Tobyn Horton has a unique selling proposition as a rider; the 24 year-old is Guernsey’s first and only professional cyclist. Horton raced for five years on the tough Belgian kermis scene, and by 2009 was at a level where he could win races like Wambeek-Ternat.
His performances caught the eye of Magnus Backstedt and Martin McCrossan, the men behind Anglo/Swedish Team Sprocket. The high light of the Team Sprocket’s 2010 campaign was Swede Alex Wetterhall’s victory in Ireland’s FBD Rás, where Horton played a leading role in defence of the yellow jersey.
For 2011 Horton has joined former Peace race yellow jersey holder and Commonwealth Games road race medallist Phil Griffiths’ Motorpoint team on the UK stage. In the coming season, the team’s veteran star rider and former Vuelta points jersey winner, Malcolm Elliott will move across to assist in managing the team so there should be no shortage of good advice for the Channel Islander.
We caught up with him at his warm weather training base in Lanzarote, speaking about his 2010 season and his hopes for the year ahead.
VeloNation: Was Team Sprocket a good move for you, Tobyn?
Tobyn Horton: Yes, definitely, it gave me experience at a higher level and riding more, longer races. And to be part of winning the Rás was fantastic.
VN: What’s the position with Team Sprocket for 2011?
TH: Martin McCrossan tried hard to get a sponsor for 2011; he was pretty close to closing a deal with big one – then the ‘Contador Situation’ broke, the sponsor was scared off and the team couldn’t continue. Magnus will be riding with Team UK Youth next season; I believe Nigel Mansell is involved in that.
VN: What was the high of 2010?
TH: That’s a tough one, the whole year was great, the team got on really well as group and we worked well as a team. Going to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi was a fantastic experience – surreal when you compare it to racing in Europe.
But I have to say that the real feeling of accomplishment was being part of the team when we won the Rás.
VN: And the lows?
TH: I had breathing problems during my preparation for Delhi. I came out of the Rás in good shape but then I had tonsillitis. After that we raced in Belgium then it was the Tour of the Pyrenees; which was a hard race for me but I got through it.
After that we rode the Mi Aout in Brittany but I had to climb off after four or five kilometres of the first stage. It was hard to pick myself up from that for the Games.
VN: What about the Games...how did they go?
TH: I picked up an E-coli bug 10 days before the road race and then it was 42 degrees on the day. I tried to cover the moves but by the time the decisive split went, my lights were out…I rode in to 27th place. It was a shame because the course really suited me. However it was a great experience.
I rode the time trial just because I was there, I was well down in that but I hadn’t ridden one since April.
VN: How did you get the Motorpoint ride for 2011?
TH: I’d spoken directly to Keith Lambert (ex English pro and a prolific winner of UK races) who’s on the team’s management, I don’t have an agent, and he said that he’s give me a call if anything cropped up…which it did. It’s a well backed team and the programme includes the Tour of Britain, so it’s a good step for me.
VN: Isn’t a step back going from a Euro programme to a UK one?
TH: I haven’t raced much in the UK, just the Rutland and Lincoln Grand Prix; I went straight from Guernsey to Belgium when I started. There are a lot of criteriums which suits me with all my kermis riding but I believe there’s a good mix of racing to be had.
VN: Where will you be based?
TH: We still have to confirm that but I think it will be in the Preston area, close to the core of the team…and a lot of the Premier Calendar races are up in the north of England.
VN: What have you been doing to get ready for 2011?
TH: I had time off after the Games then eased myself back into it – there’s only so much you can do training-wise on Guernsey because the island is so small and we’ve had snow, too.
I like Lanzarote as a training base and will be spending my time here between now and the end of January.
VN: You have a new website, I see.
TH: Yeah, ‘www.tobynhorton.com’. When I was with Sprocket I saw that some of the guys had their own site. I get folks back home saying to me; ‘how do I keep abreast of what your up to?’ and it’s good for my personal sponsors too - I have www.razorblades2u.com on board but I’m looking to get additional sponsors.
VN: What are your goals for 2011?
TH: To get as many good results as I can, step into the UK scene smoothly and make the team for the Tour of Britain.
VN: And is pro cycling what you expected it to be back in your junior days?
TH: I didn’t have experience as a junior rider; I rode mountain bike and then went straight to Belgium once I’d fallen in love with the road. What I would say is that I’ve discovered it’s not a simple lifestyle – you have to live it 24 hours each day, seven days each week!