Q & A: Max Stedman (Bike Channel Canyon)

Another of the riders in new UCI team, Bike Channel Canyon is Max Stedman who rode for Pedal Heaven in 2016. We quiz Max on his 2016 and goals for 2017

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Q & A: Max Stedman (Bike Channel Canyon)

1.Your reaction to signing for Bike Channel Canyon
Max: I knew Tim was working overtime to sort something after the unfortunate news Pedal Heaven Racing Team wasn’t continuing, so I was really happy when he told me about the team and sponsors coming on board. The whole thing has gained momentum quickly which is cool to see! It’s also a bit unique in the UK with a TV channel sponsor that want to show more than just the racing, so it should be a fun 2017!

2.What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Max: Velothon Wales back in May. I’d trained hard up to it but didn’t know what to expect as I’d never done a race of that level before with a few pro conti teams racing etc. So to get into the final selection over Caerphilly and roll in 7th was a bit of breakthrough ride in my head and it was nice to repay the faith of the team as the guys made sure I was always in the right position at the key points of the race.

3.What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Max: Probably the Tour of Bulgaria at the end of the season. It was all last minute but we got six of us together plus two helpers including my Dad and it was a tough week, but also a massively funny and a memorable week. Laughter was good way to get through a morning breakfast of chicken and pasta!

4.What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Max: Ride London. The level of racing was a big step up compared to anything that I’d done. I got told by Tim to relax at the start and save energy for the back end of the race whilst the other guys fought hard to get in the break, but after the first few climbs I could tell I wasn’t on a mega day and mix that with a big step up in the level of racing made for a super hard day out. I rode the last 40k solo, but the atmosphere was unlike any race the team had done which made the suffering a tad easier!

5.What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Max: We were kitted out with some nice speed suits this year, think I only did one or two race days in jersey and shorts!

6.What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Max: Rollers, always music, usually whatever resident DJ Tim has got on!

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7.What’s your favourite discipline on the road; road racing and/or crits (and why?)
Max: Road racing! Being small with not a huge kick makes the crits tough going, but I do quite enjoy them as overall you become a far more rounded bike rider.

8.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?
Max: I don’t plan on going away until about Mid Feb and am looking at the Algarve with my uni mate Alex Fanshawe. Then the team camp afterwards and maybe another short trip in March. But Devon has a big mix of training roads and usually the weather doesn’t get too cold, just rains a fair bit.

I’ve been on it for a few weeks now as the BUCS Track Championships were the other week. It was a big target for the University Cycling Club so I was doing some top end low volume stuff mid October/November but since then it’s back to some steady miles with a bit of quality thrown in to keep it ticking over.

10.What are the goals for 2017?
Max: As the teams just been released to the public, it’s hard know what the calendar is going to look like, but a few of the early hilly prems and hopefully, invite depending, Tour De Yorkshire where it looks like a pretty climby last stage! Qualifying for the Tour of Britain will be key target for the team so all the qualifying races will be major targets!

11.How tough is it being a pro bike in the UK – what are the biggest challenges?
Max: I enjoy it a lot, with a lot of one day races that are on a lot of the time, it makes for fun racing. It’s a bit of shame there’s not more stage races though! Biggest challenge is probably the weather unpredictability/ predictability of being rubbish in the winter, makes planning training tougher but you learn to get more quality in!

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