Eluned King Set To Be Star On Road…. Or Track

By Rob Cole

Has Welsh cycling unearthed a new star? Or is it Welsh athletics that is going to benefit from the obvious talent of Eluned King?

Whichever sport she turns to in the end, the 15-year-old Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr student looks set for a bright future judging by her success at the weekend in the Youth A section of the Isle of Man Youth Circuit Series.

King was crowned the champion of the three stage race as she sprinted clear to beat the rest of the field and take victory by nine seconds overall. Overnight yellow jersey holder Izzy Brickell, of Fareham Wheelers Cycling Club, did not finish, leaving King nine seconds clear of Eva Young, of Pedal Power RT, and her VCW Awol team mate Flora Perkins in third.

The win on the Isle of Man followed the Towy Riders CC King’s second place in the Girls Youth Tour Of Scotland last month, when she won two stages but was still beaten overall by Welsh rival Zoe Backstedt, of Maindy Flyers.

Her two performances this year have backed up her showing at the European Junior Cycling Tour of Assen, in Holland, last August, when she powered her way through the wind, and over the tough cobbled roads, to finish third overall.

But as good as she is in the saddle, King is also an excellent athlete. She was fourth in the Women’s Under 17 Welsh cross country championships in March and competed for Wales at the prestigious SIAB Schools International event in Nottingham later that same month.

Last month she also took part in the London Marathon Mini-Marathon and has a PB on the track over 800 metres of 2.23.14 and 10.14.09 over 3000 metres.