Cyclist to lead men's sprint team in Olympic debut

Ed Lowe, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, will make his Olympic debut on Monday

The parents of a 20-year-old track cyclist have said they will be cheering on their son when he competes at his first Olympic Games on Monday.

Ed Lowe, who went to school in Peterborough and started his racing career with the Fenland Clarion club in Helpston near the city, will lead the men’s sprint team by riding the opening lap as man one in the velodrome qualification rounds.

His father, David Lowe, said that was a "hell of an achievement" for someone so young. Lowe joined the Olympic podium programme in October 2023.

Mr Lowe, 57, said as a young child his son "didn't understand braking" when cycling, but by the time he was nine they would cycle more than 100 miles together.

David and Hilary Lowe said the event would be "highly charged" no matter what happens

Lowe, who is from Stamford, Lincolnshire, was given a bike for Christmas at about the age of four, but the Olympian did not take to the sport instantly.

"He wasn't very good and didn't understand braking, so he would go whistling down hills and end up in hedges and hitting trees," Mr Lowe told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"For Christmas 2011 we got him a nice drop-bar racer and a Tour de France racing top which he wore everywhere. From then he started racing and by April winning lots of event.

"He then eased off a little bit and just wanted to cycle with me. We would go further and further... by the time he was nine he was doing more than 100 miles with me and now I need an e-bike to keep up with him."

'Strength and power'

When Lowe was 12 he decided to get back into racing. His parents agreed to help with bikes, kit and equipment on the one condition he had to listen to his coach.

Mr Lowe said: "This is his third professional year really, so it is a lot of pressure for him. To be a sprinter [like Ed] you need a lot of strength and power so to be there at 20 is a hell of an achievement."

Lowe has a rigorous training and exercise regime and to keep up his speed and strength he needs to take in a lot of calories - and not all healthy.

"My wife is a good baker, and I would love to say his diet is fantastic he does like a few bits of cake and he is mad for chocolate, that's his weakness. "

Mr Lowe and his wife, Hilary Lowe, 63, will travel to Paris on Sunday and hope to get tickets to watch their son compete when they are released on Saturday.