Tao Geoghegan-Hart: Condor Leggero

Le Stagiaire

One of the first things Tao says when we meet with him over a Coke is "I love my bike." The young rider first came to cycling through his swimming club. Members used to go out on Sunday into the Essex lanes in a casual chaingang. Since then you'll find him hopping off a ferry on the way to a road race in Belgium to gain as much experience as possible.

Tao's first real taste of competition was at a grass track event run by Cycling Club Hackney. From there Tao began training with some of the guys from the cycling club, riding longer, harder and more times during the week.

"2010 was my first real season, after trying out various disciplines and racing ad hoc. I chose real good equipment and properly went for it."

"Cycling is a tough sport, because you can always get better stuff. You're always looking for better kit, always looking for that edge", explained Tao, who is a self-confessed pro-cycling nerd who, if not riding, has his head in a magazine or can be found looking up results on CyclingNews.com."

"I'd ridden a Leggero, it's an amazing bike. You can see all the background that goes into building it, all the heritage as well as all the product development. You could see the pros riding it and that is what I aspire to be. If you've got the opportunity to ride it then why not?"

Freedom of the bike

Tao explained he'd been riding his bike since he was two or three. "It is a clichéd thing, but you feel free. Riding my bike I've explored so many places. I know Essex like the back of my hand. I like pushing myself hard, otherwise I just feel bored. I like cycling, it's a really great sport."

"I love getting to go abroad on the weekend, and saying, 'I've just been to Belgium'. Whereas everyone else has just been sitting at home on their PS3."

Cycling is multifaceted with its the mix of heritage and pro culture. Most of all the young racer loves travelling to what many consider the home of criterium racing: Belgium. "I love getting to go abraod on the weekend, and saying, 'I've just been to Belgium'. Whereas everyone else has just been sitting at home on their PS3." He went on to explain that, despite the suffering, riding hard brings an enjoyable feeling: "the way it feels when you've just smashed it up a hill... you feel absolutely shattered and going to be sick... that's the best thing about it."

When it comes to aspirations, Tao has several riders in mind. Firstly, the British born, Rapha Condor Sharp rider, Kristian House. "I love his style, the way he rode at the Edinburgh Nocturne, on the hoods the whole time. He's very cool. The dude."

Overseas, Tao points to the success of Andy Schlek: "Once he gets into the groove on the longer climbs he is really strong, and also Haussler and Voigt are both really really strong and it shows you what it means to be a pro cyclist. When they are pushing themselves on the front for their team."

Tao was recently accepted onto British Cycling's Talent Team program. You can follow his progress on his blog at http://taogeogheganhart.blogspot.com/.

Don't take our word for it, hear exerpts from when we met with Tao before a race earlier in the summer.