{"id":285441,"date":"2025-11-27T02:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T02:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/285441\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T02:49:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T02:49:09","slug":"rising-star-scots-cyclist-signs-first-professional-contract-as-she-aims-for-commonwealth-games-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/285441\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising star Scots cyclist signs first professional contract as she aims for Commonwealth Games success"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A young cyclist has been dubbed the next big thing in Scottish cycling after being rewarded for a string of successful races.<\/p>\n<p>18-year-old Erin Boothman has now been signed on a three-year development contract with one of the world\u2019s biggest female cycling teams.<\/p>\n<p>The teenager, from Glasgow, has been training with the Liv AlUla Jayco team in Girona, Spain, as she prepares to join them full-time in January.<\/p>\n<p>Just a year ago, Erin was sitting her Highers whilst trying to juggle training and competing, but she\u2019s now got her eye on turning professional.<\/p>\n<p>Erin said: \u201cLast year was super hard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had my main exams to do as well as trying to race full-time, and I ended up taking a break for like a month in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce I had my exams done, I then fully turned my focus to the track world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo be able to get my five A\u2019s and then two medals on the track \u2013 I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Following a string of top ten performances on both the road and the track, her wins at the Cl\u00e1sica de Ja\u00e9n Nations Cup in Spain and the Gent-Wevelgem in the Netherlands caught the eye of her new Australian-based team.<\/p>\n<p>She signed on for a three-year contract, which will see her develop alongside the elite team before moving on to competing on the road from 2027.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the start of this year, I couldn\u2019t imagine signing anything like that\u201d, Erin explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was speaking to my agent, and we really wanted to sign something that would help me long-term instead of just jumping straight into the world tour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo to sign a deal for three years was literally a dream come true, especially to have that development pathway in it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m over the moon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m mainly looking to develop for the year after (2027) with the aim is to be going and doing the classic races with the world tour team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019ve always dreamed of doing, and hopefully I\u2019ll make that step.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But before that, Erin has her sights set firmly on next year\u2019s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s already in the process of qualifying with just one more time to beat to secure her place at the starting line.<\/p>\n<p>After getting on her bike following a trip around Millport, Erin joined her local cycling group before heading onto the track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.<\/p>\n<p>And to line up at the venue in a Scotland shirt would be a special memory for the teenager.<\/p>\n<p>She said: \u201cFor next year, it\u2019s probably one of my biggest goals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve obviously got goals on the road, but definitely one of my biggest goals is qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, which I\u2019m already trying to do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been on the velodrome since I was about eight or nine, so to have my family and friends watching it would be super special to be there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone wants to go to the Commonwealth Games, even more so now it\u2019s in Glasgow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The teenager is being credited as a rising star, particularly among Scottish riders, but she\u2019s not letting that affect her focus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to hear that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you see the athletes that come through Scotland, to be classed as the next one of them is literally amazing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe likes of Katie Archibald and stuff, I\u2019d never think I could be compared to them, and now people are saying I\u2019m coming in their footsteps.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, it\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For now, Erin\u2019s getting the miles in as she prepares to join Liv AlUla Jayco full-time for the beginning of a promising professional career.<\/p>\n<p>STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n<p>Get all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VaCESJzKgsNvKKNOYO2r\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">      Follow STV News <\/a>Follow STV News on WhatsApp<\/p>\n<p>Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763978589_968_whatsapp-qr.png\" alt=\"WhatsApp channel QR Code\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A young cyclist has been dubbed the next big thing in Scottish cycling after being rewarded for 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