Xmas Feature – Rory Townsend

2015_ContiEdco_Banner

A young rider moving up to UCI Conti level with his team Pedal Heaven in 2016 is Rory Townsend who has a go at the VeloUK quickfire Q & A

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Xmas Feature – Rory Townsend

2015_RoryTowsend_Severn2

1. With your team all sorted for 2016, what races are you looking forward to most next season.
Rory: I’m looking forward to the early season races like Jock Wadley which are usually good fun and exciting with new riders and jerseys. I would like to have a crack at a few time trials and have a go at the under 23 title.

I am excited for the team’s prospects in the Elite road series. I think we have competitive individuals in every race. Personally, I’d like to be there sprinting for the win in the finale of a national A race.

Our calendar is yet to be finalised but I’d love to make the Tour of Britain squad and show my face at the sharp end of UCI races. It’s always been a goal of mine so I’d jump at the chance to do something with GB. More improvements needed first though!

2. What were your highlights in 2015?
Rory: 2015 was a good year for me. Tim, our manager and Craig, our owner have always shown a lot of faith in me and I felt like this was a year where I was able to pay some of that back!

Duking it out with Steele (Von Hoff) and Yanto (Barker) at the Jock Wadley was good fun and fighting for the team win and getting a top ten at Redditch Tour Series was great. Winning the University Championships in May was a nice title to have too.

The Rutland Cicle Classic is such a fun race, different to anything we get do over here. I know they’re trying to get it televised for 2016 and that will be a great advert for British racing.

VonHoff-Townsend-Barker_web
3. What race was the most fun in 2015 and why?
Rory: The Kermesse races that were part of the elite road series were two favourites. I was competitive but unfortunately didn’t get a result to match. They were longer and more open than Tour Series racing, with a greater focus on attacking rather than just surviving! Being part of the Pedal Heaven team to dominate the South-East Divs was good fun also.

4. What’s the best piece of cycling related advice you’ve ever been given and who gave it to you?
Rory: Steve Joughin of Provision (our kit suppliers), told me before the start of the national champs to have faith in my ability and reminded me that I had been riding well. He said, on the start line everyone has an equal chance of winning. I shouldn’t be worried about my competition, they’re out of my control. I should focus on myself and my own race. It carried extra weight coming from a former national champion!

5. Tell us about your winter training bike, what is different about it compared to your race bike?
Rory: I ride a Specialized Elite SL4, and despite the recent addition of mudguards, there isn’t too much difference between it and my race bike. The reason for their similarity is they’re the same geometry so I can easily jump off my training bike and onto my road bike. I even have the same tyres, Continental GP4000s that can go all year round!

6. 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?
Rory: Generally, I hold my form quite well so I’ve continued to keep it ticking over on the bike and have added in a bit of running too. I’ll have my team mate Mitchell Webber over for some miles and I have been, and will continue to spend a lot of time in the gym. Then in January, I’m off to Malaga with the team.

7. A cheeky Xmas one, if you could have any cycling related xmas present – what would it be!
Rory: This Christmas I would like 20% more watts (don’t we all)!

Thanks Rory, good luck on the bike and see you in 2016.

Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: