Ellen Barker of Douglas has joined the Team OnForm junior girls squad.

Currently studying for her A-levels at QEII School in Peel, the 17-year-old only began cycling seriously in 2016 in the under-16 category.

Unfortunately, at the end of the year she became unwell and decided not to race the 2017 season while focussing on other things.

Ellen re-started training again in July and got in touch with the Team OnForm manager who invited her to attend a selection camp in Essex.

This went really well and she is now training hard ready to race as a junior in 2018. Her first race is in a fortnight’s time on January 27 at the Manchester Velodrome in the Senior National Track Championships.

’I’ve really thrown myself in at the deep end there, racing against some of Britain’s best riders,’ admits Ellen (right).

’I’m hoping to do as many races as I can in England and possibly Europe. Also I will hopefully be riding with the Isle of Man women’s team in some races.’