The iconic Tour de France cycle race begins on Saturday from Lille with an Edinburgh involvement through Sean Flynn’s attachment to Team Picnic Post NL whom he joined in 2023.
The 25-year-old former Scotland Commonwealth Games rep first became attracted to the sport from watching some downhill mountain biking and joined Edinburgh Road Club aged around 10. Ever since accolades have flowed for an individual noted for multi discipline performances on two wheels.
For example in 2016 Sean won British youth titles on road and mountain bike and a year later was national junior cyclo cross champion.
In 2018 he struck bronze in the team event at the Youth Olympics.
Perhaps his best year so far, however, came in 2023. Having successfully transitioned to the pro ranks Sean won a stage of the Vuelta Espana but there is no doubt Sean will want to impress team bosses over the next three weeks with the Tour starting in Edinburgh in 2027.
“I love the variations in races and the tactics, the options that gives you and the team to be able to do well, by being smart and working well together” he says, adding ”for the racing I really like the team aspect and that really drew me in as I’m a sociable person.”
Making the step up from the under-23 ranks to the elite peloton comes with its challenges, setbacks, and hard moments but Sean is aware of what still lies ahead of him, and he’s excited for everything that being a professional cyclist encompasses.
“It’s all the start of the next step, it’s not like I’ve made it yet. I know it’s going to be hard but I’m really looking forward to it, getting stuck in and working hard so that hopefully I can make it all the way to the top.”
Joining Sean on the eight rider Team Picnic Post NL rota will be Kelso’s Oscar Onley who surpassed himself by winning a stage of the Tour of Switzerland three weeks ago and finishing third overall.
One source close to the pro cycling scene said: “Sean will probably be riding for the other team members but is capable of doing well if he gets into a breakaway on a stage.”
