Interview – Tristan Robbins (Madison Genesis)

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The 2014 British Junior Road Race champion Tristan Robbins talks about signing for pro team Madison Genesis

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Interview – Tristan Robbins (Madison Genesis)

Last year, Tristan Robbins won the one race each year that any cyclist would enjoy winning, the British road race title. On the tough Ryedale circuit, Tristan won the race and was quickly snapped up by the Madison Genesis pro cycling team managed by former pro Roger Hammond.

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Tristan won another British title in 2014, adding the Junior Points race title to his name as well on the track and explained at the launch of his pro team Madison Genesis, “the transition into being a professional rider is going really well”.

“I am trying to lose some of the amateur traits you can get away with at Junior level where there isn’t the same depth. I am trying improve how I am as a professional and see if I can move on.”

Asked how the winter has been, he smiled and admitted “it’s been cold! I spent the winter at home doing a little studying but I am pretty much a full time bike rider now. The work load has increased hugely due to the longer distances of the races I will be doing but the specifics within it are quite similar. I’m just doing more of them”

“I had a fairly good formula last year for being race fit which I will follow again, just doing more.”

As team managers go, riding for Roger Hammond for a young rider must be a mega learning experience. Tristan agreed, saying “I have talked to Roger a few times at the get togethers we have had. There was a training camp and we also had the Christmas party which was really good”.

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“That is one of the great things about Madison, there are the social events as opposed to some teams where it is just focused on the racing. What Madison are doing is helping the team to build together and because I know the guys so well now, I’m happy to spend all day on the front drilling it because that’s what needs to be done.”

“I spent the week in Spain with them and I have learnt more in that week than I learnt in two years as a junior. It’s very easy at junior level to hang round with the same guys and there is no new input. Everyone is improving at the same rate but there is no one really good to learn off so having stepped up into the much higher ranks of Madison, I have learnt so much being around these experienced guys.”

“I spent two hours on the flight talking to Roger (Hammond) and I learnt so much about professional cycling. He’s opened the window to all these things I didn’t know about.”

Finally, living the dream I asked? “It’s brilliant being a full time professional, I could not ask for a better job”.
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