Q & A: Emily Kay (Team WNT)

World Cup winner and a European Champion on the track, one of Team WNT’s star riders is Emily Kay

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Q & A: Emily Kay (Team WNT)

Emily says the best thing about her new team is everyone in it! “The riders, support staff and sponsors all buy in to the team ethos. We all want the same things and I think this will make 2017 successful for us” added Emily. Here is her Q & A:

1. How did you get into cycle racing?
Emily: When I was five, my dad had a mountain bike magazine which had the then current mountain bike Olympic champ in it wearing pink and I liked pink so I wanted to be like her. So I joined my nearest club and I’ve not looked back.

2. What’s your favourite discipline in cycling?
Emily: It definitely has to be track for me. I love the thrill and fast pace of bunch races, especially the elimination race. But closely followed by road. Anything that doesn’t involve mud!

3. What is the best thing about bike racing?
Emily: I love the adrenaline, and fast pace of bike racing. Those split second decisions that can make or break your race. I also met some of my best friends through bike racing and its taken me to some pretty cool places around the world.

4. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Emily: I think for me it was definitely winning the Omnium World Cup Gold in Glasgow. I’ve ridden a lot of international omnium’s but never been that close to the podium, so to win a World Cup Gold in front of an amazing home crowd was a massive highlight for me.

5. What was your favourite/ most fun race of 2016?
Emily: My favourite race was Le Samyn. There was everything including huge cobbles and strong crosswinds. It was tough but I enjoyed every second.

6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Emily: I would have to say Omloop Het Nieuwsblaad. It’s a race I’ve always wanted to do, to start a Belgian classic. But it was 1000x harder than I expected, the race to the climbs and then having to make it over them.

7. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 to help you go faster/better, what was that?
Emily: That there is a lot you can do off the bike as well as on the bike. Nutrition, injury prevention, gym etc can all play a massive part in making you faster.
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8. What was the best piece of equipment to do with racing you are most proud of?
Emily: Always my track low-pro. Makes me feel fast even if my legs don’t!

9. What is your warm up routine for race- turbo/ rollers, music/no music?
Emily: Over the past couple of years, I’ve grown to like the turbo a lot more so that would always be my choice of warm up and there is no question that I would always have music.

10. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Emily: I’m not a fan of the Manchester weather so I’m hopefully getting two training camps in Majorca where I’ve been many times before so know well and then another camp with WNT in Spain so not much time spent in the cold in the UK.

11. When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first- long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Emily: As I’m also a track rider, I never really stop as soon as I finish on the road I go straight into track racing and then back to road. Its a case of trying to balance both. So I have a mix of long steady miles and efforts all through the winter. Most training camps involve doing both for me get me ready for everything.

12. What are the goals for 2017?
Emily: I think stepping up to UCI with WNT is a great step forward for me. I got a taste of some big races last year abroad and I’d really like to build on those experiences and become more involved in the races. I’d really like a win on the road but ultimately doing all I can to help WNT get great results across the season no matter who the rider is as long as they are a WNT rider!

13. Does winter training consist only of riding the bike?
Emily: Through the winter I mix road and track so I’m both in and outdoors and then I add the gym in regularly. But that’s all. I’m probably the worst swimmer or runner so the bike is best for me.

14. Finally, what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on the bike?
Emily: Investing in good kit and making sure you keep you music playlist up to date. There is nothing worse then feeling cold on the bike or getting soaking wet. So making sure you invest in good to kit so you’ll be warm helps to get yourself out when your sat on a warm sofa.

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