Although some people might say I’ve achieved everything an athlete would want to achieve being both World and Olympic champion, by changing discipline from track to road racing I feel like I’ve gone back in time to when I first started riding a bike.
2016 is my first full season on the road and I’ve already raced more single race days than I did on the road in the past 2 years and we’re only in April. After sharing a room with Emma Johanson for the past week i realised how little I’ve actually experienced on the road. She had competed in more ‘Bira’ stage races alone than I had any stage race on the road. This was also a good reason for me to put things into perspective when things might not go 100% to plan. It also excites me about my potential on the road for the rest of the season and seasons to come.
I’ve also been lucky to have been sharing a room with Emma as she has taught me so much on and off the bike with so much knowledge and experience on the road racing scene. Not only does she have experience but she’s willing to give up her hard earned ‘rest’ to help me become better.
As well as having Emma on the team Gio [Bronzini] has also been a massive role model for me, always being there to guide me and help develop me, especially during a race where I’m still learning so much in the peloton.
I feel like I’m already a different rider to the one who started in Australia at the beginning of the year, I learn new things and develop more confidence in every race I do. I also believe being part of such an understanding group of team mates who believe in me is making my new challenge such a pleasure.
I’m now back at home taking some time to recover after Flèche, which I really enjoyed. Managing to finish 25th in the front group after trying to do all I could for Elisa and Emma in the race!
