Torquay cyclist awaits the epic Giro d’Italia challenge

Torquay’s young pro Harrison Wood is poised to make South-West cycling history by riding in the Giro d’Italia, which starts this weekend.

Wood, 23, has been named in French team Cofidis’ eight-man squad for the gruelling three-week Giro, which starts near Turin on Saturday and finishes in Rome on May 26.

The former Torquay Boys Grammar School student will become only the third Mid-Devon CC rider ever to contest one of cycling’s Grand Tours. The late Colin Lewis rode the Tour de France twice in the 1960s and Jeremy Hunt raced the Tour, Spain’s Vuelta and the Giro, the last time in 2012.

Resting after a 179K training ride near his second home in Aix-en-Provence, Wood said: “I’m excited and really looking forward to it, and it will be nice to get stuck in to racing again.

“My weight is the lightest I’ve been for two years, while still eating and drinking well, and I’m feeling really good.

“Obviously, I’ve never done a three-week race before, but I rode the (Criterium) Dauphine last season and I’ve done the Tours of Catalonia and the Basque Country recently, and they’re the hardest week-long ones.

“The last week is super-difficult, as always in the Giro, but before then there could be quite a few chances to try something.”

It is a remarkable achievement for Wood, who first joined MDCC club runs – he was often left behind! – only ten years ago. But he persevered, honing his skills and stamina over Devon’s many hills.

After a successful Junior career in the UK, Wood has lived and raced for teams in France, Belgium and Holland, riding all the top races for aspiring pros before earning a two-year contract with Cofidis in 2023.

In this year’s Giro, he will be up against many of the best riders in the world, including the in-form hot favourite Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) from Slovenia. Cofidis have selected men from France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Germany and GB, and their line-up is targeting opportunist stage victories.

The MDCC continues to dominate the South West Youth Road Series after Round Two at Cornwall’s Wheal Jane circuit. Matt Holmes (U14), Lauren Fox (U14) and Edward Fraille-Whysall (U16) and Eva Fox (U16) all won their age-group races.

Nick Makin also took the Elite/1/2 Category event, with Jason Kettle third. Other results: U10 – 3 Henry Hatton; U12 – 6 Thomas James, 7 Thomas Bleloch, 8 Jacob Coles.