▁secured ▁a ▁professional ▁contract ▁with ▁a ▁contin ental ▁cy cling ▁team ▁but ▁preferred ▁to ▁remain ▁in ▁Britain . ▁ ▁Cy cling ▁career ▁Cur ran ▁began ▁r iding ▁for ▁his ▁local ▁cy cling ▁club ▁Stock ton ▁W heel ers ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 4 ▁completed ▁a ▁ten - mile ▁time ▁trial ▁at ▁Cr ath or ne , ▁North ▁York shire ▁in ▁ 2 4 – 4 9 . ▁It ▁was ▁obvious ▁he ▁had ▁talent ▁when ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁he ▁domin ated ▁the ▁English ▁schools ▁national ▁grass ▁and ▁track ▁championship ▁winning ▁all ▁three ▁individual ▁titles ▁in ▁the ▁over - 1 5 - year s ▁category . ▁ ▁Cur ran ▁earned ▁his ▁first ▁international ▁selection ▁for ▁Great ▁Britain ▁in ▁the ▁San ▁Sebastian ▁Europa ▁Cup ▁match . ▁Although ▁he ▁rose ▁to ▁prom in ence ▁in ▁time ▁tra ils ▁and ▁track ▁events , ▁he ▁soon ▁established ▁himself ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁Britain ' s ▁top ▁road ▁rac ers . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁he ▁rode ▁for ▁England ▁in ▁the ▁Gir van ▁pro / am ▁three - day ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁highest ▁placed ▁British ▁amateur ▁on ▁overall ▁classification ▁finishing ▁ 5 th ▁the ▁race ▁was ▁won ▁by ▁Tony ▁Do yle . ▁However ▁his ▁season ▁was ▁still ▁primarily ▁based ▁around ▁track ▁events . ▁ ▁Im press ive ▁results , ▁winning ▁several ▁national ▁track ▁events ▁led ▁to ▁selection ▁for ▁England , ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁Commonwealth ▁Games ▁in ▁Br is b ane , ▁Queensland , ▁Australia . ▁He ▁competed ▁on ▁the