Cycling’s Ethan Vernon will be looking to go one step further than recent silver medals, as the Bedfordian prepares for the latest edition of the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow from 23 July.
Vernon, 25, has already had a busy year on the road, but preparations are almost complete for what will be his third Commonwealth Games in the velodrome, after previously representing both Team Wales and Team England.
After a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, plus a silver medal at the Paris Olympics for Team GB two years later, Vernon will be keen to take the step up to the top podium as sports stars descend on Scotland.
And with a new look foursome, Vernon will be one of the senior riders alongside long time teammate, Charlie Tanfield in a role the speedster is relishing.
“The Commonwealth Games sits in a perfect time to try and create a winning environment and get a team together that can win in LA, and that is why I really wanted to do it,” said Ethan.
Los Angeles is the next host of the Olympic Games taking place in 2028.
“We had a couple of guys move on to other things after Paris, and I feel like as a guy who has been on the team for a while, the ownership is on me to try and bring a group together and start that cohesion”, he added.
Read: Ethan Vernon wins silver medal in Paris Olympics team pursuit final
“If we can kick off that project with a Commonwealth gold, it gets the ball rolling quite quickly.
“And if we can do the Commonwealth gold this time, then there’s one left to go, and it’s the Olympic gold. At that point, I’d be really happy with my track career success.”
Success in Spain
Vernon is perhaps better known as an endurance rider, and his stamina has paid dividends in mainland Europe after impressive results in road races in the past couple of years.
The ‘Volta a Catalunya’, one of three World Tour stages as part of the UCI World Tour, was eventually won by former Tour de France champion, Jonas Vingegaard but Bedford’s Vernon claimed his spot in the race’s history with victory in the fourth stage.
Representing the NSN Cycling Team, Vernon held off France’s Dorian Godon, with fellow Briton Tom Pidcock back in third. This followed two runner-up finishes in stages one and eight of the ‘Vuelta a Espana’ in 2025.
Vernon also has good memories of Glasgow, bouncing back from a crash in the team pursuit to win 2023 World Championship gold in the elimination race two days later.
All of which leaves Vernon in a confident mood heading to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
“Bouncing back from that crash to win gold was really special,” says Vernon.
“Unfortunately, when we crashed out of the team pursuit, my parents decided not to travel up anymore and then I won the next event.
“They won’t be making that mistake again this summer!”
A stripped back Games
The Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow once more, following the 2014 edition in which England topped the medal table with 58 gold, 59 silver and 57 bronze medals.
The Scottish city has stepped in to host at the last minute following the withdrawal of the state of Victoria in Australia, who cited rising costs in pulling out.
As a result, Glasgow took over, although the Games has been stripped back with just ten sports featured, seven less than Birmingham 2022.
One of them is track cycling, although road racing has been one of the sports axed.
“There are not many teams that allow the collaboration between the track and the road, but my team has a good balance, so that’s why I’m really happy. It has been a really good year”, said Vernon.
“I’m trying to keep winning bike races on the road, and also on the track.
“I think if I can win Grand Tour stages, like a stage of the Giro d’Italia or Tour de France, I would be happy in my career.”
The team pursuit event will be completed inside the first day of the cycling in Glasgow, with both qualification and the final taking place on Thursday, 30 July.
You can watch Ethan’s efforts to win Commonwealth gold on TNT Sports, who have secured the rights for the first time, bringing an end to the 72-year association with the BBC, while daily highlights can be seen on Channel Five.
