Introduction
Elinor Barker, MBE (born 7 September 1994) is a Welsh racing cyclist, who currently rides on the track for Welsh Cycling and Great Britain, and on the road for Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling. Barker is an Olympic, two-time world and three-time European champion in the team pursuit, as well as a world champion in the points race. Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to cycling.
Early life
Elinor Jane Barker from Heath, Cardiff, is the daughter of Graham Barker, deputy headteacher at St Julian's Comprehensive School in Newport.
She has two older siblings, Joe and Harri and a sister, Megan, three years her junior and also a successful racing cyclist. She attended Llanishen High School.
Career
Barker took up cycling with the Maindy Flyers at the age of 10, as a way of getting out of swimming classes. She was recruited into British Cycling's Olympic Development Academy, but remained based in Wales until she completed her A-levels in 2013, after which she moved to Manchester to train full-time at Manchester Velodrome.
She became the Junior Time Trial world champion in 2012, completing the 15.6 km course in Valkenburg, Netherlands in 22 minutes and 26.29 seconds, beating Cecille Ludvig of Denmark by 35.87 seconds. Subsequently Barker was named Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2012.
In 2013, she became a senior world champion for the first time as a member of the team pursuit squad at the UCI Track World Championships.
Barker represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2014, winning silver and bronze medals.
In September 2014 it was announced that Barker would follow in the footsteps of team-mate Laura Trott and join the Matrix Fitness-Vulpine team for 2015.
Barker then claimed the title at the Six days of Amsterdam. Barker closed 2016 with success in the national Madison championships along side Laura Kenny. Starting 2017 Barker finished second in the ominium event and third in the scratch race at the national championships. At the Six days series final, despite not winning a race in Mallorca Barker won the title. At the World Championships, Barker claimed two silver medals, one in the scratch race and the other in the Madison alongside Emily Nelson. Barker went on to win her first individual world title in the points race.
