Brentwood School Cycling Prodigy Shatters U18 World Record

In a remarkable display of endurance and determination, 16-year-old Brentwood School elite cyclist, Harry T, broke the Under 18 World Record in a 24 hour cycling endurance event in California.

Harry, a Lower Sixth student, cycled an astonishing 333.6 miles during the gruelling 24-hour event, surpassing the previous record by an impressive 43.6 miles. This outstanding achievement not only shattered the U18 World Record but also exceeded the course record for his age group by over 60 miles.

Brentwood School Director of Sport, Mr Neil Gamester, expressing his pride in Harry's accomplishment, said, "We are extremely proud of Harry for showing such physical and mental strength, firstly in having the courage to attempt such a challenge and then going on to obliterate his target.

“The entire Brentwood School community congratulates Harry on his extraordinary accomplishment, recognising him not only as a cycling prodigy but also as an inspiration to young athletes worldwide.”

The event, part of the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships held in Borrego Springs, California, in early November, witnessed Harry's exceptional performance under the guidance of coach and trainer John Hampshire of Endurance Bike and Run. Harry's average speed of 14.5 mph over the 24-hour period is a testament to his incredible physical prowess and endurance.

Harry, who took part in altitude training in the mountains of Big Bear before the event, produced a super-human performance, breaking the previous record of 270 miles with five hours to spare! An achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that at 16 he is taking part in the under 20 category.

Aside from his record-breaking cycling achievement, Harry also raised more than £8000 for Cancer Research UK and £750 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). This philanthropic effort highlights not only his athletic prowess but also his commitment to making a positive impact beyond the cycling world.

When asked about his motivation, Harry stated: "I started cycling in lockdown as it was one of the few things I could do outdoors." He went on to explain his love for the sport, emphasising the freedom it provides: “I can go wherever I want and just explore the countryside on my own. Endurance sports demand lots of time to train, and so I have to stay organised in order to keep up with schoolwork and other sports. I've met some really interesting people through cycling and have made some great friendships with like-minded people.”

Harry's journey to this achievement involved 12-months of rigorous training, with up to 20 hours a week on the bike, 8-hour endurance rides (necessitating a 4am start), and a 218mi/15-hour ride to Norwich and back. The mental and physical challenges of the competition were evident, especially in the desert conditions with temperature fluctuations from 7°C to 35°C.

Reflecting on the mental challenges, Harry shared: "I felt fine physically for the first 16 hours, as I was used to this sort of duration/intensity of ride. It was hard to eat enough to keep up with the amount of energy I was expending, and so by the end I had a net loss of about 7000 calories. It was a challenge to adjust to the differing conditions. After 21 hours, I was so tired that I started falling asleep on the descents and drifted into the middle of the road. For me, the mental challenge was harder than the physical one, as 24 hours is a really long time to be doing any one thing, even something that you enjoy."