How is your season going? A bit up and down really. There have been some good results, and I've helped the team achieve success, but I haven't had many days racing compared to most guys. I'm starting to get going again now, and am going to be working with a coach for the first time ever...that should see some good improvements long term, as I'm not exactly known for my structured training!
How often do you get home? I spent most of the winter and spring away, but since June I've been home quite a lot, and only racing domestically...it's nice to have some time to catch up on stuff at home. Having said that, I'm now itching to go away racing again...must be the Tour bug.
You took a couple of years out why was that? I got glandular fever when I had the form of my life, but it led to me being fatigued the whole time, and after one or two failed comebacks I decided to leave it a couple of years. When I came back, all of those feelings had gone, and so I knew it was the right time. I'm confident that those problems are behind me now.
Plans for next year team and you? I'm pretty happy where I am at Rapha Condor Sharp, and hope to have more opportunities next year. Some of the better races that were on my calendar this year got credit crunched, so fingers crossed I get a full programme next season.
Favourite race? The Tour of the Battenkill in upstate New York was a cool race. 200k on dirt roads made for an epic, and thanks to a certain ash cloud we had a week in NYC too. Pretty much wrote off 9 team bikes though...
Best win? Stage 5 in the FBD Ras in late may...not at all planned, but it just all fell into place: Made the break, attacked and thinned it out, covered the final few moves, cleared off up the finishing climb.
British Road Racing how does it compare today to foreign racing? The UK still lacks that strength in depth. It's good to see so many teams getting properly organised with only a small budget, but there just aren't the races. It also seems that the tough courses are being phased out, as organisers fear a lack of entries...until this changes, the standard will never really rise. If you look at France for example, there is a stage race in every department, every week, and that's true for all the catagories! Of course, UK organisers are also up against it with the situation on our roads, insurance, police, and a lack of sponsorhip. However, with the success of the Tour Series crits, and the coverage of Team Sky, I hope the sport can develop.
