Like her namesake from the Charles Dickens novel, cyclist Pip Hindmarsh is keeping her sporting career on track, despite many a twist and turn and despite having great expectations thrust upon her at an early age.

Around 6 years ago, in her early teens, Pip was earmarked as a potential cycling champion as thousands of hopefuls were whittled down in a Talent ID process conducted by the Queensland Academy of Sport and CQUniversity. Abilities in jumping, running and cycling were noted across a range of indicators.

Congratulations to Cup on Wheels winner 

Pip Hindmarsh- now juggling training with work and study

Despite never having tried cycling, the youthful Hindmarsh showed enough promise to attract a QAS scholarship to help with competition travel and gym membership and other sponsorships to purchase equipment. Both types of assistance were welcome as Pip has to travel interstate or overseas to compete in top-standard velodromes and a competitive bike can cost $7000, even before a $4000 set of wheels is added.

Success came early with a series of Top Ten results in the Junior Worlds at Mexico and strong showings at State and national level, but Pip faced several hurdles in quick succession.

At the tender age of 17, with her parents moving to Cairns, she decided to stay in Rockhampton and live with a friend, rather than move away from the cycling facilities and support structure. This was a major disruption which took a bit of getting used to. A year later, Pip was diagnosed with chronic tonsilitis and had a major set-back to her training.

One highlight around this time was being chosen as an Australian ambassador to the Beijing Olympics Youth Camp, where she networked with other young athletes and had the chance to watch friend Anna Meares in her comeback on the track.

Since leaving school, Pip has worked as an admin trainee in her school office and more recently as a trainee accountant with CondonTreasure, while enrolled to study Accountancy as a flex student with CQUniversity.

Pip in cycling mode

On a trainee wage, her finances are tight but the keen competitor hopes to compete later this year in the Tour of the Tablelands road race near Cairns and possibly in the State road racing titles in south-east Queensland.

Pip's most recent competition was at the CQUniversity Rockhampton Cup on Wheels weekend, where she came close to placing in the Capricornia Cup (off scratch as the back marker) and managed to win 3 out of 4 lead-up events.

Track cyclists need to be on their guard since the bikes have fixed wheels and no brakes, and road-racing has its own challenges.

"We leave at 4am or 5am to avoid traffic while training," Pip said.

With a 20th birthday due in a few months, Pip is well and truly in the senior ranks, meaning she is likely to come up against competitors of the calibre of the famous Meares girls - Anna and Kerrie - in major track meets.

Luckily, she is developing her early promise as a sprinter to become known more as an endurance specialist, where raw power is useful but not the only factor.