Luke Rowe: On turning pro

Team Sky's rising star talks us through his route into professional cycling and what he's learnt along the way.

From a young aspiring racer to a Grand Tour road captain and classics star. It's been quite a rise for Luke Rowe.

The Welshman came through the British Cycling Academy, and since turning professional with Team Sky in 2012 he has gone from strength to strength.

With a first pro victory ticked off in his first season, Rowe got to work, learning from the team and developing with every passing campaign. His leadership qualities for such a young rider are mightily impressive, leading to the role of road captain at the Vuelta a Espana last year, riding alongside Chris Froome.

Rowe has been a revelation during the classics in 2015, routinely on hand in the final during the toughest one-day events on the calendar. After huge shows of strength at both Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, his spring culminated in a rousing eighth place at Paris-Roubaix.

The best is yet to come.

We sat down with the 25 year old to talk about his rise through the ranks, from the first time he raced, and the sacrifices needed to succeed along the way.

How old were you when you first took up competitive cycling?

I started cycling from a really young age – around eight years old. I’m naturally a competitive person in whatever I do, even if it’s just playing Ben Swift in a game of chess. I want to beat him.

My parents were quite keen for us to try lots of sports. You can’t really specialize at that age. I did cross-country running and rugby. I started to enter bike races when I was an under-12. We started to travel a little bit and I really started to take it seriously when I got to about 15 or 16.

At that point I had my eye set on that goal. When I was growing up I always wanted to be a professional and I looked up to those guys. It was always what I wanted to do. The only other thing I could maybe see myself doing was being in the army.

What were you like at school?

I wasn’t great at school to be honest. I went for the banter. That was more of the appeal to me. Looking back I realize that was wrong and I’d certainly advise young people to take things as far as possible with their education before looking towards the bike.

How did you come to the attention of British Cycling's Academy?

I was always on the British scene. As an under-16 and as a junior I was on the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme. So the natural progression for me was to get a place on the Academy, which I got. That’s when it really got serious and when I jumped on the Academy my mindset really switched to; ‘Okay this is my job now and I’ve got to commit 100 percent.’ Happily it worked out.

What was it like packing up and leaving home at such a young age?

I was on there for three years and for the first two I spent the winter in Manchester, track-based, and the summer in Italy, road-based. My third year was Manchester all year round. It was a big step moving away from home. You’re only 17/18 and it is young to pack up and move away. But I think it’s a good way to progress, to get out of your comfort zone and move in with a bunch of lads whose sole purpose every morning is to get out and ride your bike. It really takes you to the next level.

Did you enjoy your years there?

I look back at those years so fondly. It was some of the most fun I’ve had. Me, Mark Christian and Pete Kennaugh were always up to no good. We played hard and worked hard at the same time.

Do you ever feel like you missed out on a more conventional teenage social life?

I don't think so. It was a balance then, and it’s still a balance now. You know when to live like a monk but you also know when to go out and paint the town red. You need to find the balance and take advantage when you can. There were times on the Academy when we went out until god knows what hour and had a good time. We’re all human at the end of the day.

Were there ever times you felt like you’d made the wrong decision?

From a young age I wanted to be a professional cyclist and now I’m here I haven’t looked back. I wouldn’t want any other job in the world.

It’s something I’m living day in and day out and I get paid well to do it. But at the same time it’s a job I’d do for free. It’s that enjoyable. It’s a great position to be in.

How much of help were your parents during the early days? Could you have made it without family support?

Without them and the financial sacrifices they made for us to be able to travel and buy me the equipment I needed, plus the time and effort they put in, the answer is no, I wouldn’t be here without them. Also my brother Matt. Yes he’s my brother, but he’s my best mate at the same time. We raced and travelled the country together so I have really fond memories of it all.

Were there better junior riders who fell by the wayside? What were the common reasons for kids dropping out?

You get to that age where there’s the option to go out and have a few beers. At that point it’s about making the right decision for you and staying dedicated. For sure there were young guys who were absolutely incredible who dropped out for reasons like that. It’s just part of being a professional.

What advice would you give to budding cyclists looking to get into the sport?

Any age below 15 or 16, you’ve got to do it because you want to do it. Not because anyone is pushing you to do it. That’s never going to have any longevity. So do it because you want to do it, go out in a group and have fun. When you get beyond that there are days where you don’t want to go out and train but you have to. That’s when you find out whether you really want to do it deep down. I think you’ll discover yourself whether you have the heart or passion to make it to the top.

Was there ever a moment where you felt like you’d made it?

I was always okay and at a decent level. But when I stepped into the junior ranks and started winning the biggest British races you could. I won a few of them and then went abroad and proved myself abroad. I got a silver medal at the European Championship road race. That was when I thought there could be a future in this. But at the same time as a junior you’re still so young and there’s such a long way to go to get to where I am now.

Can you remember the first time you got asked for an autograph?

It was probably at one of the Revolution track events as a Future Star. You’ll always get some little kid coming up to you. He hadn’t a clue who I was and I put a bit of scribble on paper which looked nothing like my signature because I was nervous. I was probably 15 or 16 when I first put a little scribble down.

Do you feel the responsibility of being a professional cyclist?

Yes. We are role models to some people. There’s probably not many, but there are a few people out there who look up to myself. You’ve got to act in a certain manner and at the right time be the perfect professional. 

To find out what got some of our other riders into cycling, and for kids and parents to find out about junior racing, click here.