Monday, April 21, 2025

James Shaw – Winner of the Junior Kuurne Brussels Kuurne 2014

-

HomeInterviewsJames Shaw - Winner of the Junior Kuurne Brussels Kuurne 2014
James Shaw
James Shaw.

What have Geraint Thomas, Adam Blythe and new sprint star – he was only narrowly beaten by Boonen at Kuurne – Moreno Hofland all got in common?

There’s a clue above in the place name: they’ve all won the junior Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

And adding to that illustrious list is another Englishman; 17 year-old James Shaw from Heanor in Derbyshire, he rides for HARIBO Beacon Cycling Team in the UK and took the honours with a perfectly timed move in the finale of one of the world’s premier junior races.

We caught up with James a day or two after his great ride; here’s what he had to say to VeloVeritas

Congratulations, James – please tell us how you got into cycling.

“I got into it when I was six years-old, I used to go down to the local club on a Wednesday night and do a cyclocross session.

“I was just a little kid who liked to get dirty and had a need for speed on a bicycle.”

Tell us about your UK performances.

“I rode most rounds of the Junior National Road Series with probably my best ride being second place on stage three of the Tour of Wales.

“But I did a lot of Belgian racing – and that’s down to John Barclay, he’s been taking young riders out to Belgium for years.

“He took Geraint and Adam out and Ian Stannard too, when he was third.”

James Shaw
James hammers at the font.

Do you have a coach?

“Chris McNamara from TrainSharp looks after me; that’s Jon Sharples’ and Sean Yates’ coaching company.”

[TrainSharp also work with VeloVeritas regular and former Gent Staden winner, Douglas Dewey, ed.]

How did your participation came about?

“Mr. Barclay is my ferryman; he helped me out a lot last season taking me to the Flanders Trophy and races in places like Reningelst and Koksijde.

“He saw I was getting good results at the end of last year and in January asked me if I’d like to do the junior Kuurne.

“John selected a five man team and went out there late on the Saturday but took time to do a quick course recce – we checked out the finish loop and finish straight.”

Did you try to peak for the race?

“Not as such but I knew what the race was all about and knew that if I did a good ride then it would be a massive boost to my confidence.

“Really I just tried to keep well, fit, healthy and lean ready for it.”

What’s the gear restriction?

“52 x 14.”

James Shaw
The juniors ride on restricted gearing.

Does it use much of the pro parcours?

“Oh yes – we rode cobbled sections, climbs like the Cote de Trieu and the finish loop and straight are identical.

“It was actually on the Trieu that the real pressure went on; it separated the men from the boys. After every berg the peloton just got smaller and smaller.

2On the cobbled sections it’s great to be bombing along knowing that you’re on the same roads which Boonen will be on in just a few hours.”

Talk us through your race.

“The weather was a big factor – there was a cross wind, from the south, I think.

“Coming in to the final 20 K there were about 25 riders left, including me and two others from the South East team I was riding for. But there were four riders there from the Club Bretagne so it was a bit of a tactical battle with them.

“There were breaks of four and five going away then getting caught – I saw my chance and went away in a break of five. It was a good move and we soon had a minute.

“In the final eight K it dawned on me that I was doing a lot of work so I eased up and started to plan my attack. In the last 1,500 metres the cross wind hit us after a corner so I attacked, stuck it in the gutter and drilled it.

“I instantly got 10 metres and could see that some of them were hesitating behind. The four behind became two groups of two so I knew I was causing damage and kept going, getting my gap out to about 15 seconds at the red kite.

“At 500 metres to go I still had my gap and at 100 metres I could see that I still had the gap and was going to win – so I tried to enjoy the moment.”

James Shaw
James and his prize Kuurne donkey. Photo©Paul Burgoine

What was the podium ceremony like?

“It was great, the Belgians are great – I love them, they really make a fuss of you; it was a cool protocol and I got my Kuurne donkey!”

What’s the next adventure?

“I’m not sure, I’ve not planned ahead that far ahead; but I hope to ride the junior Paris-Roubaix that would be amazing.”

Has British Cycling expressed interest?

“After a fashion; I’m not on a programme at the moment but was on the U16 programme previously.

“I do have training camps with British Cycling coming up and I’m looking forward to those.”

James Shaw
James will be at some National Squad camps soon. Photo©Paul Burgoine

What are the main goals for 2014?

“I’d like to win the Junior National Championship – I’ve never worn one of those jerseys with the red and blue hoops on so I’d like to try one!”

VeloVeritas was happy to explain to James about the ‘Kuurne Donkey’ – it’s no joke or derogatory symbol, quite the reverse; It’s a symbol of the personality of the people of Kuurne – stubborn and hard working, just like a donkey.

We’re always happy to help out.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Graeme Obree & Jason MacIntyre – discuss the 25 Champs postponement

It was to be the big one, the Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship this Saturday, June 17th at Irvine. The British 25 Mile TT Champion, Jason MacIntyre versus the man who ran him to within 13 seconds in the Scottish 10 Mile TT Championship the previous week-former double World Pursuit Champion and World Hour Record holder, Graeme Obree (Fullarton Wheelers).

Paul Double – 2nd in the Giro di Romagna

With so many tales of broken promises, teams folding and disillusioned young men heading home to Blighty from Europe, it’s good to tell a story where it all comes together and there’s a podium involved. Paul Double has been on our radar for a while, first as a ‘Zappi Man,’ a CTT Hill Climb medallist, riding for one of Italy’s top u23 teams – the mighty Colpack Ballan – then last year back as a ‘Zappi Man.’

Don Allan – Six Day Legend, Part Two

In the first part of our interview with Australian ace Don Allan we discussed his road career, for the second part we talk about his 107 Six Day starts - that's 642 days on the boards; 92 weeks.

Steve Skuse and James Whatling – Introducing the New Twenty3c Orbea Racing Team

We've always had a soft spot for Orbea at VeloVeritas-we like the Basque country and the fact that it's a workers co-operative; last year the bikes from Euskadi appeared in the UK peloton as 'Orbea-For Goodness Shakes' but for 2011 the incarnation is 'Twenty3c Orbea.' DS Steve Skuse and manager James Whatling are the men who'll be guiding them in their assault on the Premier Calendar. They recently took time to chat to VeloVeritas...

At Random

Andy Hillman – Soigneur to the WorldTour Stars

There are no palmarès to check for this guy, he’s one of cycle sport’s back room, ‘unsung heroes’ – but he’s worked with some of the sport’s biggest names; he takes us behind the scenes to look at the life of a soigneur in modern cycling. Mr. Andrew Hillman, aka ‘The Hillmanator.’

Rosneath GP 2007

Gordon Murdoch (East Kilbride RC) added the opening GP win of 2007 - in a freezing, wet and windy Rosneath event - to the 2006 season-closing Anderside GP event. Weighing a stone less than last season and with a new team providing fresh motivation, he was the most resilient rider on a day better suited to sitting by the fireside than climbing Whistlefield Brae three times.

La Vuelta a España 2014 – Stage 2; Algeciras – San Fernando 174.4km. Bold Bouhanni

Stage Two had been hailed as one where the cross winds could blow things apart from the off but fortunately the Weather Gods remained benign and we were treated to a high speed finale where F des J and Nacer Bouhanni demonstrated again that they know exactly how to handle fast, technical finales. The wiry Frenchman was in a class all of his own after a beautiful lead out by his boys and in particular last man in the train, Geoffrey Soupe who rode a magnificent finale for his Capo.

Copenhagen Six Day 2010 – Day Two

'For me, that was the hardest chase of the winter!' The words of Franco Marvulli as he flopped onto the bench in his track side cabin, after he'd just won the night's closing 60 minute madison with Bruno Risi, here at the Copenhagen Six Day.