Cyclist Ethan Vernon (07-18) has proved once again that hard work and dedication pay off. Having competed at last year’s Olympic Games, earlier this year he signed for Belgian UCI World Team, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, enjoying a successful road season, which included several stage wins. His stellar season ended in style, with him becoming World Champion at the recent Track Cycling World Championships held in France.
Ethan, who also won a silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this summer, teamed up with fellow GB cyclists to participate in the team pursuit event. After progressing through the early rounds, they met the reigning Olympic champions Italy in the final, who included Filippo Ganna, the newly-crowned hour world record holder. In a thrilling race, they defeated the Italians by the thinnest of margins, winning the event for the first time since 2018. Ethan later competed in the elimination race, where he held off stiff opposition to win the bronze medal. As we reach the mid-point in the current Olympic cycle, the results bode well for Paris.
His former Housemaster vividly remembers Ethan’s dedication to cycling during his time at the school:
“In his Upper Sixth year, he once arrived a few minutes late to my lesson (period one) on a Saturday morning, but the mood soon lightened when he explained he had cycled to school via Cambridge, which was a 90-mile ride. He had left home at 5:00 am to fit it in! I wish him the very best for his events and we will all be cheering him on in St Cuthbert’s House.”
Ethan now has a couple of weeks to rest and recuperate before training for next year begins in earnest.