Abbie Dentus started riding for Palmer Park Velo (PPV) in 2007 at the age of 10. She rode for PPV for 4 years where she became used to riding a track bike and riding on an outdoor velodrome. From riding at PPV and taking part in their race days Abbie started to really enjoy racing on the track as it was different to riding on the road, which made it a lot of fun. Having enjoyed racing there she started to go to reading track league where she used to watch her dad. However only this time Abbie was the one who was racing. Abbie says “I found the track leagues good fun and would always look forward to going straight after school on a Monday night”. With the help of PPV Abbie started to ride the omnium series where she won the U14 south area finals and was then able to follow that up for the next two years by winning the U16 finals twice.

Abbie became even more serious about the sport and developed a keen interest in racing as she started to train more often and harder so that she could achieve her goal of getting a National Championship Jersey. In 2012, Abbie was selected to ride for the Great British Olympic Talent Team where her training became a lot harder and she found she had to be even more committed. Abbie was coached by Stuart Blunt who helped her with her track season. This started with a 5th place at the National Omnium final held at Reading’s Palmer Park Velodrome.

After being on the Talent Team programme for a whole year, Abbie competed in the National Track Championships in Manchester where she achieved a bronze medal in the U16 National Pursuit, another bronze medal in the U16 National Scratch Race and then managed to fulfil her goal of a National Championship Jersey by becoming the U16 National Points Race Champion. Abbie describes being “over the moon” having achieved her goal. To finish off the season, Abbie came 3rd in the National Madison (also held in Manchester) with her partner Lucy Shaw. This left her rank number one in the country in the British Cycling rankings.

Clearly Abbie Dentus is a name to watch out for in the future of British Cycle Racing.