Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Elinor Barker
Welsh racing cyclist (born 1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Elinor Jane Barker (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.
Remove ads
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Early life
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
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]
In 2011, Barker claimed silver in the time-trial at the UCI Junior Road World Championships in Copenhagen.[10]
In 2012, Barker competed at the UEC U23/Junior European Track Championship in Portugal where she won gold medals in both the individual pursuit, and the team pursuit in the junior category.[11] In August, Barker won silver medals in both the individual pursuit, and the omnium, a well as a bronze in the team pursuit at the UCI Junior Track World Championships.[12]
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.[13]
Professional career
Remove ads
2012–2016
Summarize
Perspective
Barker made her senior level UCI Track Cycling World Cup debut in October 2012, in Cali, Colombia. Competing for Team SWI, a Welsh cycling developmental team, she won a silver medal in the team pursuit and finished eighth in the omnium.[14][15] The following month, Barker made her debut for Great Britain at the Track Cycling World Cup in Glasgow, Scotland, as a replacement after Joanna Rowsell was taken ill. Competing alongside Laura Trott and Dani King in the team pursuit, the trio triumphed over Australia in the final.[16][17]
In February 2013, Barker became a senior world champion for the first time, as a member of Great Britain's team pursuit squad at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Barker, Trott and King rode to victory against Australia in the final, with Barker saying "It's a big shock. It hasn't really sunk in yet."[18] Barker had been studying for her A-levels during the competition.[17] The women's team pursuit was then increased to four riders cycling a total of 4km, the same as the men.[19]
Barker finished with two silver medals in the under-23 category in both the individual pursuit and the points race at the 2013 Junior/U23 European Track Championships in Portugal. Her international teammate Trott beat her to gold in both disciplines.[20] Barker then moved to Manchester in September to enable her to train full-time with the British squad.[17] She was part of the British team that won team pursuit gold in the 2013 UEC European Track Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Britain also set a new world record time of 4:26.556.[21]
In November, Great Britain twice broke the world record for the team pursuit in the Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester. Barker, Trott, King and Rowsell won the event by beating Canada in the final with a time of 4:19.604.[19] The following month in Aguascalientes, Mexico, at the next leg of the Track Cycling World Cup, Great Britain broke their own record twice more during the event as they again triumphed over Canada in the final. The team consisting of Barker, Rowsell, King and Katie Archibald beat their own record set in Manchester by three seconds, posting a time of 4:16.552, helped by the high altitude conditions in Mexico.[22]
At the 2014 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Cali, Barker, Trott, Rowsell and Archibald led Great Britain to victory in the team pursuit over Canada in the gold medal race.[23] Barker represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She secured silver in the 25km points race, losing narrowly to Trott in the final sprint, and bronze in the 10km scratch race.[24][25] Barker won gold in the team pursuit at the 2014 UEC European Track Championships in Guadeloupe, after Great Britain beat Russia by nearly seven seconds in the gold medal race.[26]
On the road in 2014, Barker finished fourth at the British National Time Trial Championships, just over a minute behind Emma Pooley in first position.[27] In September, it was announced that Barker would follow in the footsteps of teammate Laura Trott and join the Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling team for 2015.[28]
At the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, Barker, Trott, Rowsell and Archibald won silver after suffering a defeat to Australia in the final of the team pursuit. Australia broke Great Britain's world record time in the event.[29] Barker was part of the British team that finished first in the team pursuit at the 2015 UEC European Track Championships in Grenchen, Switzerland. Britain beat Russia in the final.[30]
At the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London, Barker was part of the team pursuit along with Ciara Horne, Rowsell Shand and Trott. After a 'disappointing' qualifying ride, they fought back and eventually beat New Zealand to claim bronze.[31] At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Barker along with Archibald, Rowsell Shand and Trott secured the gold medal in the team pursuit in a world record time of 4:10.236 seconds, defeating USA in the final. The quartet had broken the world record in qualifying, only to see USA better it in their qualifying ride. The British team then broke it again in the final and Barker said afterwards "What do people say at a time like this? It is incredible".[32][33] After the Olympics, Barker said she would likely focus on individual events in 2017, such as the points race and the scratch race, rather than the team pursuit.[34]
Returning to the track after the Olympics, Barker won a silver medal in the scratch race at the European Championships in Paris.[35] She followed this by winning the points race at the World Cup in Apeldoorn.[36] Barker then claimed the title at the Six Days of Amsterdam, which included a win in the elimination race on the final day.[37] Barker closed 2016 with first place in the British National Madison Championships alongside Kenny.[38]
Remove ads
2017–2020
Summarize
Perspective
Starting 2017, Barker finished second in the ominium and third in the scratch race at the National Championships.[39] Barker finished third in the points race at the World Cup event in Los Angeles.[40] At the Six Days series final, despite not winning a race in Mallorca, Barker won the title.[41] At the 2017 World Championships in Hong Kong, Barker claimed two silver medals, one in the scratch race (behind Rachele Barbieri) and the other in the madison alongside Emily Nelson.[42][43] Barker went on to win her first individual world title in the points race.[44] At the 2017 UEC European Track Championships in Berlin, Germany, Barker won silver as Great Britain were defeated by Italy in the final of the team pursuit.[45] In November 2017, Barker won gold in both the team pursuit (beating Italy in the final), and the madison (partnering Archibald) at the Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester.[46]
For the 2018 season Barker decided to join Wiggle High5,[47] and joined Drops for 2019, after Wiggle High5 folded.
Barker won a silver medal in the team pursuit at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn. Great Britain were defeated by USA in the final.[48] At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Barker took the gold in the points race for Wales, ahead of Scots Archibald and Neah Evans. Barker's win was the first Commonwealth Games title for a Welsh track cyclist since 1990.[49] Later that year she was part of the Team GB squad that took the gold in the team pursuit at the European Track Championships in Glasgow.[50]
At the 2019 Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszków, Poland, Barker won the rainbow jersey in the scratch race, her first world title in that discipline.[51][52] Barker also won a silver in the team pursuit after Great Britain were defeated by Australia in the final.[53] On the road, Barker broke her collarbone in August during the RideLondon Classique. She returned to racing later in the year, however, and won two medals at the Track Cycling World Cup event in Glasgow. She was part of the British team that won Gold in the team pursuit and she then claimed a silver medal in the madison alongside Archibald.[54]
At the 2020 Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, Germany, 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.[55] Later that year Barker took two titles at the European Track Championships, one as part of the team pursuit squad alongside Archibald, Evans, Kenny and Josie Knight, and an individual gold in the elimination race.[56]
Remove ads
2021–2024
Summarize
Perspective
In 2021, Barker was part of the British team that won silver in the team pursuit at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.[57] During the Games she signed a two-year deal to join the Uno-X team from 2022.[58][59]
After giving birth in March 2022, Barker made her return to road cycling at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where she competed in the road-race.[60][61] She returned to cycling with her team in 2023 with a 15th place finish at the Vuelta CV Feminas.[62] Barker won two gold medals for Great Britain at the 2023 UEC European Track Championships in Grenchen. The event was her first major track cycling competition since becoming a mother. She was a member of the team that triumphed in the team pursuit, and she then celebrated victory in the madison partnering Archibald. Barker also finished fourth in the elimination race.[63][64]
Back on the road, Barker finished seventh in the Gent–Wevelgem, her best ever finish in a UCI road race,[65] and third in the elite time-trial at the British National Championships.[66] In April 2023, Barker extended her contract with Uno-X until 2027. She then finished 16th at the Fleche Wallone.[62]. Barker also competed in the 2023 Giro Donne (Giro d'Italia Women) where she finished 58th.[67]
At the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Barker won a gold medal in the team pursuit alongside Archibald, Knight and Anna Morris, after they defeated New Zealand in the final. It was the first time that Great Britain had won the event since 2014.[68] Barker then won a second gold medal while partnering Evans in the madison.[69]
At the 2024 UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup in Adelaide, Australia, Barker won a silver medal in the team pursuit, and then secured a gold medal in the madison with Archibald.[70][71] At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Barker won bronze in the team pursuit alongside Knight, Morris and Jess Roberts. She then became the first Welsh women to win four Olympic medals by securing a silver in the madison with Evans.[72][73] Barker finished third in the elite time-trial at the British Championships, just over a minute behind winner Anna Henderson.[74]
Remove ads
Personal life
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.[75] In October 2021, Barker announced that she was pregnant, and had been so when she competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[76] She is married to Danish cyclist Casper von Folsach.[77]
Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to cycling.[78][79]
Remove ads
Major results
_(29168562610).jpg)
Track
- 2011
- National Junior Championships
- 1st
Individual pursuit - 2nd Scratch
- 1st
- 2nd
Individual pursuit, UEC European Junior Championships - 2012
- UEC European Junior Championships
- 1st
Individual pursuit - 1st Team pursuit
- 1st
- 2nd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Cali
- 1st Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Glasgow
- UCI World Junior Championships
- 2nd
Omnium - 2nd Individual pursuit
- 3rd
Team pursuit
- 2nd
- 2013
- 1st
Team pursuit, UCI World Championships - 1st Team pursuit, UEC European Championships
- UEC European Under-23 Championships
- 2nd Individual pursuit
- 2nd Points race
- 2nd
- 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
- 2nd
- 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[37]
- 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)
- 1st
- UEC European Championships
- 1st
Madison (with Ellie Dickinson) - 2nd Team pursuit
- 1st
- 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
- 1st
- 2021
- 2nd
Team pursuit, Olympic Games
Road
- 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
- 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
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads