Q & A with Pro Conti Pro Mark McNally

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We like to mix these Q&A’s up and so we have this from the pro peloton in Belgium with Liverpool’s Mark McNally of Team Wanty Gobert

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Q & A with Pro Conti Pro Mark McNally
From An Post to Madison Genesis and then to ProConti team Team Wanty Gobert, Liverpool’s Mark McNally knows his way round a pro peloton these days! We chat with a Q&A …

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Mark racing the Tour of Britain in 2016 with Erick Rowsell (right)

1. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Mark: Eneco Tour was probably a personal highlight (lots of breakaways!) and Energiewachten Ronde van Drench at the start of the year where I was second, but also helping Enrico Gasparotto to win Amstel Gold (Classic) was a hugely proud and emotional moment after all we went through as a team in the build up to it.

2. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Mark: Dwars Door Het Hageland around my training roads in Belgium with 19 off road and cobble sections. I got taken out in two crashes in the last 15km when I was in the leading group and I ended up 20th. With a bit more luck I’d hope to improve next year.

3. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Mark: Schaal Sels Merksem was 190km 1.1 in Belgium with 90km off road and it was utter madness!

4. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 about yourself racing at ProConti level, what was that?
Mark: You really have to learn to wait and save every little bit of energy then spend it wisely if you want a result at this level

5. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you enjoy the most?
Mark: We’ve been lucky this year with all of our equipment sponsors. Kalas kit has kept us comfy in all conditions and our bright orange handlebars on our Cube bikes make us easy to spot in the peloton (or so my family say!)

6. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo or just ride the road? Music or no music?
Mark: I don’t really warm up for a road race as there’s usually a neutral zone and so normally listen to a bit of music with my headphones on the way to the start on the bus

7. Are you in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or in Belgium or some where warmer?
Mark: I’ve come home to see friends and family and I’ll probably make the most of the rolling lanes around Ashurst Beacon and Rivington

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Mark in the Tour of Britain time trial in Bristol

8. Have you started training for 2017 and what comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Mark: I started back on the bike at the beginning of November but nothing too serious just steady rides a few hours each day. I stopped to see my coach Jon Sharples (trainSharp) on the way home from Belgium to do a full ramp test and see what I need to work on. So I’ll probably start getting a bit more serious now and get back on the turbo getting the structure back in my training.

9. How does having a coach help you most?
Mark: It’ll be my 4th year working with Jon and his team. What Jon gives me is a basic framework where I can build structure not just into training but into my day-to-day life because we have to be quite self disciplined as bike riders.

10. What are the goals for 2017?
Mark: Win some bike races and get my first crack at Roubaix and Flanders!

11. Finally, how is life different living in Belgium to living in Liverpool (as a cyclist)
Mark: I like Belgium because its more relaxed than the UK. Cycling is part of the culture in Belgium where as in the UK there’s less understanding of bikes on the roads even with the growing popularity. It’s nice to come back and ride the old lanes but Belgium is where I can focus with less distractions.

thank you Mark! Good luck for 2017!

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Mark (right) alongside a rider (Tom Stewart) who is also pro conti in 2017 and Scott Thwaites (left) who moves up to WorldTour. 

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