Former British road race champion Sharon Laws rides for a new UCI team in 2016, Podium Ambition and takes the VeloUK Q & A
![]() |
Feature – Sharon Laws Q & A
2016 Team: Podium Ambition Pro Cycling powered by Club La Santa
1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
Sharon: I will only start racing in Europe in April. Our race programme has yet to be confirmed as we wait to hear from the Women’s Pro-Tour race organisers. I will be doing some road and mountain bike races in South Africa in February / March for training.
2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
Sharon: The Tour of California and the Women’s Tour. I was disappointed not to race the Tour of California last year. It looked an incredible race with a great route profile. As a World Tour event this year, I am sure it will be a great event. It’s nice to do new races. I enjoy the atmosphere of the races in the US particularly when they are linked to the men’s race.
The Women’s Tour is probably the only event outside the World Championships, which I have raced and really felt like a professional athlete. The organization is brilliant, the crowds are amazing and it is fantastic to race in the UK in front of home crowds and with daily TV coverage.
Sharon winning the British title at Ryedale.
3. How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training? Long miles or cutting back to do top end efforts?
Sharon: I raced in South Africa in mid November and had a break after. This is much later than I’ve had a break before so I’ve only been training since the beginning of December. I’m doing a mixture of long miles and slightly higher intensity and strength work at the moment. The top end stuff will come much near the beginning of the season.
4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
Sharon: My friend in South Africa gave me a milk frother so I can make cappuccino’s at home!
Sharon all smiles in last years Aviva Women’s Tour organised by Sweetspot
5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet?Â
Sharon: After attempting the European winter last year (admittedly Spain and not the UK) for the first time in my cycling career, I decided training in the winter definitely wasn’t for me so I’ve escaped to South Africa until the end of March!
6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
Sharon: L’Eroica – it’s a Grand Fondo but done on old bikes, tar and gravel roads and wearing the kit the pro’s used to use. It celebrates what cycling used to be like – more about the passion and less about the money.  I would also like to do Strade Bianche as I love riding my road bike on gravel roads.
7. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
Sharon: Lindt 70% dark chocolate and good coffee.
8. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
Sharon: Normal brakes and stick to disc brakes on the mountain bike.
Thanks Sharon and good luck in 2016!
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Beverley Town Centre Races
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- Crit Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits 11
- Crit Result: RCR FatCreations Goodwood Summer Special
- UK Armed Forces Inter-services Road Race
- Report: TLI Cycling ‘Belgium Training Series
- BMCR RESULT: The Ron Day MK Bowl Circuit races (July 23rd)
- RR Result: Bath RC Junior National Series Road Race
- Crit Result: West Thames League 15
- Crit Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 15
- Crit Result: Bath CC Mid Summer Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #17
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- Youth Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 14
- TT Result: Verulam Cycling Club 25m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District Ladies CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Ferryhill Wheelers CC 25m TT
- Crit Result: Banbury Star Crit Series #2
- RR Result: Lakes Road Club Summer Road Race
- National Circuit Series: Colne
- TT Result: Kings Lynn CC 15m TT
- TT Result: ECCA 10 mile Time Trial
- TT Result: Chorley Cycling Club 10m TT
- TT Result: Houghton CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Farnham RC 10m TT
- Crit Result: King&Queen of the Bowl Series #13
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- Crit Result: Lichfield/Velospeed No Frills at Curborough #7
- TT Result: Swindon RC & Swindon Wh 50m TT
- Crit News: Spatzwear Friday Night Crit Series #6 | YBC
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Crit Result: Thanks Crit it’s Friday 7
- Crit Result: Omega Portsmouth Circuits 6
- Result: BMCR National Road Bike TT Championship
- Crit Result: Ride Revolution Coaching Summer Crits #2
- Crit Result: Shutt Velo Rapide Hitters Crits Rd2
Other News on VeloUK
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships
- STARTLIST: 2024 Women’s British Road Race Championships
- Startlist: 2024 CAMS Yorkshire Classic Road Races
- Startlists: 2024 Circuit Race Championships
- Startlist: CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold
- Startlists & 2023 Results: National Time Trial Championships
- NEWS: Star Studded Line Up for National Road Champs
- Riders so far: London Dynamo Summer Road Races
- Women’s Tour of Britain Startlist (provisional)
- News: Lincoln winner hit by car
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Cycles Races
- GB Team Named for Women’s Tour of Britain
- STARTLISTS: NW, Yorkshire & NE Regional RR Championships
- Startlists: East Midlands Road Race Championships
- News: Ribble Rebellion Race USA’s Armed Forces Cycling Classic
- TT Result: Legato Racing Team 10m TT
- Pre-Race Rider Quotes: Ford RideLondon Classique
- STARTLIST: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- Team News: Tour of Britain for Alba Development RT
- Startlist: Totnes Vire 2024
- Starters: NW Junior/U23 360cycling Two Day