A PENISTONE pedal-powered prodigy is racing towards her future and has picked up a Young Champions nomination along the way.
Despite having only just turned 14, Seraphina Green is a seasoned athlete, whose talent has carved the way for a bright future.
The Penistone Grammar School pupil kick-started her passion for sport from an early age, having competed in gymnastics and trampolining in her youth.
After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, like most of the nation, Seraphina found herself outdoors, starting her love for cycling with cycle speedway, before transitioning to the road.
She did cyclo-cross and used to ride for the Barnsley Road Club before starting competing in road racing.
She finished in first place in her first try marking the start of her successful junior cycling career.
Seraphina told the Chronicle how she has travelled nationwide and across international waters to follow her passion for cycling.
She said: “On my first proper youth tour I came first overall, I also did my first year under 10s and first year over 12s.
“I also did Isle of Man and I came third on the general classification (GC) and then I did loads of other nationals like Scarborough, which was a hill climb and I came fourth.
“I’ve competed in lots more since then, like my second year under 12s, I won everything.
“Last year I got glandular fever and anemia so I wasn’t able to perform the best and I didn’t have the perfect bike fit.
“I’m an ambassador for Trek Bikes and I get all of my kit from them.
“I recently went to Menorca for a training camp earlier this year and then I rode in Spain at March too.
“Last week I was in Scotland from Friday to Sunday but I didn’t get the results I wanted because I was still ill.
“I didn’t get the best training over winter but I want to get back on it.
“Whenever I go out on a ride I just listen to music and it helps with physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s difficult juggling cycling with school but I love it.
“If I don’t go to sixth form, I’d like to get an apprenticeship to work with bikes and continue cycling.
“I think the Olympics are a goal of mine too, I think for the velodrome.”
