What challenges have you faced as a woman in an elite sport?

“The main difference is budget. A men’s team will have a budget of millions whereas we have a budget of a couple of hundred thousand.”

“There’s also a big gap in the salaries between men and women. You could be angry but that is where the sport is at the moment. I think it’s changing slowly but if it moved any faster you would risk ruining the sport. Next year will be the first year that women are paid a minimum salary on the world tour team, which is a good step, but because of that teams are having to find more sponsorship and if they can’t they’ll drop riders.”

What advice would you give to women considering a career in sport?

“You have to be super driven to go into an elite sport.”

“Cycling is one of the few sports where it’s the same for women as men and you need to want to go out training every day otherwise it’s really hard. There’s a lot of sportswomen who are not in it for the money – they do it because they love it – and that’s definitely me. I also have a really good coach and that helps.”

What impact has having a successful mum had on you?

“The sport has changed massively since my mum was racing so it’s hard to compare.”

“She had to go to America to get paid as a cyclist whereas now there’s a lot of professional teams paying rides in Europe. I was never pushed into the sport as a child – in fact I started off swimming, then running and later I did triathlons. I decided that I wanted to pursue cycling the most. My dad was also a cyclist and actually having both of them as cyclists was a good thing as they had a lot of contacts in the sport! Even though my mum (Lisa Brambini represented GB in both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games) did an amazing job in her career, there’s a lot more competition with more women riding today. I still hope that I will follow in her boots one day!”

What inspirational female role models have influenced you?

“I have grown up knowing my mum was a multi-national champion and Olympic cyclist.”

“While cycling was never forced upon me, (I wasn’t a child put in a bike seat and peddled round the Dales!), I was always going to grow up in a home where sport of some form was 100 per cent obligatory! My mum’s pedigree as an athlete inspired me in my early sporting conquests.

I am now coached by Olympic Gold Medallist Dani Rowe (nee King). Dani is a constant inspiration with a positive can-do attitude which is a daily motivation. To have a coach who was so successful, reaching the ultimate goal, have faith in me, helps me focus on where I need to be. Dani isn’t just a coach, she’s become a great friend, someone I can learn from and look up to.”

What’s been your proudest achievement in your career so far and why?

“I would say being selected as a first year Under 23 rider at the Elite World Championships in Sohar.”

“I left home at 18 and moved to Italy and I was riding for an Italian team and living with people from all over the world. It was a massive difference to being at home in Yorkshire. It was so nice to represent my country at such a young age and go all the way to Sohar and defend the world title.”

What makes a leading lady in 2019?

“To me there are so many different women who fit into this category.”

“For me, a leading lady has to be someone who is really adaptable to change. My coach is amazing and has had to adapt to so many different situations.”