Tobyn Horton believes that top local cyclists need off-island competition to continue their development. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0456269)

RACING professionally is well and truly at the front of Tobyn Horton’s mind. The young Sarnian has been competing in Belgium since 2005 and intends to go back again next year.

However, it is as a full-time cyclist that he would like his career to continue and he believes that it is looking more likely. ‘I’ve had a good year so far and I’ve consistently been getting high finishes. Hopefully, that will give me a good chance of being snapped up.

‘All I can do is carry on riding well and hope that it puts me into the shop window,’ he said. When looking back at his decision to move abroad three years ago, Horton can’t recall one particular reason why he did so.

‘I don’t really remember how the decision came about, to be honest. I just knew that I would have to move abroad if I wanted to get better, which I did within about two months of getting to Belgium.’

It is a move that he also believes other top young Guernsey cyclists might need to make to reach the next level.