Interview: Joe Nally (Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK)

Q & A with new signing for Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK, Joe Nally from Scotland who was on the GB Academy

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Interview: Joe Nally (Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK)

A rider who’s name I have seen in results for many years from when he was in the Youth ranks, Joe Nally is one of the new signings for the Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK.

Joe comes from a small village just south of Dunfermline by the river Forth of as Joe adds “for those who don’t really know Scotland, I usually say a bit north of Edinburgh on the other side of the water!”.

Joe started racing when he was still in primary school. “My parents would always take me and my brother out doing various sports from a very young age and in the end, cycling is the one that stuck” Joe explained.

Prior to signing for Cherie Pridham’s team, Joe was racing for the Great Britain Cycling team’s academy. Asked what the highlight was being part of the national squad for Under 23s, Joe replied “the highlight for me was being able to live the pro life from the age of 18. Training out in Italy or Girona and heading to some real classic races was an amazing experience. We went to a lot of high level races like the U23 Nations Cups but the Tour of Britain and the Tour of Yorkshire definitely stick out the most for me”.

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What are the toughest things about riding for the GB academy I asked? “I think the toughest part is equally one of the best parts – being with your teammates day in day out while travelling around Europe. You definitely make some friends for life but there also comes a point in the season where you’re fed up of everyone and just want to be back home”.

Being part of a UCI team was a key goal for Joe. “Absolutely, I always saw myself heading onto the road instead of the Podium Programme with British Cycling”.

Asked what he is keen to achieve in 2020, Joe says “It seems like the domestic scene is wide open next year and along with my new teammates, I’m keen to become established as one of the main riders to be watched in each race”.

Looking back at 2019 and the highlights, Joe explains “As a team, we had countless highlights. Paris-Arras might have been the best, where we won practically everything possible. For me, it would have to be my day out in the break at Yorkshire on stage 1. Dire weather and devastating to be caught in the final 50m but great fun nonetheless”.

When asked what he feels his best weapon is as a rider, Joe replies “My best weapon has always been a late attack timed to perfection, but it’s something that’s been much less successful since I left juniors so with a bit of work, I’m hoping to put that to good use”.

His toughest race in 2019 was probably Kreizh Breizh he says “My head was in a terrible place and my legs just weren’t willing to cooperate. It made for a tough few days where I went to some dark places”.

On the one thing he’s learned in 2019 that stands out, Joe says “look after your head and the rest will fall into place”.

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With the 2019 season done, and a new season of challenges lying ahead for him with Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK, Joe first has to get through the winter. So I asked is his winter training structured the whole time or a mix of riding the bike easy and then getting serious with top end work?

“It’s structured in a way that I do a big, heavy block until I start to lose quality and then back it off and chill for 4 or 5 days. It’s a good way to stay focused I think. Now that I’m back home, the majority of my training is solo. I do bits here and there with the other guys on the Scottish Performance Programme which gives me enough human interaction on the bike to not go insane”.

Finally, when asked what races in 2020 are the ones Joe reallys want to do, he replies “Tour of Britain and Tour of Yorkshire”.

Thanks to Joe for the Q&A and good luck in the new team for 2020. See on the road. 

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