Life is better on two wheels, and the Towers family would most certainly agree with that. For those with an interest in motorcycling, Jonny Towers will be a familiar name. A British Supertwin and European Classic Endurance champion, Jonny has also won at the world-famous Spa Francorchamps, as well as competed at the Isle of Man TT. He claimed his first victory aged 16 and he's still scoring wins today, at the age of 57.
Sporting success runs further back in the family, too: Jonny's father lan was a professional footballer who played for Burnley for nine seasons from 1965 and went on to play for Oldham Athletic and Bury. When Jonny was five, the family moved to Cape Town, South Africa, where lan continued his pro football career.
At the age of 19, Jonny moved back to the UK to pursue his love of motorcycling. Alongside his frequent wins on the track and his very successful motorcycling apparel company RST, he was also a successful cyclist in the late Nineties, then in his early-30s, gaining an elite licence at the turn of the millennium. In 2003 he married Sam, and the couple had two children together: Alice, born in 2002, and Lucas, the following year.
Alice, who became British road race champion aged just 19, is now 21 and has just completed her first season in the women's World Tour with CanyonSRAM. "My brother and I were always riding but not at a serious level until we were teenagers," Alice recalls. "We began going to the local circuit series in Shrewsbury, but it wasn't until I finished fourth in my first national race that I took it any more seriously. From 15 to 18 my progression was pretty quick and I was competing in World Tour races with Le Col-Wahoo aged 18."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike