By Ethan Barlow

Despite housing one of the sport’s greatest ever competitors in Sir Chris Hoy, cycling’s engagement and viewership sits below its neighbouring games; athletics and swimming.

Eilidh and Struan Shaw have raced across the UK and Europe representing Scottish Cycling. 19-year-old Eilidh also represents her pro team, UAE Development Team, after receiving a professional contract which gave her the option to become a full-time cyclist following a potential career ending injury in 2023. Eilidh encouraged younger people to get involved in cycling, she said: “I think cycling, there’s so many different disciplines and that’s what makes it really exciting. Join a local club it can be a total social event as well.”

Eilidh’s younger brother, 17-year-old, Struan still awaits a pro contract as he branded it as one of his life goals: “A pro contract to be honest, that’s the main one, as soon as you sign that you’ve not made it in life but that’s the end goal.”

Eilidh has hit higher heights than her younger brother but last year was on the lowest of lows after suffering illiac artery endofibrosis (exercise-induced leg pain). The reigning Lloyds Bank National Road and Circuit series champions, said: “Yeah I think if I didn’t get that fixed, I wasn’t gonna be back cycling. It was an all or nothing and yeah I just wanted to go full gas into the next season and prove it could be done.”

The family pair are two of the most exciting up and coming cyclists across the country hoping to make their bid for glory at their home held 2026 Commonwealth games, but had you heard of either of them?

Scottish Cycling’s press officer, Alex Marr, highlighted the lack of media attention which the sport receives: “Media in this country really just don’t care, to be honest. Hopefully that’s slowly changing.”

Cycling is never going to be the biggest sport in Scotland but it falls way below where it should be. The 2026 games will give cycling an influx of new followers for a sport which has often become pushed to the side.