JULIA BARTE 'THE TIME OF MY LIFE!'

Looking back on the past six months, it’s hard to know where to begin. Everything changed for me when I moved to England from Sweden just before lockdown in 2020.

Age: 31

Hometown: Tunbridge Wells

Occupation: Operations lead in tech retail

Rides for: 1904RT Southborough District Wheelers (second claim)

@BarteJulia juliabarte

Football had been my main sport, but the pandemic meant matches were on hold, so I started cycling. By the start of 2022, the bike had taken over as my number-one interest.

This year, every big ride has felt like a rite of passage, from my first long-distance sportive in Scotland to the first taste of the high mountains in the Etape du Tour – an event I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to complete. Hand on heart, these have been the best six months of my life.