Climber/Rouleur
DOB 27-08-2000
AGE OF DIAGNOSIS 16
YEARS WITH TEAM 2
“If you believe you can achieve your goals and aspirations, chances are you will”.
PROFILE
A promising season with Team Novo Nordisk development team is on the horizon for British climber Nathan Smith, with the 21-year-old already earning a stagiaire role with the pro team at the season opener, Tour of Antalya in Turkey.
Smith comes from an athletic background in triathlon, cycling and running, his first full season with TNN devo team yielded decent results at the Tour of Bulgaria, Giro della Valle d’Aosta and Istrian Spring Trophy in Croatia. Performances that carried Smith into a new contract for 2022.
English, but born in Edinburgh in Scotland, Smith grew up in the countryside and led an active childhood alongside his younger sister who also rides bikes. Smith represented Great Britain in triathlon and mountain running at junior level, but after breaking his collarbone in 2018 he found it difficult to get back to a high level in swimming and made the decision to switch fully to cycling.
Smith was 16-years-old when after a bout of significant weight loss, increased urge to drink water and go to the bathroom he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The first in his close family to be diagnosed, Smith’s first reaction was shock, but whilst in hospital the shock turned into hope as he read about Team Novo Nordisk and realized that diabetes is not a barrier to high performance sport.
After receiving strong support from doctors, family and friends Smith became very interested in how sport affects glucose management and how to stay on top of his blood sugar levels and general nutrition whilst discovering renewed drive to improve his cycling ability.
In 2020 Smith attended Team Novo Nordisk’s first virtual talent ID camp and was offered a place on the development team for 2021. Standout results include gaining his first category racing license in the UK, coming third in the U23 UK National Hill Climb championships in 2019 and sealing his first win at a late season National B Criterium race also in 2019.
Off the bike Smith enjoys baking and cooking and spending time with the family’s two energetic dogs, he considers his school GCSE and A-level results to be his biggest accomplishment out of sport so far.