Xmas Feature – Grace Garner

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Seventh in the Road Worlds (Junior), and a European Champion as well, Grace Garner will be in a UCI team in 2016, Podium Ambition. We give her the Q & A treatment!

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Xmas Feature – Grace Garner

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1. How do you feel about joining such a big team for 2016 and what races are you looking forward to most next season and why?
Grace: I’m really excited to be joining a new team for the 2016 season. It’s going to be a big step up but I’ve got some great people around me and I’m excited for what the year will bring. I’m excited to race on the continent next year but I’m still not sure what my calendar will look like exactly but if the team gets to ride the Women’s Tour, I’d love to be a part of the team for that!

2. What were your highlights in 2015?
Grace: My highlights I think were retaining the national title in the Individual Pursuit, stage wins in the Ras nam Ban and definitely coming 7th at the Road World Championships. I’ve had some good opportunities this year with racing abroad and I enjoyed every moment but I think these three sit at the top of my best bits of 2015, and the ones I’m most proud of.

3. What race was the most fun in 2015 and why?
Grace. I can’t chose one race which was the most fun but I think the trip that we went on at the back end of the season with ODP to Holland and Belgium was the best! I felt really good, got a couple of wins and it was with a really nice bunch of girls! Training out there and riding the Flanders route was a really good experience as well.

4. What has been the best thing about being part of the GB junior programme and what have you learnt that stands out for you?
Grace: The best thing about being on part of the GB junior programme was probably being with everyone else on ODP; training and racing with them all year. It was a really competitive age group this year so it was good to be part of the programme and go through the season with them.

I think the main thing that I’ve learnt this year is that I’m still really young and having to make decisions about the 2016 season has been really tough but I’ve learnt just to enjoy myself and relax. Doing that, I will be able to succeed more in whatever I chose to do.

5. How motivating is it to wear the colours of Great Britain – are you always nervous before a race for GB?
Grace: It’s really motivating to wear GB colours. It doesn’t happen very often so each occasion is individually special. I’m always nervous when I’m racing at home so it’s even more nerve wracking when I have raced abroad in GB colours. It was nice to be able to experience it in the junior category and it really motivates me to strive to wear GB colours as a senior.

6. How will you spend December?
Grace: I’m really lucky to be going to Lanzarote for 10 days at the start of December with the new team so that’s really exciting. There are some good long rides planned with a mixture of efforts. Mainly focusing on the distance but it will be good to experience the longer rides with people I haven’t met on the team yet. I am currently going to the gym once/twice a week so hopefully that will continue through December.

7. A cheeky Xmas one – if you could have any cycling related Xmas present – what would it be!
Grace: If I could have a cycling related present it would be another trip to somewhere hot to do some nice long rides out of the cold British weather!

Thanks Grace and good luck in 2016!

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