Jacob Hennessy: ‘At first the WorldTour pros are like idols and then they’re kicking your head in’

The young Brit talks about his first experiences of mixing it with cycling's elite in the WorldTour

Up and coming British rider Jacob Hennessey has said his first month with his new Mitchelton – BikeExchange squad has been “surreal”.

Hennessey, who was on the British Cycling academy in 2017, raced mainly with the Great British team on the road at U23 events last year. He signed for the China-registered Mitchelton-BikeExchange, sister team of Mitchelton-Scott over the winter to focus on road racing.

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Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.