RideLondon Classique: Neurodivergent cyclist aims to inspire others

It is the third time she has competed in the RideLondon Classique.

Ms Hayes, who has cycled since the age of 13, said the three-stage event has not been without its challenges.

“The first day was pretty chill until it wasn’t,” she said.

“When there was 30km to go, it went absolutely crazy hard.

“(On Saturday) there was a lot of crashes, a lot of us got caught up in them, so it was a bit of a dramatic day.”

She added that cycling has helped her to challenge herself mentally as well as physically.

“Competitive cycling is not the ideal environment for someone who is autistic,” she said.

“A lot can go wrong, a lot can change, you’re constantly having to adapt in the moment, so that side of it is a real challenge.

“However, it’s given me a completely different outlook and experience and has been a complete lifeline.”