Recently crowned Irish road champion Imogen Cotter has signed a one-year deal with the Plantur-Pura team for 2022. The move is a major stepping stone in the career of the Irish rider, who started cycling just three years ago and has worked her way up the ranks through Belgian national racing and e-sports.

Cotter rode for the Movistar e-Racing team in 2021, but also enjoyed a part-time job and a racing season in Belgium, and the one-year deal with the Plantur-Pura team will allow her to focus fully on her racing career for the first time The 28-year-old is eager to capitalize on the opportunities she has fought so hard for.

"My long-term goal is to go to the World Tour, but I got into cycling very late. I started road racing when I was 25, and now I'm 28. But I've only been cycling for three years, so I feel there's a lot of room for progress," Cotter told Cycling News at a Rule Live event in London.

"2020 was put on hold because of COVID, and in 2019 I broke a bone along the way, so I had three years of road racing, but it wasn't perfect, and I want 2022 to be the year things boom and really come together. I have sacrificed so much for cycling and I am not holding anything back. I'm participating in the races I want to do and I have a paid contract.

Cotter's arrival in the elite ranks was delayed by a period of running. She started cycling late, but with little infrastructure in place to help most women riders move to mainland Europe to pursue their dreams, she had to juggle full-time training, racing, and paying her bills.

"I moved to Belgium and worked part-time early in my career. I worked eight hours a day in a bakery, decorating cakes with chocolate on a conveyor belt. Then I got a post job that started at 4:00 in the morning. I would finish work in the afternoon, which gave me more time for training, but I was exhausted. It was a disaster. During the past year, I had a job that didn't pay much, but I used social media to advertise for companies. That gave me some breathing room, and I've been doing some coaching, which is a small job but useful. I don't live a luxurious life."

Her contract with Prantur Pla was made possible by her racing performance and hard work. Team director Heidi van de Wiever took note of Cotter and her aggressive racing style and recognized that despite her inexperience, the Irish champion had passion and talent. She needed the opportunity to showcase it."

"When I was running for the Belgian club team, Heidi kept an eye on me and my results and liked the way I raced, so she invited me to participate as a stagiaire in some World Tour events! I was very happy with that."

"I was very happy with my performance.

"This year I am riding a Canyon bike for the Movistar E-Team. They wanted to start a gravel team, but that plan fell through and I was going to sign with another team next year. Everything worked out fine."

Cotter's 2022 program has not yet been finalized, and she has not yet met her new teammates. She will likely combine her road racing and e-race schedules, but overall, the move represents a big step up in terms of competition and class.

"I do e-racing with Movistar, gravel with Movistar, and road racing with a club team. Next year we will do a road race in Planteur Pla and they will let us participate in a gravel race. I expect the program to be similar to this year's.

"The road races will be at a high level. At the moment, I can't compete in World Tour races with my Belgian club team, but I will be able to. I think we are ready to step up. I want to accomplish this under the guidance of people like Heidi and the people who run the team. My club team has been great because it's given me opportunities to progress, to make mistakes, and there's been less pressure. Now I have a super experienced DS at that level and he teaches me what I need to know as a cyclist."

Rather than viewing the move as a difficult experience, Cotter has fully embraced the challenge and is relishing the chance to compete with the best on the Women's World Tour calendar.

"I am looking forward to making this my career. I look forward to being told at some point in the race that I have to do this for my teammates. That didn't happen to me with my club team, but it did happen to me in cycling with the Irish national team.

Cotter has yet to see the Irish national team kit that his new team will produce, but he is excited to represent his country in every race and training session in 2022. Cotter has come close to representing Ireland several times in the past, but has missed out due to injury. Next season, she will have the chance to showcase her Japan Championship kit at all events and training rides.

"I haven't seen it yet. For me, when I started out I was a runner and always dreamed of wearing the Irish vest, I was selected twice, but both times I got injured. The same thing happened in cycling. I dreamed of representing Ireland and was invited three times, but every time I was invited I got injured. When I finally got to wear the national kit, I was overwhelmed. I couldn't believe it and it was amazing. Now every time I go to a race I will be representing Ireland. It's a dream come true for me and I can't wait for it, it's going to be all over social media and I'm sure I'll see it everywhere once I get my kit. I can't wait."