Paul is our common supervisor right here at Merlin in addition to a member of The Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Group. On the weekend, his outcome from the UCI Gravel World Collection spherical at The Gralloch, Scotland put him right into a qualifying place prepared for the world championships within the Netherlands this October. However what’s actually behind his love for driving? We sat down with him to search out out.

What received you into driving?

I used to be drawn to the liberty biking gave me — the flexibility to simply head out and discover. My dad additionally had an previous race bike hanging within the storage that I used to admire. I wasn’t large enough to trip it on the time, however it positively sparked one thing.

Favorite bike you’ve had?

Undoubtedly my first correct racing bike. I bear in mind each element: it was a blue Reynolds 531c body, full Campagnolo Mirage groupset, and Mavic CXP33 rims. I completely beloved that bike — I rode hundreds of miles on it and it actually cemented my ardour for the game.

Dream place to trip?

Belgium, undoubtedly. The quick, punchy climbs go well with my driving type completely, and the post-ride beer choices aren’t dangerous both!

What’s the hardest trip you’ve been on?

That will be the UCI Gravel Race in Turnhout earlier this yr. I went in barely underprepared, pondering the flat terrain would make it simpler — I couldn’t have been extra fallacious. It turned out to be brutally laborious however an ideal expertise all the identical.

Your largest achievement on the bike?

One in all my proudest moments was inserting third within the North West Junior Street Race Championships over 20 years in the past. I shared the rostrum with none apart from Mark Cavendish and future WorldTour rider Matt Brammeier — a fairly particular reminiscence!

To search out out extra about our employees riders right here at Merlin, observe our ‘Get to Know Merlin’s Workers’ weblog collection.