Young and talented British CX champion Hattie Harnden joins Trek Factory Racing
Eighteen-year-old Hattie Harnden, a rising star in the world of off-road cycling, joins the Trek Factory Racing enduro roster for 2020. Harnden is the newly crowned British cyclocross national champion and holds multiple cross country national titles. She is a talented and multidisciplinary rider who will race the U21 Enduro World Series this year. Harnden lives near to Tracy Moseley in England and transitions to Trek Factory Racing from the T-Mo (Tracy Moseley) Racing team.
Q: How did it feel to win the elite British cyclocross title as an 18-year-old?
Harnden: It felt like something really special. I’ve dreamt of this moment but it came sooner than I expected and felt more amazing than I could’ve imagined. I couldn’t have asked for a better race. A good start and a fresh set of legs put me in a good position. From there, I just gave it everything to see how long I could hold the lead.
Q: As an off-road rider, why do you choose to race cyclocross?
Harnden: I love that it’s a fun way to enjoy the mud and rain of the winter months, rather than seeing the winter weather as horrible and grim. It’s a great way to stay fit and ready for the mountain bike season.
Q: How did you get into mountain biking?
Harnden: I tried riding for the first time in 2013 at age 12 and it has really grown into something big for me. I had a pretty heavy bike at the time and was lucky to get a lend of a nice bike from Tracy Moseley. That was a big turning point for me. I was encouraged to race by my local cycling club and I loved it.
Q: What do you remember about your first big race win?
Harnden: I remember the feeling I had after my very first win, in a cross country race, the year I started riding, I was like: wow! this is amazing! Then, I got my first national win in 2014 in cross country U14. For me, I think what I enjoy most about winning is the satisfaction that you’ve worked really hard for something and you finally see your hard work paying off.
Q: What is it like to have Tracy Moseley, a mountain biking legend, as a mentor?
Harnden: Tracy helps me in any way she can and she’s more like a second mom than a big scary boss. Tracy has been helping me for 5-6 years now. She started off helping me in little ways and then I joined her team after a couple years. She’s very relatable and we get on really well. I admire her riding style, it is very composed.
Q: What were your highlights from 2019 riding and what are your goals for 2020?
Hardnen: Definitely my 2019 top highlight was the opportunity to race my first Enduro World Series. I couldn’t get over how friendly everyone was. I won the race in Zermatt and it was a really cool weekend. For 2020, I’ll be racing quite a few U21 Enduro World Series and my goal is to podium at every one and also qualify for the Trophy of Nations at the end of the year.
Top photo: © Graffika Photography
