Sean McDonald
Staff Writer
Mira Costa is typically known for its volleyball, surfing, and its water polo teams. But there is always a first for everything, and junior Jules Gilliam is looking to leave his mark in a way nobody else has.
Gilliam has found his passion in cycling, not just in riding a bike, but immersing himself in the culture of the sport by enjoying more than just the competition, while still focusing intensively on the races he does participate in.
“My favorite part about cycling is the lifestyle it entails,” Gilliam said. “I get to travel to awesome places and make great friends,” Gilliam said.
Gilliam started cycling when he was 10 years old. His uncle helped him start cycling, first in the velodrome and from there Gilliam has branched out to road racing, with that being his main focus now. He races for Team Specialized Racing Juniors, based out of Northern California, with divisions of teams throughout the United States.
“I got started with an introductory cycling course at a facility in Carson,” Gilliam said. “It was convenient because of its close proximity and it also helped me a lot when I first started because I learned a lot of things I didn’t yet know.”
Gilliam has progressed quickly in his six years of cycling, with his most recent accomplishment being his victory in the last stage of the 2015 Junior Tour in Ireland. It was an international race with competitors up to two years older than him.
“Winning that was probably my greatest accomplishment in cycling,” Gilliam said. “It felt great when I came in first just a few seconds ahead of the pack.”
According to Gilliam, he has gotten to see some interesting places over the course his cycling career. Gilliam’s experience in Ireland not only yielded him a Junior Tour win, but also was a great trip in terms of the cultural aspect.
“I really liked cycling in Ireland,” Gilliam said. “Not only was it an incredible cycling trip, but the food, culture, and geography also made that trip unforgettable, and that is by far the best place cycling has taken me.”
Gilliam says his inspiration lies in the passion and grit displayed by professionals who compete in the biggest competitions in the world. He hopes to ride next to some of them one day.
“I hope to race for a UCI World Tour Cycling team in the future,” Gilliam said. “I’ve looked up to riders in pro tours such as the Tour de France since I started cycling, and the ultimate goal is to become one of them.”
For Gilliam, the sport is more than just a metal frame with wheels and how fast he can go. Cycling has taught him a lot about himself, and has showed him how life isn’t always fair and that hard work and a strong will to succeed are ultimately the most important lessons that you can learn.
“Cycling means adventure, determination, and fun to me. It’s led me through life’s greatest highs, and lowest lows, and taught me to appreciate what I have,” Gilliam said.
Leave a Reply