When Hobbs arrived at the Commonwealth Games, he knew he found himself competing on one of the biggest stages of his career so far. As a first-year elite rider, the young Brit was surrounded by experienced teammates and competing on one of the biggest stages in track cycling. There was excitement, but there was also pressure: “I came into the week as a first-year elite rider, so obviously that brought a lot of pressure,” Hobbs says. “As the younger rider, I really didn’t want to let the team down”, says Hobbs.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion, Hobbs embraced the challenge. The confidence had already started to build in the days before competition, with a number of strong training sessions giving him the belief that something promising could be possible.

That confidence quickly turned into reality when Hobbs lined up on Thursday for the men’s 4000m team pursuit. Together with his teammates, he delivered when it mattered most and secured the gold medal. The road to victory was not without challenges, but the team remained composed and found a way to get the result they came for.

There was little time to take in the achievement. The following day, Hobbs returned to the track for the men’s elimination race, facing another demanding race. Once again, he showed his quality, fighting his way to a bronze medal and adding another unforgettable moment to his Commonwealth Games debut.

For Hobbs, however, the significance of the week went beyond the medals. Wearing the England jersey gave the experience a special meaning, with the opportunity to represent his country being one that comes around only once every four years. “Being a rider for England is honestly such a special experience compared to anything else, because a cyclist only gets the opportunity to represent England once every four years,” Hobbs says. “I felt a huge amount of pride just wearing the jersey, and then to win twice in it is just unbelievable.”

Looking back on the week, the magnitude of what he achieved is still sinking in. Racing alongside some of the world’s best riders provided Hobbs with an experience he will carry with him throughout his career.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in how incredible the past week has been,” he says. “I’m still processing it, because riding alongside these guys means competing at the highest level of racing in the world. That makes the whole experience feel really special.”

After a memorable week in the national jersey, Hobbs leaves the Commonwealth Games with two medals, valuable experience and the confidence that he belongs among the best riders in the sport.