Chapter 1 - The Belgian Odyssey: How Finn Dunton is Sculpting His Racing Future

Finn at the 2024 Lincoln GP

Finn has recently taken his talents across the Channel, joining Debondt Verandas Cycling Team. With the cobblestone streets and winding country roads of Belgium now his training ground, Finn is navigating not just the physical challenges of Elite racing in the heartland of cycling, but also the complex landscape of a post-Brexit world.

As he balances his commitments between the UK and Belgium, Finn’s journey is a testament to resilience and adaptability. The decision to race for a Belgian team wasn’t just about chasing

Finn with friend and elite rider, Stef De Bock

new opportunities—it was also a strategic move to continue growing his career amidst the changing dynamics of European sports post-Brexit. With his eyes set on conquering the Belgian kermis scene and the evolving challenges back home, Finn is not just learning to race—he’s learning to redefine what it means to be a British cyclist in a rapidly shifting world.

How has the season gone so far Finn?

So far I am fairly pleased with how the season has been going. There has been consistent progression in both racing and training improving me as a rider. I have done plenty of racing this year too with a few notable results too in some of them so overall I’m happy with it so far. This season is my first season racing mainly in Belgium which I have also throughly enjoyed.

What do you like about racing in Belgium?

There are many great things about racing in Belgium! The atmosphere has got the be up there. Having the whole town come out to watch and cheer is a real change to the UK. Racing wise though just the “toughness” and “purity” of the racing is something I love too, it is just a great style of racing which I would recommend everyone to come and try if they get the chance to!

Although you’ve been spending a lot of time racing in Belgium, you’ve also raced in the UK. A top 20 at Lincoln GP has shown you are good there, what do you enjoy about it?

Lincoln was great. Probably the closet you get to Belgium over here. You have the famous cobbled climb and a great crowd watching on the climb to encourage you up it. I loved the aggressiveness of the race. Racing in Belgium certainly helped me with this, racing into the bottom of Michaelgate every lap positioning is crucial, just like racing kermesses or Interclubs so I enjoyed that side of it. It was a race of attrition too, something that suits my riding style well so I really enjoyed that side of it too.

You recently raced Ronde van Oost Vlaanderen during your latest block of races, how was that?

Tough! It was my first ever 5 day stage race, obviously with this in mind I was a little un-sure in how I would react to it. We did a solid training block before coming into the race with big training weeks with a good amount of intensity in them too, subsequently making a difference to how I performed and handled the load. Most days ended up in a bunch sprint, not my preferred finish but it was still a great learning experience for me. It was great getting stuck into the racing though, trying to get away in a few breakaways. Ultimately nothing came of these but it was worth having a go. I am very much looking forward to hopefully doing more again next year, putting my learnings from this year into practice then.

What are you looking to focus on over the winter period and moving into the 2025 season?

Over the winter period just continual development is my main priority. I am always wanting to improve and just be a better bike rider really, so some long hard hours on the bike in typical winter conditions is something I’m actually looking forward to! In terms of the 2025 season I am not too sure what that holds yet team and racing wise, but hopefully soon it will all be sorted and a plan set in place!

Finns 2024 Results To Date:

Race	Result
Rapha Lincoln GP (National Series)	19th
Ruiselde (1.12B)	5th
Bierbeek (1.12B)	10th
40th Jock Wadley (National B)	5th
East London Velo Spring Crit (E123 Open) (National B)	5th
London Dynamo Spring Road Race (Mens E/1/2/3) (National B)	12th
The Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix (National B)	13th
GP Televie-Blaimont (Interclub)	15th
Herfelingen (1.13)	14th
Oordegem (1.12B)	15th
Ronde Oost Vlaanderen GC (Interclub)	38th
GP Juul Marinus (Interclub)	19th
Wally Gimber (National B)	18th