In the “Where Are They Now Wednesday” Series, we look back at past Braveheart Trophy winners to see what they are doing now. Highlighting this week is Grant Ferguson.

Grant Ferguson was raised in Peebles, located in the Scottish Borders, where cycling was a daily part of life. He did not focus on a single cycling discipline initially. Instead, he tried them all—road racing, time trials, cyclo-cross, and mountain biking. The trails at Glentress Forest served as his practice ground. During that time, the trail centre was not the bustling hub it is now; it was unrefined, straightforward, and ideal for a young enthusiast eager to discover biking.

By 2008, his talent was recognised. He earned a spot on British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme, a stepping stone for the UK’s top talents. Two years on, he relocated to Manchester to immerse himself in the Academy environment: early mornings, intensive training, and high expectations. It wasn’t solely about building fitness; it was about gaining independence, discipline, and experiencing life as a professional athlete.

That same year, Grant competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 5th at Cathkin Braes in front of a home crowd.

Grant Ferguson’s story isn’t just about medals; it’s about perseverance, versatility, and pride in representing Scotland on the world stage. From a boy at Glentress to an Olympian in Rio, he carried Scottish cycling into the global spotlight, inspiring the next generation of riders from the Borders and beyond.

Now, a few questions to get to know Grant a bit better:

• How did you get started on the bike? What discipline do you specialise in?
  • I started cycling as a child growing up in Peebles. When we first moved there, there was only a small number of mountain bike trails. Every year it has got bigger and bigger to become a well-known destination for the sport. Luckily for me this all happened as I was growing up, one thing led to another and in the end, I was able to create a career out of the sport. The main discipline I specialize in is cross country mountain bike, but I love all types of cycling and have regularly competed in road and cyclocross events throughout the years.
• What was your first club?
  • My first club was “the kids club” which was a mountain bike club set up by former mountain bike professionals Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger at the hub café & bike shop within Glentress. They taught me and all the other kids that attended how to ride mountain bikes and the basic skills to enjoy the sport.
• Describe your best racing experience
  • I have a few different favourite racing experiences from throughout my cycling career. My favourite race result is my U23 world cup win, my favourite race was Glasgow 2014 because family and friends could come to watch, and my favourite overall experience was the Rio Olympic Games because it is the highest level that I could compete at within my sport and a career goal.
• Name something you excel at asisde from cycling
  • I’m not sure there is something I particularly excel at outside of cycling, but as far as hobbies go, I like to try as many different sports as I can whenever I get the opportunity. Surfing, climbing and a bit of running are the main ones I try to fit in just now.
• What brand of bike do you ride? How many bikes do you have? 
  • I am very fortunate to ride for the Hope Factory Racing team, which allows me to ride with all their excellent bicycle parts. I am currently competing on a Scott Spark mountain bike. I have around five bikes for the different types of cycling I participate in.
• In your opinion, who is the most outstanding sportsperson of all time?
  • That’s a hard question, I think every sport has their greatest athletes. I’ll stick to cycling, I’ve always thought Chris Hoy is a great ambassador for the sport, he had a very successful cycling career, he was always friendly and the fact he is Scottish.
• Could you describe a crucial moment in your cycling career that shaped you as a cyclist?
  • I have been very fortunate during my cycling career to get plenty of support from a variety of people, teams, organisations, such as Braveheart Cycling Fund, and many more for whom it wouldn’t have been possible for me to have had a career. If I was to pick a crucial moment in my cycling career that shaped me as a cyclist, it was probably the opportunity to join British Cycling’s academy programme when I left school. This environment and the people within it taught me many things and gave me the best chance to develop and have a successful cycling career.
• What advice would you give to younger aspiring cyclists to succeed in cycling?
  • If you work hard anything is possible, remember to have fun and enjoy yourself along the way!
• Coffee or tea?
  • Tea
• Dogs or Cats?
  • Dogs
• Cake or Pies? 
  • Both!

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Come and join us on October 18th as we celebrate the inspiring next generation of Braveheart Cycling Fund riders at our memorable Ride and Dinner event. We look forward to sharing this wonderful day with you!