Known as a sprinter, his career includes three stages and the points classification in the Vuelta a España, two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games, and winning the amateur Milk Race and its professional version, the Kellogg's Tour.

He joined Rutland Cycling Club in Sheffield at 15 where he was selected for the British team for the world junior championship in Argentina in 1979.

In 1980 riding for Rutland CC, Elliott won the British National Hill Climb Championships, beating Jeff Williams by one fifth of a second.

1983 was Elliott's final year as an amateur and he took six stages of the Milk Race and was also third overall in the Circuit des Ardennes before turning professional with Raleigh–Weinmann in 1984.

Further domestic success followed in 1984 and 1985 before switching to the ANC–Halfords Cycling Team for the 1987 season, alongside Graham Jones, Paul Watson and Joey McLoughlin.

Elliott took his first stage in the Vuelta a España that year and another two in 1989, by which time he had switched to the Spanish Teka team riding alongside fellow British rider Darryl Webster.

Riding as an individual for the Pinarello-Assos squad (set up by his former manager at ANC–Halfords, Phil Griffiths), he won in the Havant International GP and stages in the Irish Milk Ras.