35. ^ Tyson, Jackie (21 April 2023). "Elinor Barker signs four-year extension with Uno-X Pro Cycling". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Elinor Barker: 'I felt pain for hours and couldn't stand up'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Cyclist Elinor Barker says she won silver at Tokyo Olympics while pregnant". CNN. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  38. ^ Pearlman, Michael (10 August 2024). "From the pain of endometriosis to making sporting history". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  39. ^ "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N15.
  40. ^ "New Year's Honours List 2017" (PDF). www.gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  41. ^ "Elinor Barker wins Rás na mBan". RTÉ.ie. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  42. ^ "Barker Reigns Supreme on Mount Leinster". Cycling Ireland. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  43. ^ "Elinor Barker bursts to second An Post Rás na mBan stage win". RTÉ.ie. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
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