April Tacey

Sports Award

Age:

24

Biography

April Tacey is 17 years old, from Birstall, Leicester and one of Leicestershire's up and coming talented road cyclists.

'Moving into the Junior women`s category last year (2017) was quite a step up from youth racing, so instead of racing for an hour on a closed circuit my races were anything from 40 - 60+ miles on open roads. Racing against the world's very best junior riders fuels my passion and motivation to succeed as a world class cyclist. These races provide valuable racing experience during my transition into elite adult women`s races.

I feel I adapted well and one of my highlight's from last year was to win one of the very few Junior women`s only races which was around 50 miles and attracted over 50 riders. Last year my racing team was given the opportunity to take part in a UCI. Junior stage race in the Netherlands, racing such an event proved valuable and I learnt so much from the whole experience.

The Netherlands race ` Omloop Van Borsele` is one of many oversees races I plan to race, and as a 2nd Junior and with all the hard training I have put in I hope to attain better results particularly in the time trial (stage 1).

Cycling is a very expensive sport and racing in multidisciplinary cycling events makes it even more expensive in terms of all the bikes that are required, servicing and repair bills. Race entries and travel cost soon mount up especially when participating at National & International level. I train 5-6 days a week and being in full time education (currently studying a BTEC in sport at Loughborough College) it leaves very little spare time to be able to hold down any kind of part time job so I am completely reliant upon my parents and funding such as an `Inspire Award Grant` will really help make a difference.

Simon Taylor, Inspire lead, said: ' April shows a single mindness and commitment to her sport that we felt was very deserving . We hope that the Award will help her to achieve her goals in the coming season.'