Tour of Britain Feature: Colin Sturgess (Madison Genesis)

Chat with DS for Madison Genesis, Colin Sturgess about selecting the six riders for the Tour of Britain

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Tour of Britain Feature: Colin Sturgess (Madison Genesis)

In the Tour of Britain which starts on Sunday, the Madison Genesis team will be represented by Richard Handley, Matt Holmes, Jonny McEvoy, George Pym, Erick Rowsell and British Road Race champion Connor Swift.

Colin with Laura Winter at the start of the season… 

There is a huge amount of experience in the team with some of the riders having close to ten editions under their wheels, and when I asked DS for the team, former World Champion Colin Sturgess who knows how special it is to ride the National Tour, about making that selection, he admits “there has always been a core of lads that have been to the forefront”.

“Even at the training camps in Calpe at the start of the year, I was looking at the dynamic of certain people and how they ride off with other riders and the inter-personal dynamic as well. It’s not just about results; it’s a process where we don’t only want the strongest and best there but we need cohesion as well. I think all through my career that is something I have found works well in a team environment”.

“We have seven in the mix and I’m including Mikey (Cumming) in that mix and he proved himself at Yorkshire where he brought home the bacon there. George Pym has stepped up massively this year and is someone we can rely on. He still has bad days everyone now then, but he proved his worth today when he was in that break (at Ryedale) and was working well. He’s been in Belgium with us and raced hard there and acquitted himself well.”

“He’s one of our most consistent finishers all season; quiet, reliable and quick to help a team-mate”, Pym’s been a revelation this season”.

The other guys almost select themselves and whilst I do feel sorry for the others not in the team, they have all worked well for the team through the year”.

The team says Colin are going into the race with a two pronged approach; looking for a good GC result for Matt Holmes and then for Connor Swift, stage results. “He has come on leaps and bounds since that result in a bunch kick at Yorkshire (6th on stage 3), and the Arctic Tour proved he can race at that level. He’s come here (Ryedale) and ridden hard and crossed a gap that no-one else could ride across. Okay, he came up a little short in the sprint but that happens.”

“The team is quality right through – we could stick Jonny Mac in a move and he’d be a danger for a jersey, or Erick; so it’s all looking good. As a team we look forward to the 2018 Tour of Britain and hope to prove our worth and show we are a squad to back our National Champion to the hilt.”

Colin then explained how the block of racing in Belgium has gone well with three hard races and some recovery rides in between and then the cherry on top at Ryedale, another hard race. So for the riders, he says the hard work is now done and its feet up, eat well, and look after themselves health wise.

His final word was on having Connor back from Dimension Data to ride for Madison Genesis in the Tour wearing the champion’s jersey. “It’s a rare occasion that sees a Continental team field the National Champion in their “home” tour, so we are immensely proud to showcase the jersey on Connor Swift’s able shoulders. One of things I have tried to instil into the guys is we have that jersey in the team and we should ride with pride and that should give them a lift”.

It should indeed and seeing the banter post Ryedale, the group dynamic certainly seems very special and we wish them lots of luck in the Tour of Britain on Sunday.

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