Ethan Vernon is a British track and road cyclist who turned professional in 2022. Despite being just 23 years old, this Bedford native will be making a move to Israel-Premier Tech's "senior team" starting January 1, 2024, where he will be among the very youngest. This prompted IDLProCycling.com to conduct a brief yet thorough interview with him. In his first year and a half as a WorldTour pro, Vernon has already amassed seven victories. He secured a stage win in the Tour of Catalonia last year and emerged as the strongest rider in the first stage of the Tour of Romandie. During his time at Soudal-Quick Step, he primarily excelled in smaller races, clinching victories in events such as the Tour of Slovakia and the Tour du Rwanda. Notably, he recently claimed victory in the prologue of the Deutschland Tour, averaging an astonishing speed of 57 kilometers per hour. Vernon's talent extends to the track as well, as he earned a gold medal in the Waste Race at the most recent World Track Cycling Championships.
Vernon will have an easier time organizing road schedule with Israel-Premier Tech
Reflecting on the past year, he expressed his contentment before the start of the Super 8 Classic. "I look back on the past year with great satisfaction," he began. "I was able to continue my development successfully and secured a few impressive victories. Additionally, my performance on the track was also quite strong. So, overall, I'm very pleased with how this season has unfolded." Vernon found it challenging to single out one particular result as the absolute best. "If I had to pick one, perhaps the victory in Mallorca, as it occurred right at the start of the season. But the win in Romandie is also high on the list."
In the upcoming season, Vernon will don the colors of Sylvan Adams' team, where he will be teammates with riders such as Pascal Ackermann, Chris Froome, Simon Clarke, and Jakob Fuglsang, among others. He explained the rationale behind his transfer, saying, "They fully understand my goals for the future. Moreover, with this team, I can have a more significant say in shaping my race schedule. I believe there's tremendous potential for me to grow as a cyclist. Indeed, there are areas I'd like to enhance, both in general and particularly in my sprint."