Xmas Feature – Dale Appleby (NFTO)

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A rider who impressed big time in the strong NFTO line-up for 2015 was Dale Appleby, winner of the Shrewsbury GP, who is part of the red and black army in 2016

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Xmas Feature – Dale Appleby (NFTO)

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1. With your team all sorted for 2016, what races are you looking forward to most next season?
Dale: All the usual high profile British Calendar races whether it be a crit, a road race or stage race. Also Tom (Barras) is working really hard on getting us some good races on the continent which will be a great compliment to the British calendar as I think it will help everyone in the team step a level for the important races here.

2. What were your highlights in 2015?
Dale: A couple really. Helping Bibby win the Nationals (Circuit Race) & Ryedale GP. The Tour of Yorkshire as well. The Girona Training Camp, Tour of Britain, and Ride London. Anytime that we do the big British races or the team is winning really.

3. What race was the most fun in 2015 and why?
Dale: To be honest, all the races are a great laugh when you got a good group around you, both staff and riders. Weather it’s laughing at Bibby & Jonny arguing like a married couple, Hank doing something stupid, Jane looking after us like her own kids etc, it’s always a good buzz around the team and when have you got an environment like that, the races just flow and take care of themselves.

4. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given and who gave it to you?
Dale: Julian Winn, I wouldn’t say any one singular bit of advice stands out but I worked with him closely as an Under 23 and just picked up loads of knowledge from him.

5. Tell us about your winter training bike, what is different about it compared to your race bike?
Dale: We are really lucky that we have great sponsors in Saddleback and they provide us with Felt F1 framesets, ENVE 3.4 clincher wheels topped off with Continental Gatorskins 25mm, ENVE bars, stem & seatpost, Astute carbon saddles, Arundel carbon bottle cages, Stages power meter, which is run on 11 speed Di2. Not really a winter training bike huh!

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6. Finally, How will you spend December on the bike – at home or abroad, long miles only or a mixture of intervals and miles and bike only or gym/cross training too?
Dale: This year I will be at home. We have a great bunch of lads to train with down here and normally someone is around to share the hours out on the bike with. When everyone is home there’s G, Luke Rowe, Mouldy, Sam Harrison, Rob Partridge, Stevie Williams, Scott Davies etc.

This year the team coaching/racing is being overseen by Jon Sharples at Trainsharp and it will be my first time working with him which is something I’m looking forward to. He has a great bunch of riders already on his books. I had my first training block through starting 1st December which covers all the basic things at this time of year. Hours, Intervals, some Turbo work and I’ll do some general core stuff.

7. A cheeky Xmas one! If you could have any cycling related Xmas present – what would it be!
Dale: That’s a hard one. We are so well looked after by our sponsors that we don’t really want for much when it comes to anything cycling related. I got myself a new hardtail mountain bike in October that has seen a lot of use, so probably another new mountain bike but something a bit more Enduro orientated, full suspension to go down the black runs. I’m running out of talent on a hardtail LoL.

Thanks Dale for the laughs and good luck for 2016!

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