Q & A: Gabriella Nordin (Sunsport Velo WRT)

An international flavour to the Q & A’s with Gabriella Nordin who will ride for Sunsport Velo WRT in 2017

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Q & A: Gabriella Nordin (Sunsport Velo WRT)

Gabriella Nordin is originally from Sweden and has recently joined Sunsport Velo WRT, sponsored by Brother UK. Here is Gabriella’s Q & A! Thank you! 

1. How did you get in to cycle racing?
Gabriella: I started off riding casually with my dad on a Scott hybrid bike. In 2011, I decided to take it to the next level and joined a cycling club in Glasgow, where I was studying at university. I eventually swapped my hybrid for a Cinelli Experience road bike, got talked into doing a race and haven’t looked back since!

2.What’s your favourite discipline in cycling?
Gabriella: Definitely road racing. Especially the long, hilly ones that turn in to a ‘war of attrition’. You just need to dig deep, suffer and try to survive until the end!

3.What is the best thing about bike racing?
Gabriella: Pushing yourself to limits you never thought were possible. Also the buzz when everything comes together and you get the result you’ve worked so hard for. There are so many variables that come into play in racing that you very rarely have the perfect race. When it happens, it’s the best feeling ever!

4.What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Gabriella: Being able to reduce my hours at work to concentrate more on training/racing. Also getting offered a space on the Sunsport Velo WRT roster for 2017. The team has a great set-up and we will be riding Cervelo bikes. Really excited!

5. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Gabriella: I’m going to have to say the international stage race Tour of Malta. It’s a 4-day race consisting of three road races and a time trial. I finished 2nd in all three road races and 5th overall. It was really hilly and tough but great fun!

6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Gabriella: The Lincoln GP in May. I was involved in a big crash early on and ended up injuring my shoulder quite badly which put me out of competition for a while. It was frustrating as I lost a lot of fitness and confidence on the bike. But ultimately I learned a lot from it and came back stronger.
… continued after advert

2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

7.If there was one thing you learned in 2016 to help you go faster/better what was that?
Gabriella: To listen to your body, not push through illness/injury and above all prioritize your health first. I was injured for a big part of last season and had to step back quite a bit from training/racing which was mentally challenging but necessary in order to get back on track and become faster!

8.What is the best piece of equipment to do with racing you are proud of most?
Gabriella: The bike of course! Really excited to be racing on a Cervelo with Edco wheels in 2017.

9.What is your warm-up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Gabriella: If it’s a time trial or crit, I tend to warm up on rollers or a turbo with music. It helps me get in the zone! I don’t usually warm up for road races.

10.Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Gabriella: I work as an accountant three days a week so will mostly be bound to the grim UK winter weather. However, I’m hoping to go abroad for a week or two and get some sunny miles in before the season starts!

11.When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Gabriella: I ended my season earlier than usual this year so started winter training mid-September already. I didn’t cycle much in September/October as I was doing a rehab program to get rid of my injuries sustained during the season. In November, I started doing long rides on the bike and have gradually been introducing more efforts.

12. What are the goals for 2017?
Gabriella: I’m hoping to do well at the Tour of Malta again and also targeting the Swedish Nationals in June. In the UK, my main target races will be Ryedale GP and Curlew Cup. They are both long and hilly so should be suited to me!

13. Does winter training consist of mainly riding the bike or running/swimming/gym work (cross training)?
Gabriella: I try to fit in two gym sessions and two yoga sessions a week, I only started practicing yoga this winter and it has been a fantastic complement to training on the bike.

14. Finally what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on the bike! Gabriella: Invest in good quality winter kit to keep warm. Especially gloves. Nothing can ruin a winter training ride as much as cold hands!

AlpsCyclesMidstory

 

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

Cero

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: