NAME: Joe Laverick

BIRTHPLACE: Grimsby, Lincolnshire

AGE: 20

FIRST CYCLING CLUB: NEL Lindsey Go Ride / Lindsey Roads CC

CURRENT TEAM: Hagens Berman Axeon

CURRENT HOME TOWN: Girona

FIRST BIKE: Raleigh Revenio C1

CURRENT BIKE: Pinarello Dogma F12 Disk and Pinarello Bolide

CAR: My trusty old Vauxhall Corsa

FAVOURITE CURRENT RIDER: I don’t really have one to be honest. It’s always good to see a friend win, of course. I always support the underdog

FAVOURITE PAST RIDER: Bradley Wiggins – he’s the reason I got into the sport

FIRST BIKE RACE YOU REMEMBER WATCHING: Pontefract GP, I think Pete Williams won

YOUR FIRST RACE (AND RESULT IF YOU REMEMBER IT): Fonaby one-lap time trial. I did a 27:52. I have the course record now, about 10 minutes faster

FIRST WIN: I can’t remember to be honest! It was some White Rose Youth League in Yorkshire. My first ‘big' win was the GHS National Schoolboy ‘10’

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Junior time trial World Championships in 2018. You never forget the first time you wore your national colours

LEAST FAVOURITE MEMORY: 2019 under-23 time trial National Championships. I was burnt out after my A-Levels and trying to kid myself I was okay

BEST COUNTRY TO RACE IN: Spain. I’ve only ever raced in the Basque Country there, though. I have fond memories of late race starts, beautiful roads and incredible home-cooked food

BEST COUNTRY TO VISIT FOR A HOLIDAY: Italy. The food, the culture, the people. I love it

FAVOURITE FOOD: Anything that is sweet. My sweet-tooth is dangerous, chocolate cake or brownies are my kryptonite.

LEAST FAVOURITE FOOD: Liquorice

ANY PRE-RACE RITUALS / SUPERSTITIONS: None!

FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: White Collar on Netflix, without doubt

FAVOURITE MUSIC: It’s so diverse, I’m not a massive music fan. I can take or leave most things

BEST FRIEND IN CYCLING: I’m close with Harrison Wood (SEG Racing) and Matt Ellis (Saint Piran). We raced together a lot as juniors and message most days

FAVOURITE CLIMB: Teide in Tenerife, but more for the descent

LEAST FAVOURITE CLIMB: Anywhere I’m not going well!

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER SO FAR: Alex Dowsett. He’s helped me every step and is always there to give advice or keep my head straight

BEST THING ABOUT CYCLING: There are so many things. You get to meet people from so many different backgrounds and countries. You get to see the most incredible places which are ‘off the beaten track’. And I’m aged 20, and I’ve already lived in France and Spain

WORST THING ABOUT CYCLING: You’re always at work. You can always go to bed earlier, eat even healthier etc etc

BIGGEST AMBITION: To be a competitive World Tour rider and have fun while doing it

RACE YOU’D MOST LIKE TO WIN: The Lincoln GP. It’s just a British National Series race but it’s the race I grew up watching, is close to home and is iconic back home

IF YOU WEREN’T A CYCLIST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE? I think I’d still be involved in the sport but on the media, writing side

WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? Sir Alex Ferguson. He’s the most successful manager in English football, and Manchester United were my first love