Unusually tall for a cyclist, Carthy has always had an old head on young shoulders and is happier talking about snooker or darts than cycling
There is a consensus around Hugh Carthy, Britain’s latest breakout cycling name and a possible winner of the Vuelta a España as the race heads into the final weekend. It isn’t hard to find. “He seemed about 60 when he was 18,” says John Herety, who managed Carthy in his first two years as a professional. “The oldest 26-year-old in the world,” says Tom Southam, directeur sportif at Carthy’s EF Education squad. “He’s seemed like a weathered, seasoned professional since he was young.”
Carthy has a distinctive style on his bike due to his height – 1.93m is unusually tall for a cyclist – and he is different off it. He is more happy talking about snooker or darts than cycling, and is “set in his ways”, say those close to him.
