Still harbouring her passion for horses, Jo spent some time working with horses, predictably at the highest level, grooming for events and for the English Polo Team.
An accident at work meant she needed alternative transport, so Jo dug out her old bike and her love of cycling was rekindled, working three jobs to afford a new bike, she won the first three races she entered.
Success began to flow again and she became National Grass Track Champion in 2012, along with racing the inaugural Women's Tour in 2014.
As if focussing on racing at the highest level wasn't enough, Jo began studying for a BSc in Sports Therapy and rehabilitation in 2018 and, coincidentally that year, came second at the National Circuit Championship, prompting a realisation that she was improving as a racer.
In 2021 Jo joined the team and in October won the National Circuit Championship in front of a home crowd in Lincoln, a highlight of her career and her fourth National title.
Asked what she does to relax away from the bike, Jo replies she lives and breathes cycling, racing and the team. When not out training herself she's coaching a growing list of successful athletes and keeping the team social media channels active.
She makes time to watch cycling on TV though, Paris Roubaix being a favourite race she'd love to ride, and Lotte Kopecky being a favourite rider.
With so much experience, Jo feels women's cycling is in a good place right now but Covid and Zwift have changed the sport with fewer riders coming through clubs, changing the dynamics of road racing. The sport's growth though has finally started to. attract money and can now be a job for women, even if there's still a long way to go!
Whilst you're unlikely to catch Jo singing along to her tunes on the bike, her preferred playlist is a mixture of all sorts, from Dolly Parton to the Prodigy!
Having been at the leading edge of women's cycling development, it's no surprise that Jo's cycling pet hate is cyclists using the term 'professional' inappropriately.
We're looking forward to seeing Jo bring her focus, passion and experience to racing at UCI Continental level this season and to see her achieve her goal of earning UCI points.
Jo needs little introduction as one of, if not the most experienced racers on the domestic scene. A three time national champion with a wealth of experience racing various disciplines in the UK and Europe.
She is a fierce competitor who applies her natural drive to succeed to everything she does and, looking back on her career to date, draws immense satisfaction from being the first to break down barriers for women in the sport.
Although growing up around and riding horses, Jo first raced a bike at the age of 12 when she was given a mountain bike for her birthday and quickly raced, and beat, boys older than her.
She quickly progressed as one of only two or three girls racing at the time and podiumed at national level and won a national youth title in downhill, where she raced with Rachel Atherton.
In 2001 Jo was selected by the British Cycling Talent Team to focus on the track and became National Under 16 Pursuit Champion, quickly followed by a silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Australia.
A flurry of victories followed, both on and off the track at UK and European level before the pressures involved in being a competitive cyclist caused Jo to quit the sport at 19.