Lauren Bell and Anna Flynn will compete for Great Britain as Scotland plays host
Two Edinburgh Napier University dual career students, who combine their studies with bike racing, are preparing to compete in what’s being dubbed ‘the biggest cycling event ever’.
Lauren Bell (top picture, right), who is completing a BA Business and Enterprise in Sport, and Sport and Exercise Science student Anna Flynn (below), will wear the Great Britain jersey to take on elite racers at the Glasgow-hosted UCI Cycling World Championships.
Taking place across the next 11 days, the 2023 edition is the first time the event’s thirteen disciplines have been held in the same place – meaning the best riders in the world have descended on Scotland to win the coveted rainbow jersey.
Track cyclist Lauren, who has previously won medals at the World and European Championships, will take part in the Women’s Team Sprint and the 500m Time Trial at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Anna meanwhile is competing in the Women’s Under 23 Mountain Bike Cross Country. The event is contested along purpose-built trails at Glentress Forest in the Scottish Borders – next to the ENU-hosted Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland.
Speaking on the eve of the Championships, Lauren said: “I can’t wait to race in front of a home crowd and on the track that I learnt how to ride on. I think it makes it a bit more special. I'll have my mum, dad and boyfriend there - like a wee suport team!
“It’s such an honour to be selected and I’m so excited for racing to start.
"Preparations have been really good - we've been competing as a team in training and everyone's going really well. We've been creating a lot of momentum and everyone is really excited."
Lauren's has been able to mix track events with her studies at ENU - and hopes to graduate next year.
The 23-year-old, who is from Forres in Moray, added: "It's been good - I feel it's important to do something else alongside my racing.
"It has helped to occupy my brain as it's easy to get bogged down thinking about just one thing. My lecturers have been a good support throughout too."
In total, the Cycling World Championships are expected to bring more than 8,000 cyclists to Scotland from more than 120 countries. Lauren and Anna are among 31 Scots included in the Great Britain squad.
Dr Tom Campbell, Associate Professor, Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “It is always fantastic to see our dual-career students competing at the very highest level of their sport and selection for the Cycling World Championships is a huge achievement for Lauren and Anna: chapeau!
“Through the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, we have a long tradition of supporting cycling, and championing the power of the bike, and everyone at MTBCOS is looking forward to cheering the pair on.”
You can follow the conversation around the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds using the #PowerOfTheBike hashtag.
Find out more about Edinburgh Napier University’s dual career options for student athletes here.
Images credit: SWPix