Finn Dunton - Athlete Ambassador
Have you always been into sport?
Yes, I have always been into sport, myself and my family are very active and we all love being in the outdoors either individually or as a family. My main sport is cycling, and I have been cycling since I was 8 and have never looked back! As well as my cycling I do some sailing and paddle boarding which I absolutely love. I competed in the 2019 Round the Island of Sheppey race which was an amazing experience!
How did you first get into cycling?
As previously mentioned, I got into cycling when I was 8. I did football and rugby but was not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. By chance, my Gran found an advert for a local cycling club and I went along. After my first session I was hooked, and I have been cycling ever since. I have had an amazing group of people supporting me in my cycling journey helping me as much as they can which I am very grateful for.
If you are interested in getting into cycling, Sundried's kit is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned athletes. We have both men's and women's options available.
What has been your favourite race to date and why?
My favourite race to date was a cyclocross race back in 2019. It was a very muddy course and it was a case of just trying to stay upright. As it was cyclocross I was gridded at the very back of the group of around 70 riders. The race started and it was chaos for the first lap with people falling off in the mud all over the place! I worked my way through the field and starting the last lap I was 4th! I pushed as hard as I could and came away with 3rd and was 5 seconds away from 2nd!
What is your proudest achievement?
My proudest racing achievement was another cyclocross race which was in 2019 too! This time the course was not too muddy, but the ground was still a bit damp and wet. This time I was at the front of the grid which made my life a little bit easier for the race. The race started and I had a super good start and got round the first corner first. I had a few guys riding behind me but there was quite a steep grass bank we had to go up, so I attacked up there dropping the other guys and then settled into a rhythm and went onto win the race. In actual fact I thought I had 2 laps to go but it only turned out to be 1 as my lead was so big and they had to cut the race short!
Have you ever had any racing disasters?
Yes, I have had some racing disasters! My most recent was Winchester CRIT again in 2019. It was a road race around Winchester City centre on a 1km tight, fast, and technical course. It was a one-hour long race and I was up in the front group of around 15 riders. There was then a big crash 15 minutes into the race which I got caught behind which held me up and separated me away from the front group. I then spent the next 45 minutes trying to make the gap back to the front group which I did with 3 laps to go and eventually sprinted to 11th which I was pleased with considering the circumstances but know that I could have done better without the crash.
How do you overcome setbacks?
There are two ways I overcome my setbacks and it depends on how they happened. If I get caught behind a crash which I cannot help I try not to get too annoyed by it as there was nothing to do and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time which cannot always be helped - I just tell myself that there will be a next time and I focus on that. If I have a setback which is self-inflicted like I push too hard and do not have the legs at the end or in cyclocross I fall off in the mud by myself I try and look back on it and see what I can change for next time to try and prevent it from happening again. I try to move on pretty quickly from the setbacks as they have unfortunately happened but there is not much point dwelling on them, I just have to rectify my problems to try and stop them from happening again.
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
If I am honest the support network I have had since I started cycling has been amazing. I have been told all of the information and given all the advice that I have needed. The best piece of advice that I have been given is that when it stops becoming fun that's when you need to stop as there is only a real passion for something when you are enjoying it and having fun.
What are your goals?
My ultimate goal in cycling is to become professional as that has been a dream of mine for a long time, I have lots of peoples support so I would like to show them that their support has been worth it, and we have made it to the top because without them I would not be where I am today.
Who inspires you?
I admire many professional cyclists for different reasons but the main people I look up to are my parents. This is because everything that they can do, they do for me. Making sure that I am happy and supporting me through the good and bad times of cycling and sticking with me every step of the way. They have never doubted me and always believed which gives me confidence when I am training and racing. Without my parents there is no way I would be where I am today, they sacrificed a lot for me, and I appreciate it so much!
Why work with Sundried?
I am excited to start working with Sundried as they can offer lots to athletes. As well as stylish cycling kit they also offer gym wear and casual wear. The gym wear will help me feel good when I am doing gym sessions off the bike and the casual wear are a stylish set of clothes to wear to races and training sessions looking the part but most importantly feeling good too!
To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.
