Feature question and answer with the Isle of Man’s Matt Draper (junior) of the Velocity Globalbike racing team
![]() |
Feature: Matt Draper Q & A
1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
Matt: I’ll start my race season in March, and it will either be at Cadence GP or at the Eddy Soens.
2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
Matt: I’d like to take a win or two in the national series. Rutland would be a great race to win as I love that course.
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?
Matt: Between now and my first race it will be a mix of long miles, top end efforts but also doing some gym work.
4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
Matt: Getting a new pair of cycling shoes is always a good Christmas present.
5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet?Â
Matt: Definitely get out in the rain, don’t really have much choice on the island! The turbo can get tedious, so a long sleeved jersey, undervest and my Bioracer cap, raincape and neoprene gloves always work when out in the rain.
6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
Matt: Hands down Paris-Roubaix! It’s such a brutal race, but the fans and the atmosphere is amazing. I’d love to race across the cobbles, it’s legendary, and it’s got so much history with it.
7. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
Matt: Blueberries, and Oatberry clusters from M&S. Can’t go anywhere without them, they’re a staple.
8. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
Matt: When you were young – The Killers
9. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
Matt: Normal brakes on my road bike for sure. Discs just aren’t euro. They look ugly and are just an added danger when crashes occur.
10. What’s the spec of your race bike for 2016 and your favourite bits on it?
Matt: 2016 Lapierre Aircode with Ui2 and Cero rc45 wheels. I haven’t got it yet, but I can’t wait to get riding on it, I’m really looking forward to it!
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- New! Ribble Ultra Tri Disc
- Trofeo Laigueglia: Day out front for Archibald
- Trofeo Laigueglia: Win for Mollema
- Deceuninck – Quick-Step to Paris-Nice
- Wout van Aert getting back into form
- Next Sunday: Paris-Nice is Back
- Q&A: Domini Radway-Fatuga (16)
- Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Win for Mads Pedersen
- Drôme Classic: Solo triumph for Andrea Bagioli
- Hannah Barnes 5th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- News: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2021 (Men)
- UAE Tour: Final Stage (7)
- UAE Tour: Stage 6 – Win for Bennett
- Feature Interview: Jack Rees (Ribble Weldtite)
- UAE Tour: Stage 5
- Giro: Simon Yates Fights for Pink
- Giro 2021: Mollema, Ciccone and Nibali Reactions
- CAMS-Tifosi for Healthy Ageing Tour 2021
- UAE Tour: Stage 4
- News: New Head of Creative at Ribble Cycles
- UAE Tour: Stage 3
- News: Cavendish for Le Samyn
- Interview: John Archibald
- This weekend: Deceuninck – Quick-Step
- 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné Route
- UAE Tour – Stage 2 Time Trial
- Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var: Stage 3
- UAE Tour: First win to Mathieu van der Poel
- Central Region Junior RR Team Manager
- Tour Du Var – Stage 2
- Team News: Win for Mollema at Haut Var
- News: Tour Du Var – Stage 1
- News: Elite Status Changes
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step to UAE Tour
- Feature Interview: Alexandar Richardson (Alpecin-Fenix)
- News: Quintana Back Racing
- News: UAE Tour: Provisional Riders List
- News: Wout van Aert Training in Tenerife
- News: Quickstep off to Spain to train
- News: Alaphilippe’s On form for 2021 Targets
Other News on VeloUK
- New! Ribble Ultra Tri Disc
- Trofeo Laigueglia: Day out front for Archibald
- Trofeo Laigueglia: Win for Mollema
- Deceuninck – Quick-Step to Paris-Nice
- Wout van Aert getting back into form
- Next Sunday: Paris-Nice is Back
- Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Win for Mads Pedersen
- Drôme Classic: Solo triumph for Andrea Bagioli
- Hannah Barnes 5th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- News: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2021 (Men)
- UAE Tour: Final Stage (7)
- UAE Tour: Stage 6 – Win for Bennett
- UAE Tour: Stage 5
- Giro: Simon Yates Fights for Pink
- Giro 2021: Mollema, Ciccone and Nibali Reactions
- CAMS-Tifosi for Healthy Ageing Tour 2021
- UAE Tour: Stage 4
- News: New Head of Creative at Ribble Cycles
- UAE Tour: Stage 3
- News: Cavendish for Le Samyn
- Interview: John Archibald
- This weekend: Deceuninck – Quick-Step
- 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné Route
- UAE Tour – Stage 2 Time Trial
- Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var: Stage 3
- UAE Tour: First win to Mathieu van der Poel
- Central Region Junior RR Team Manager
- Tour Du Var – Stage 2
- Team News: Win for Mollema at Haut Var
- News: Tour Du Var – Stage 1
- News: Elite Status Changes
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step to UAE Tour
- News: Quintana Back Racing
- News: UAE Tour: Provisional Riders List
- News: Wout van Aert Training in Tenerife
- News: Quickstep off to Spain to train
- News: Alaphilippe’s On form for 2021 Targets
- News: 2021 Women’s Tour Postponed
- Tour de Provence – Second for World Champ Alaphilippe
- Former winners Perfs Pedal Road Race