Q&A: Emma Matthews (Alba Development Road Team)

Quiz time for the riders in the new UCI team, Alba Development Road Team starting with Emma Matthews

Q&A: Emma Matthews (Alba Development Road Team)

Its an exciting time for the Scottish team, Alba Development Road Team. Bob Lyons, the Performance Director & Team Manager says of going UCI, “we had a 5 year plan when the team was formed that within that, we always planned to move to UCI in year 4.”

“This was brought forward a year, primarily to ensure we could put together the level of race programme we need for developing riders. Whether we were UCI or not, we would have been racing more in Europe anyway, as the size of the domestic elite calendar is not big enough to deliver our objectives.”

“Given we needed to be in Europe, moving to UCI made sense as it is then easier to put the calendar together. We will still fully support UK elite racing, as this is important for its sustainability and it is very good racing, but this will be supplemented by a considerable amount of racing in Europe.”

“The teams goals remain unchanged and that is to provide the platform and environment for riders to develop and move on to the top of the sport. The race calendar is put together to achieve this. We are not focussed purely on results. The team has it’s roots in Scotland and as such will always have a Scottish core, but it will never be limited to Scottish riders only. This year 6 Scots, 5 English and 1 American.

NEW SIGNING – EMMA MATTHEWS
Q: With the exciting news from the team for 2024, has that made your winter training faster and provided lots of motivation?
Emma: The organisation from the team is impressive – the support, goal setting and plans for 2024 have really provided extra morale for those winter grinds.

Q: How much training in the winter each week are you able to do?
Emma: I’m aiming for at least 15 hours cycling with S&C on top of this.

Q: What’s been the hardest challenge for you this winter on or off the bike?
Emma: Managing getting back to full fitness after my operation, keeping on top of any niggles that come with increasing the hours.

Q: Do you put pressure on yourself for results or just go out there to enjoy it and grab a result if it’s on offer
Emma: I would say I put pressure on myself to get the best performance possible, as long as I can take something forward to the next race in terms or learning and improving I can be satisfied.

Q: Have you experienced UCI racing abroad and if so, what are the most exciting things to look forward to in 2024 when the team races abroad?
Emma: The field size in UCI races is so much greater than over here so it’s a whole different challenge but one I’m excited for. These races give you even more motivation for the future.

Q: Is it an ‘adventure’ travelling to races abroad with teammates?
Emma: Yes, but you don’t get to see much as it’s all race focused! But it’s good fun and you end up learning a lot about each-other.

Q: Are their specific races in 2024 you are looking forward to most?
Emma: I love the attritional road races; Cleveland and Ryedale are local to me so it’ll be nice to have home support.

Q: What goals are important to you for 2024?
Emma: I would like to build on where I left off in 2022, improve race craft and work well for the team to achieve team goals as well as my own.

THE 2024 TEAM
– Keira Bond
– Beth Morrow
– Abi Plowman
– Emma Matthews * Todays Q&A rider
– Millie Skinner
– Arianne Holland
– Eilidh Shaw
– Amelia Tyler
– Daisy Barnes
– Evie White
– Vicky Smith
– Erin Murphy