In a significant move for British cycling, 17-year-old Carys Lloyd, one of the most promising junior talents on both road and track, is set to make a leap to the WorldTour with the Telefónica-backed Movistar Team. The announcement came on Wednesday, marking the opening of the ‘mercato’ season for the team. Lloyd, who hails from Maidstone, Kent, will join the team from next season on a three-year contract running from 2025 to 2027.
Lloyd has distinguished herself in her two-year junior career, excelling on both the road and the track. On the track, she has already amassed three European titles. In 2023, she became the continental champion in the Madison event held in Anadia, Portugal. Last July, at the Cottbus events in Germany, she secured gold in the Omnium and clinched a second Madison title alongside her future team-mate Cat Ferguson.
On the road, Lloyd’s achievements include victories in the GP Plouay in 2023 and two stages of the Dutch Omloop van Borsele in 2024, a top-ranked UCI Nations Cup race. She has proven her prowess in both bunch sprints and one-two finishes with Ferguson. Additionally, Lloyd earned a bronze medal at the British Time Trial Championships.
Reflecting on her journey, Lloyd shared, “I’ve been a part of this sport since I can remember. Being born on New Year’s Eve, I’ve been taught to be mature and hard-working, as everyone was older than me at school and sports. When I was six, my brother and I went on our first races, and I fell in love with competition immediately. As a family, we went all around the country for races. My first event abroad was Internationale Jeugdtour Assen, which I attended every single year until 2020, when COVID hit. It’s an amazing race I can’t recommend enough to riders who want to reach the UCI stage.”
Lloyd described her racing style and ambitions, saying, “As a competitor, I’m a classics rider, one who loves to use her ‘powerhouse’ ability and quick change of speed. Bunch kicks are something I excel at, and I can’t wait to put those skills to the test in the WorldTour in the future. I also love riding as a team. The trust you build with your team-mates for a common goal – there’s no greater feeling. That’s why I can’t wait to turn pro with the Movistar Team. I believe they will help me in my development.”
Speaking about her relationship with Ferguson, Lloyd added, “I’ve known Cat personally for about four years now, and had already raced her for so much longer. Being from the opposite side of the country, it took a few years to get close to her. In 2020, when restrictions lifted, I was invited by Cat’s dad to a training camp, and I had the chance to meet her in a non-competitive environment. This grew to having her as my Madison partner the following year. With her, I achieved my first national title, something that will always remain important to me, because it was there that I truly realized I could fulfil my dream of becoming a pro. It all makes it special to also turn pro together with her next year. She’s not just my team-mate or my friend – she’s my family. This is why I’m not scared to turn pro, because I’ve got Cat with me.”
With her impressive track record and a strong support system in place, Carys Lloyd’s transition to the Movistar Team marks a significant step in her promising career. The cycling community will undoubtedly be watching closely as she takes on new challenges at the WorldTour level.