Post Race Chat: Joey Walker (2nd, Jock Wadley Memorial)

Part of a cycling dynasty, 20 year old Joey Walker started his 2018 season off with a second place after a tough Wiggins training camp – we had a quick chat

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Post Race Chat: Joey Walker (2nd, Jock Wadley Memorial)

At the Jock Wadley last weekend, in his first race of 2018, which came after a tough training camp, 20 year old Joey Walker was second after escaping with 16 miles to go and finding himself being outsprinted by Mikey Mottram.

A lap to go and Joey Walker and Mikey Mottram are flat out making sure the chasers don’t bring them back

Asked about the race, Joe explained how at the start the race split and after some laps of the seven mile circuit, a large group of 30 riders formed at the front. “We had four Wiggins riders in there so we were well represented and from then onwards, there were little attacks going and coming back”.

“A little group of six or seven formed and all the teams were there so that stuck, and then coming into three to go, I had a chat with the team manager and he said that Jacques and me should starting hitting them and that is what I did with two to go – I didn’t think that one would stick!”

Stick it did as Joey very quickly pulled out a good gap on the rest and chasing him down was Mike Mottram. “I saw Mikey coming across and thought I’d wait as there was no point us both time trialling it and he was really strong. We were both pulling pretty hard turns and then it was this deathly sprint”.

“I didn’t know how I was going to be as we’d just finished our team camp on Friday and it was a hard camp and I didn’t know whether I was going to be fresh or tired. In the sprint, I just buckled and didn’t have anything but I’m happy with second in my first race and there’s a lot to build on”.

The podium for the Jock Wadley, L-R: George Wood, Mikey Mottram and Joey Walker

Asked about that training camp, Joey explained “It was near Calpe, 13 days and blocks of four days to the death really so I came out pretty tired”.

“The efforts in the camp were on par with racing for sure. We did an effort where we were split into two teams and it was a lead out drag race and that was, in terms of a sharp effort, that was harder than the race but this (the Jock Wadley) was more of a longer all day effort and you don’t know how you are going to be at the end of it”.

Asked what goals a 20 year old has, Joey explains he’s actually one of the older riders in the Wiggins team! “There have been big change in the team and I’m not the oldest but one of the older ones and I have to start getting some results now to get noticed and that is in any race, whether it’s Europe or Britain.”

“I have a few British races to do first and then off to Belgium for a stint”.

Joey went on to add, “It is the sort of team that want you to progress and I feel I did that a lot of that at the back end of last year so if I can start off the season well and go for some Prem wins and some UCI results too, and start to get on the radar of teams”.

Good luck to Joey in his up coming races…

TheHappyCog

2018_MerlinCyclesAdvert

2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

AlpsCyclesMidstory

 

 

Cycle Division’s New Shop

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

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: