How Good Was Ethan Hayter’s Season On Two Wheels?

As the 2020/21 Cycling season comes to a close it seems a suitable time to take a look back at one of world cycling’s newest stars, Ethan Hayter.

The 23-year-old who learnt his trade at the Herne Hill Velodrome has enjoyed a breakout season that has seen him pick up nine UCI road race victories, the world omnium title as well as a silver medal on the track in the madison at this years delayed Olympic games in Tokyo.

The Englishman rides for the British team INEOS Grenadiers, formerly Team Sky. An outfit that has pretty much won it all in the cycling world and is headed up by Sir Dave Brailsford.

Team principle Brailsford has guided the like of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome to Tour de France wins and Hayter will know he couldn’t be in a more suited team at a crucial time in his career.

Steady Start

Hayter’s season got off to a mixed start with the Etoile de Besseges in early February. He fell off his bike after a tumble in the last few kilometres of the second stage however recovered well to be a crucial member of the squad.

There as a support rider for some of INEOS’s more established riders he was part of a team that helped teammate Michael Kwiatowski secure a second place in the general classification.

Following a strong start, Hayter would go on to have a quiet couple of months in February and March. He took part in various one-day races across Belgium and Italy but could only manage a 22^nd place finish as his best result.

Although his personal results were disappointing over the five races, teammate Tom Pidcock did pick up an impressive third place in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne while Eddie Dunbar finished a respectable ninth place in GP Industria & Artigianato.

Breakthrough

Hayter’s season really took off a week after his final race in Belgium as him and his INEOS team raced in the Coppi e Bartali, a five-stage race in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Following two fifth-placed finishes on stages one and two that kept him well in contention in the general classification Hayter would pick up his maiden win of the season in the third. His INEOS teammates tracked an attack four kilometres out before perfectly setting up Hayter to win a bunched sprint.

He followed the result up with two fourth-placed finishes in the remaining two stages to finish an impressive sixth place overall in a strong field and just 11 seconds back from eventual winner Jonas Vingegaard. He also took home the young rider’s jersey.

Just four days later Hayter returned to Belgium to ride Dwars door Vlaanderen and Ronde Van Vlaanderen, picking up an 11^th and 54^th place respectively. He would then take a much-needed rest after a hectic start to the season.

Returning to action a month later at the beginning of May, Hayter and a strong INEOS team headed to the Volta Ao Algarve. The Englishmen won stage two in another sprint finish and picked up second place in the general classification. By this time the cycling world were truly starting to notice the talent Hayter possessed.

Another five-stage race followed the Volta. Two weeks after narrowly missing out on the top spot he would go one better in the points classification at the Vuelta Anadalucia. Not only did he top the points podium at the end of a gruelling race – he did it in style.

Winning Ways

Hayter would have a prolonged break after the Vuelta Anadalucia. He took three months out before returning to the Tour of Norway. The break proved to be worthwhile as the young Englishmen went on to win his first multistage race of his career. He won the opening two stages and led for the entire race before wrapping up victory on the 22^nd of August.

A week later he took part in the Tour of Britain. His home race and one that any Brit would love to win. Again, he won two stages over the eight-stage race but narrowly missed out to Belgian superstar Wout Van Aert.

It was heartbreak for Hayter, losing by just six seconds after a week of racing but the fact he is now consistently competing for these titles show how far he has come.

The world road championships came around at the end of September and proved to be a mixed bag for the Brit. An eighth-place is in the time trial was a good result but Hayter could only finish in a disappointing 35^th in the one-day race.

As the season was coming to its conclusion Hayter had two competition’s left. The British national road championships and the World track championships.

Hayter, of course, won the British time trial race. He is a cut above the rest of the field in the country. He then finished a respectable third place in the road race. Finishing just seven seconds behind eventual winner and INEOS teammate, Ben Swift.

Hayter then added a world track gold ion the men’s omnium to cap of a stellar year.

If this season was anything to go by it’s clear that cycling has a new star and one that will be able to compete at the highest level for years to come.