Elinor Barker

Elinor Jane Barker from Heath, Cardiff, is the daughter of Graham Barker, deputy headteacher at St Julian's Comprehensive School in Newport.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/09/18/cycling-gold-for-elinor-barker-at-world-road-championships-in-holland-91466-31862577/ |title=Cycling gold for Elinor Barker at World Road Championships in Holland |first=Simon |last=Gaskell |publisher=Wales Online |date=18 September 2012}} She has two older siblings, Joe and Harri and a sister, Megan, three years her junior and also a successful racing cyclist.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/535729/ride-elinor-barker-in-south-wales.html |title=Ride: Elinor Barker in South Wales |first=Chris |last=Sidwells |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=22 November 2012}} She attended Llanishen High School.

Barker took up cycling with the Maindy Flyers at the age of 10, as a way of getting out of swimming classes.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/cycling-elinor-barker-shows-next-generation-is-in-very-safe-hands-8153400.html |title=Cycling: Elinor Barker shows next generation is in very safe hands |first=Alasdair |last=Fotheringham |author-link=Alasdair Fotheringham |work=The Independent |date=19 September 2012}}

Taking the title at the British National Track Championships, Barker broke the under-16 British record in the pursuit, previously held by Nicole Cooke. She was recruited into British Cycling's Olympic Development Academy, but remained based in Wales until she completed her A-levels in 2013, after which she moved to Manchester to train full-time at Manchester Velodrome.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/elinor-barker-prepares-to-complete-her-education-on-the-track-8916642.html |title=Elinor Barker prepares to complete her education on the track |newspaper=The Independent |date=31 October 2013 |first=Robin |last=Scott-Elliot}}

She became the Junior Time Trial world champion in 2012, completing the {{convert|15.6|km|abbr=off|adj=on}} course in Valkenburg, Netherlands in 22 minutes and 26.29 seconds, beating Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Denmark by 35.87 seconds. Subsequently, Barker was named Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/wales/article/20121211-welsh-cycling-news-Elinor-Barker-named-Carwyn-James-Junior-Sportswoman-of-the-Year-0 |title=Elinor Barker named Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year |first=Rebecca |last=Ransom |publisher=British Cycling |date=11 December 2012}}

In 2013, she became a senior world champion for the first time as a member of the team pursuit squad at the UCI Track World Championships.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Barker represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, winning silver and bronze medals.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/cycling/commonwealth-games-2014-olympic-champion-7234116 |title=Commonwealth Games 2014: Olympic champion Geraint Thomas and world sprint star Becky James head up Welsh cycling team for Glasgow |publisher=Wales Online |date=9 July 2014}}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28504528 BBC Sport – Glasgow 2014, "Glasgow 2014 day four: Elinor Barker denied gold by Laura Trott", 27 July 2014]. Accessed 27 July 2014

In September 2014, it was announced that Barker would follow in the footsteps of teammate Laura Trott and join the {{UCI team code|MAT|2015}} team for 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/elinor-barker-signs-matrix-fitness-vulpine-2015-138035 |title=Elinor Barker signs to Matrix Fitness-Vulpine for 2015 |date=27 September 2014 |website=Cycling Weekly |access-date=22 December 2014}}

At her home world championships in London, Barker was part of the pursuit team along with Ciara Horne, Joanna Rowsell Shand and Trott to claim the bronze medal; after a disappointing qualifying ride.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/gb-womens-team-pursuit-squad-salvage-bronze-at-track-worlds-214988 |title=GB women's team pursuit squad salvage bronze at Track Worlds |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=4 March 2016 |access-date=30 October 2017}} At the 2016 Olympic Games, Barker along with Katie Archibald, Rowsell Shand and Trott claimed the gold medal in the team pursuit in a world record time of four minutes and 10.236 seconds.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36688104 |title=Rio Olympics 2016: Laura Trott makes history as GB's women win team pursuit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2016 |access-date=30 October 2017}}

Returning to the track after the Olympics, Barker claimed the silver medal at the European Championships.{{cite web |first=Jody |last=Cundy |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20161020-gb-cyclingteam-2016-UEC-European-Track-Championships-day-two-0 |title=Medal magic from Great Britain Cycling Team in Paris |publisher=Britishcycling.org.uk |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=30 October 2017}} Barker followed this by winning the points race at the world cup in Apeldoorn.{{cite web |url=http://sport.bt.com/cycling/olympic-champion-elinor-barker-wins-gold-at-world-cup-in-apeldoorn-S11364112653643 |title=Olympic champion Elinor Barker wins gold at World Cup in Apeldoorn}} Barker then claimed the title at the Six Days of Amsterdam.{{cite web |url=http://sixday.com/news/belgian-pair-storm-to-comfortable-six-day-amsterdam-success/ |title=Six Day Series » Belgian pair storm to comfortable Six Day Amsterdam success |access-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164211/http://sixday.com/news/belgian-pair-storm-to-comfortable-six-day-amsterdam-success/ |archive-date=13 February 2017}} Barker closed 2016 with success in the national Madison championships alongside Laura Kenny.{{cite web |url=http://sixday.com/news/amsterdam-champ-elinor-barker-ends-year-with-national-madison-title/ |title=Six Day Series » Amsterdam champ Elinor Barker ends year with national Madison title |access-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164214/http://sixday.com/news/amsterdam-champ-elinor-barker-ends-year-with-national-madison-title/ |archive-date=13 February 2017}} Starting 2017 Barker finished second in the ominium event and third in the scratch race at the national championships.{{cite web |url=http://sixday.com/news/away-from-six-day-all-conquering-archibald-bags-quartet-of-national-titles/ |title=Six Day Series » Away from Six Day: All-conquering Archibald bags quartet of national titles |access-date=16 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164114/http://sixday.com/news/away-from-six-day-all-conquering-archibald-bags-quartet-of-national-titles/ |archive-date=13 February 2017}} Barker finished an impressive third in the points race at the world cup event in Los Angeles, despite having just 15 minutes rest after the Madison event.{{cite web |first=Jody |last=Cundy |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20170227-gb-cyclingteam-news-World-cup-scratch-bronze-for-Barker-0 |title=World cup scratch bronze for Barker |publisher=Britishcycling.org.uk |date=27 February 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017}} At the Six days series final, despite not winning a race in Mallorca, Barker won the title.{{cite web |url=http://sixday.com/news/womens-omnium-glory-for-barker-after-supreme-mallorca-showing/ |title=Six Day Series » Women's Omnium glory for Barker after supreme Mallorca showing |access-date=14 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415105816/http://sixday.com/news/womens-omnium-glory-for-barker-after-supreme-mallorca-showing/ |archive-date=15 April 2017}} At the World Championships, Barker claimed two silver medals, one in the scratch race and the other in the Madison alongside Emily Nelson.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39578699 |title=Track Cycling World Championships: Elinor Barker pipped for gold |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 April 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39609308 |title=Track Cycling Worlds: Elinor Barker & Emily Nelson win madison silver |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 April 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017}} Barker went on to win her first individual world title in the points race.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39613095 |title=World Track Cycling Championships: Elinor Barker wins world points race gold |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017}}

For the 2018 season Barker decided to join {{UCI team code|WHT|2018}},{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/41640516 |title=Katie Archibald: World omnium champion to join road racing team in 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017}} and joined {{UCI team code|DRP|2019}} for 2019, after {{UCI team code|WHT|2018|nolink=yes}} folded.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Barker took the gold in the points race for Wales, ahead of Scots Katie Archibald and Neah Evans. Barker's win was the first Commonwealth Games title for a Welsh track cyclist since 1990.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/43680669 |title=Commonwealth Games: Elinor Barker wins points race gold, Scots complete podium |author= |date=7 April 2018 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=7 October 2021}} Later that year she was part of the Team GB squad that took the gold in the team pursuit at the European Track Championships on home ground in Glasgow.{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-08-03/elinor-barker-and-teammates-win-gbs-first-gold-medal-at-european-championships |title=Elinor Barker and teammates win GB's first gold medal at European Championships |author= |date=3 August 2018 |website=itv.com |access-date=7 October 2021}} At the 2019 Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszków, Barker won the rainbow jersey in the scratch race, her first world title in that discipline.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/feb/27/elinor-barker-world-track-cycling-gold-poland |title=Elinor Barker wins fourth world track cycling title in Poland |author= |date=27 February 2019 |website=The Guardian |access-date=7 October 2021}}

At the 2020 Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, Barker won the gold in the points race on the final day of the championships, taking Team GB's only title of the meeting. She was also part of the team that took silver in the team pursuit.{{cite web |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/03/01/elinor-barker-earns-britain-belated-gold-at-end-of-tough-world-championships/ |title=Elinor Barker earns Britain belated gold at end of tough World Championships |author= |date=1 March 2020 |website=shropshirestar.com |access-date=7 October 2021}} Later that year Barker took two titles at the European Track Championships, one as part of the team pursuit squad alongside Katie Archibald, Neah Evans, Laura Kenny and Josie Knight, and an individual gold in the elimination race.{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/european-track-championships-2020-gb-womens-team-pursuit-squad-take-gold-as-elinor-barker-takes-elimination-race-title-on-second-night-475760 |title=European Track Championships 2020: GB women's team pursuit squad take gold as Elinor Barker takes elimination race title on second night |last=Ballinger |first=Alex |date=13 November 2020 |website=Cycling Weekly |access-date=7 October 2021}}

In 2021, Barker was part of the British team that won silver in the women's team pursuit at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite news |title=Tokyo Olympics: Cycling Track – Women's Team Pursuit results |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58023549 |access-date=7 October 2021}} During the Games she signed a two-year deal to join the Uno-X team from 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58837740 |title=Elinor Barker: British cyclist on pregnancy and others paving the way for mothers in sport |last=Falkingham |first=Katie |date=8 October 2021 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=10 October 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/other-sports/elinor-barker-silver-medal-tokyo-2020-b959063.html |title=Team GB cyclist Elinor Barker reveals she won silver medal at Tokyo 2020 while expecting first child |author= |date=6 October 2021 |website=standard.co.uk |access-date=10 October 2021}} In April 2023, Barker extended her contract with Uno-X until 2027.{{Cite web |first=Jackie |last=Tyson |date=2023-04-21 |title=Elinor Barker signs four-year extension with Uno-X Pro Cycling |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/elinor-barker-signs-four-year-extension-with-uno-x-pro-cycling/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}

Barker revealed in 2019 that she was suffering from endometriosis, which nearly caused her to retire, as well as potentially affecting her chances of having a child.{{cite news |title=Elinor Barker: 'I felt pain for hours and couldn't stand up' |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48946766 |access-date=7 October 2021}} In October 2021, Barker announced that she was pregnant, and had been so when she competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/06/sport/elinor-barker-tokyo-olympics-spt-intl/index.html |title=Cyclist Elinor Barker says she won silver at Tokyo Olympics while pregnant |publisher=CNN |date=October 6, 2021 |access-date=October 6, 2021}} She is married to Danish cyclist Casper von Folsach.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/ckgjzj4l56no|title=From the pain of endometriosis to making sporting history|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Michael|last=Pearlman|date=10 August 2024|accessdate=10 August 2024}}

Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to cycling.{{London Gazette|issue=61803 |supp=y |page=N15|date=31 December 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/580999/new-years-honours-2017-full-list.pdf |title=New Year's Honours List 2017 |date=30 December 2016 |website=www.gov.uk |publisher=Government Digital Service |access-date=31 December 2016}}

File:Rio 2016 - Track cycling 13 August (CT004) (29168562610).jpg

File:2017 UEC Track Elite European Championships 238.jpg]]

{{Div col}}

;2011

: National Junior Championships

::1st 20px Individual pursuit

::2nd Scratch

: 2nd 15px Individual pursuit, UEC European Junior Championships

;2012

: UEC European Junior Championships

::1st 20px Individual pursuit

::1st 20px Team pursuit

: 2nd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Cali

: UCI World Junior Championships

::2nd 15px Omnium

::2nd 15px Individual pursuit

::3rd 15px Team pursuit

;2013

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UCI World Championships

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UEC European Championships

: UEC European Under-23 Championships

::2nd 15px Individual pursuit

::2nd 15px Points race

: 3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Aguascalientes

;2014

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UCI World Championships

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UEC European Championships

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, National Championships

: UCI World Cup

::1st Team pursuit, Guadalajara

::1st Team pursuit, London

::3rd Points race, London

: Revolution

::1st Scratch – Round 3, Manchester

::2nd Points Race – Round 2, Manchester

::3rd Points Race – Round 3, Manchester

::3rd Scratch – Round 4, Manchester

: Commonwealth Games

::2nd 15px Points race

::3rd 15px Scratch

;2015

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UEC European Championships

: Revolution

::1st Points Race – Round 6, Manchester

::1st Scratch – Round 3, Manchester

::2nd Points Race – Round 3, Manchester

: 2nd 15px Team pursuit, UCI World Championships

: 3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup, Cali

;2016

: 1st 15px Team pursuit, Olympic Games

: 1st 20px Madison, National Championships (with Laura Kenny)

: UCI World Cup

::1st Points race, Apeldoorn

::2nd Team pursuit, Hong Kong

: 1st Omnium, Six Days of Amsterdam

: 2nd 15px Scratch, UEC European Championships

: Revolution Series

::2nd Points Race – Round 1, Manchester

::2nd Points Race – Round 5, Manchester

: Revolution Champions League

::2nd Points Race – Round 2, London

::3rd Omnium – Round 1, Manchester

::3rd Points Race – Round 1, Manchester

::3rd Scratch – Round 2, London

: 3rd 15px Team pursuit, UCI World Championships

;2017

: UCI World Championships

::1st 20px Points race

::2nd 15px Scratch

::2nd 15px Madison (with Emily Nelson)

: UEC European Championships

::1st 20px Madison (with Ellie Dickinson)

::2nd 15px Team pursuit

: UCI World Cup

::1st Madison, Manchester

::1st Team Pursuit, Manchester

::2nd Madison, Pruszków (with Emily Nelson)

: 1st Omnium, Six Day Final, Mallorca

: National Championships

::2nd Omnium

::3rd Scratch

: 3rd Scratch, Champions League – Round 1, London

;2018

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UEC European Championships

: 1st 15px Points race, Commonwealth Games

: 1st File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG Madison, National Championships (with Katie Archibald)

: 2nd Scratch, Champions League – Round 3, Manchester

;2019

: 1st 20px Scratch, UCI World Championships

;2020

: 1st 20px Points race, UCI World Championships

: UEC European Championships

::1st 20px Elimination

::1st 20px Team pursuit

;2021

: 2nd 15px Team pursuit, Olympic Games

{{colend}}

{{Div col}}

;2011

: 1st Stratford-upon-Avon Team Series

: 1st Stage 1 Essex Giro

: 2nd 15px Time trial, UCI World Junior Championships

;2012

: 1st 20px Time trial, UCI World Junior Championships

: 1st Jubilee Road Race

: 1st Duncan Murray Wines Road Race

: 2nd Hillingdon Grand Prix

: 2nd Overall 2 Days of Bedford

::1st Stage 4

;2013

: 1st Otley Grand Prix

;2014

: 4th Time trial, National Championships

;2017

: 1st 20px Overall Rás na mBan

::1st {{cjersey|orange}} Queen of the Hills classification{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2017/0910/903669-elinor-barker-wins/ |title=Elinor Barker wins Rás na mBan |date=10 September 2017 |website=RTÉ.ie |access-date=17 September 2017}}

::1st Stages 3{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingireland.ie/cycling-news-item/barker-reigns-supreme-on-mount-leinster/5719 |title=Barker Reigns Supreme on Mount Leinster |date=9 September 2017 |website=Cycling Ireland |access-date=17 September 2017}} & 4{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2017/0909/903480-an-post-ras-na-mban/ |title=Elinor Barker bursts to second An Post Rás na mBan stage win |date=9 September 2017 |website=RTÉ.ie |access-date=17 September 2017}}

: 3rd Ljubljana–Domžale–Ljubljana TT

: National Championships

::4th Road race

::5th Time trial

: 7th Overall BeNe Ladies Tour

::1st Stage 2a

;2023

: National Championships

::3rd Time trial

::4th Road race

: 7th Gent–Wevelgem

: 9th Time trial, UEC European Championships

;2024

: 3rd Time trial, National Championships

{{colend}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons}}

• {{UCI}}
• [https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/bio/Elinor_Barker Elinor Barker] at British Cycling
• {{Olympics.com}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Team GB}}
• {{Team Wales}}
• {{CGF profile}}
• {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|60167}}

{{Uno-X (women's team) riders}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Track Team Pursuit Women}}

{{UCI Track Cycling World Champions – Women's scratch}}

{{UCI Track Cycling World Champions – Women's points race}}

{{UCI Track Cycling World Champions – Women's madison}}

{{UCI Track Cycling World Champions – Women's team pursuit}}

{{UCI Road World Champions – Women's junior time trial}}

{{UEC European Track Champions – Women's team pursuit}}

{{UEC European Track Champions – Women's madison}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Elinor}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Welsh female cyclists

Category:British female cyclists

Category:Welsh Olympic competitors

Category:Olympic cyclists for Great Britain

Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain

Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain

Category:Olympic gold medalists in cycling

Category:Cyclists at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Cyclists at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Wales

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Wales

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in cycling

Category:Cyclists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Category:Cyclists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Category:UCI Track Cycling World Champions (women)

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People educated at Llanishen High School

Category:Welsh track cyclists

Category:British track cyclists

Category:European Championships (multi-sport event) gold medalists

Category:Cyclists from Cardiff

Category:Cyclists at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic silver medalists in cycling

Category:Olympic bronze medalists in cycling

Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain