Rider chat with Catford CC/Banks rider George Clarke who has high hopes in his first year racing as under 23
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Feature – George Clark Q & A
1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
George: The Calendar for next year is still being put together so I’m not sure what race will kick start the season. I don’t want to start too soon and peak to early because it can be a long season!
2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
George: My main targets for next year are to place highly in the Under 23 TT championships, podium in a National A road race and to race some big races out in Belgium and France! It will be my first year racing as Under 23 so it’s going to be a tough one but I’m more than sure I can hold my own in the peloton and be competitive. Another big target for me is to qualify for the UCI TT world championships, the qualifier is through the Cambridge chrono in June.
3. How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training?
George: my training this time of year is long miles and hours in the saddle with a mixture of efforts on the turbo mid week. In February, I’m heading out to Girona with a few team mates to top up the miles before the season kicks off. I’m a firm believer of winter miles for summer miles!
4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
George: my best christmas present was probably my new Suit. Got to look dapper these days!
5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet?
George: if it’s light rain then man up and get out there! If it’s smashing it down and blowing a gale, then it’s probably best to hit the turbo for a session and phone the coach with what to do. My best tip for staying dry is to invest in some quality kit, these days you pay for what you get!
6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
George: it would have to be the Tour De France! I grew up watching it and to race it would be amazing! Even if it was one stage, I would be happy! Ha ha.
7. Who’s your favourite pro rider in the peloton …
George: to be honest I don’t follow any one rider in cycling. I like to concentrate on my own performance and concentrate on training. But to name one it would be Alex Dowsett. He took a similar route to me when he was young and now he’s a World Tour Pro and done some incredible things along the way! He’s someone I can look up to and know it’s not impossible to get there if you chase your dreams!
8. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
George: A mixture of what is hot in the charts. At the minute it would be “Silento Watch Me(whip/nae nae)” ha ha
9. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
George: Normal brakes! Why change something that isn’t broken? Also falling on a disc brake in a pile up will not be a pretty sight!
10. What’s the spec of your race bike for 2016 and your favourite bits on it?
George: My race bike for 2016 is a Condor Leggero with Campagnolo group set and tubular Campagnolo Bora wheel set. My favourite bits are the frame colour and how light and stiff the bike is! I can’t wait to get racing on it! We have some great sponsors on board for 2016 like Jeff Banks, Specsavers, Condor, Scott and OTE and we all look forward to working with them and getting them some results as a way of saying thank you!
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