LISTEN: Tour of Britain spot is a Sam target
EARNING a Tour of Britain berth and achieving that big individual result are among Sam Culverwell’s short-term aims in the professional peloton.
Belgium-based Culverwell is the virtual guest of honour on the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast – out now – following his four days of hard racing in Trinity Racing colours.
After eight race-free months, the 20-year-old finished in the lead sprint at Belgium’s Circuit de Wallonie 1.1 before dashing to France for the three-day Tour d’Eure-et-Loir.
There, he earned the most-combative rider jersey after a brilliant, if ultimately unsuccessful, 96km solo break in the final stage.
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Culverwell’s next mission is France’s four-day Tour de la Mirabelle, starting Thursday.
Italy’s ‘Baby Giro’ will follow early next month if he is picked – and one September stage race particularly appeals to the youngster.
‘I’d absolutely love to be in the Tour of Britain squad,’ he said.
‘That’d be a huge race to do and I’d love to be able to race that.
‘And generally the personal results – I’d love to try and get a result for myself at some point during the year.’
Culverwell certainly does not regret that decision he made at an important crossroads back in 2019. His breakout season had attracted offers from several established Continental teams, yet he plumped for that less-established U23 elite team called Trinity.
Now, big U23 races remain on the cards but Trinity’s upgrade to Continental status has opened new avenues – a decision well made.
‘The best place for you to go is to an U23 team and target those kind of U23 races that Tour teams do look at,’ Culverwell added.
‘That, I think, was definitely the right decision for me.’
