Q & A: Francesca Hall (Boompods RT)

Question and Answer with Francesca Hall who joins Boompods women’s cycling team for 2020 who’s highlight in 2019 was a top 10 in the CTT 10 championships and winning the BUCS Individual pursuit

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Q & A: Francesca Hall (Boompods RT)

Boompods Women’s racing team are are excited to sign Frankie Hall who guested for the team in 2019 at the Tour Series, with an impressive set of results. “After getting the opportunity to guest for the team at the 2019 Tour Series and seeing how supportive, friendly and encouraging the girls were, I was keen to be involved for 2020. My aims for the season ahead lie in the National Road Series, Women’s Team Series and British National Road Race and National Time Trials. I am really looking forward to starting racing with the team.”

Here is Frankie’s Q & A…

– How long have you been racing
Francesca: For 2 years now, I dabbled in a bit of triathlon for a couple of years before that

– Where’s your favourite training ride?
Francesca: Definitely the quiet lanes in the Peak District, single track mud clattered roads. Always a grippy ride!!

– What brought you into cycle racing?
Francesca: My competitive streak for sure. But also a bike injury that put a stop to any form of impact sports like running or hockey

– Highlights of the season 2019?
Francesca: A top 10 in the National 10 with a 20-26 and winning the BUCS Individual pursuit

– Has your season in 2019 been what you expected this year?
Francesca: I wouldn’t say as expected, but I definitely met all the major goals I set for myself.

– Is there a rider in 2019 that has stood out for you in the races you did?
Francesca: I couldn’t pick one! Emily Meakin and Joss Lowden have to be two though. Both British riders who have moved across to Drops. Meakin smashing the Belgium scene, and coming home to take the crown in the National 25, and Joss having a storming season in the National Road series only to come back from a nasty injury to take the National 10 title by quite some margin!

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– Best organised/fun race you did in 2019?
Francesca: Redditch Tour Series. The weather was crap (a true British summer race), but it was my first experience of the Tour Series and my first race guesting for Boompods. I really hope we are able to race them again this season!

– What was the toughest at race you did in 2019
Francesca: Lincoln GP! My second National Series race and one where I learnt just how much bunch positioning and technicality comes into racing at this level! No matter how strong you are if you’re stuck at the back of the bunch, you’re going to give yourself a real hard day out!

– Was there one thing you learned in 2019 that stands out?
Francesca: You have to be confident in the big races. Don’t ride like the newbie and as if you’re not good enough to be there. Get stuck in, go with moves and enjoy it!

– Any scary moments in 2019 in races?
Francesca: Unfortunately I came down in the big CiCle classic crash that pretty much wrote off the back end of my road racing season! It massively knocked my confidence and so I stuck to races with a much smaller bunch, and focused on the National 10m TT a lot earlier than planned.

– Do you have a role to play for the team in a race like being in breaks etc or freedom to go with moves?
Francesca: I am excited to see how we race as a team. I am quite keen to have a working role, I seem to panic in the last lap of a crit or the last few miles of a road race. I would like to think I am okay at delivering people to the finish line!

– Your bike for 2020 – what will it be and how will it be set up (groupset/wheels etc)
Francesca: I am lucky enough to be supported by Aspire Cycles, a custom bike brand that build your bike exactly how you want it, and in whatever colour design you wish. Being such a small rider I have struggled to find any bikes with a decent spec and small enough to be comfortable on for prolonged periods of time. So this season I will have a freshly painted Aspire Altus, equipped with EDCO wheels, continental tyres, Shimano Di2 groupset. Maintained by our shop sponsor NRG cycles between races!

– Favourite type of race, road race, TT or crit?
Francesca: Tough one, probably a bunch race like the Points on the track, behind that a TT. Road racing is still so new to me I have lots to learn!

– How did you spend your off season break – bike or no bike!
Francesca: Definitely no bike, lying by a pool in the sun with minimal activity. For me a break is a proper break! No bike!

– Working/Uni or full time rider?
Francesca: I’m at Loughborough uni, in my final year studying Mathematics and Sports Science full time.

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– If working/uni, how do you manage the training/work challenge
Francesca: We have a great programme at Loughborough with performance support in the Loughborough Cycling Academy. A whole team of sports scientists and performance lifestyle mentors who help us manage training, studying, exams, and a bit of a social life too!

– Best things about being part of your team?
Francesca: Being able to learn from the other girls, as well as having the space and opportunity to all race to our own goals. This will be my first season on a women’s team so I am looking forward to the camaraderie and social elements that come along with it!

– When do you expect to start racing in 2020
Francesca: My season will start officially with the National Track championships at the end of January. I will be racing in the Points race and the Individual pursuit. I haven’t seen the National Road Series calendar yet (provisional events here), so a few spring TTs and then into the summer road season.

Thank you Frankie and good luck in 2020… see you on the road (or track)

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