Q&A: George Evans (Team Bottrill/HSS Hire)

Q & A with 19 year old George Evans (Team Bottrill/HSS Hire) about time trialling and the training drill he dreads from coach Matt Bottrill

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Q&A: George Evans (Team Bottrill/HSS Hire)

“Riding for the team is great” says George. “We have such a strong team, I get loads of support and advice off everyone and have complete confidence in the training I’m doing with the coaching from Matt.”

1. How did you get into cycle racing?
George: I got into cycling as my family have always done a bit of it. It started off by just going mountain biking when I was quite young. Then my Dad took me down to the local Wrexham road club time trial when I was about 12/13 and got hooked on that really. This led me to joining Mid Shropshire Wheelers to do a mixture of road racing a time trials throughout the youth and junior age groups.

2. Is time trialling your main discipline or are there others?
George: This year will be about a 50/50 mix of road racing and time trialing for me. I only got a chance to do a few road races last year as I wanted to focus on the TT’s and A level exams. But the ones I did, I really enjoyed, so I’m looking forward to doing more this year.

3. What is the best thing about racing a time trial?
George: Apart from all the cool equipment that comes with it, I’d say for me it’s the fact that I’m in control of my own race. There isn’t anyone else to worry about. For example, in a road race there are a lot of things that can affect the outcome of the race like crashes, group positioning etc.

4.What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
George: It has to be placing 11th in the men’s national 10 mile time trial at my first year in the senior event as this is seen as one of the most prestigious titles in time trialing. At the start of the year, a realistic aim for me would have been top 30 in national time trials so I really surprised myself with that ride!

5. What was your favourite (most enjoyable) race of 2016
George: There were so many great races in 2016 for me but I particularly enjoyed round 3 of the North Wales road race series at Trawsfynydd lake. Being in North Wales, it is a hilly course which suits me. A breakaway went away on the first lap of 3 of the 64 mile race which I didn’t go with straight away but a few of us managed to bridge the gap on the 2nd lap to join the winning break. I finished 9th in the end but loved it!

6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
George: I think round 2 of the RTTC National classic series was the toughest for me. It’s on a brutal course and it was on a freezing morning which didn’t help. Also my minute man caught me within the first 10 miles which messed with my head as I didn’t know who he was and I thought I was having a rubbish ride. As it turned out he went on to win the event with quite a large margin.

7. If there was one thing you learned in 2016 to help you go faster what was that?
George: In time trials, I think although they are important, it’s not just about power and aerodynamics. It’s about visualising the fastest possible way to get from A to B so you have to know the course, to know where to push hard and where to maybe ease off to conserve energy. That’s a mistake I made in national 25. I pushed way too hard in the tailwind section where I should have maybe eased off a bit to save something for the headwind return leg.

8. What is the best piece of equipment to do with racing you are proud of most?
George: Definitely the team Giant Trinity Advanced pro frameset I’m lucky enough to be riding. It’s one amazing piece of kit! Everything on it has just been so well thought out. The mechanics at Dave Mellor Cycles probably hate me because of the complicated internal cabling system but the end result is worth it!

9. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
George: Turbo with music and just try to block out everything around me so I can just focus on the race and what I’ve got to do.

10. What is the hardest drill that you have in training that you dread?
George: Oh, that’s a tough one. I’m convinced Matt hates me when I see some of the sessions appear on my training peaks. If I had to choose, I’d say this one session I’ve done a few times. 8 × 4 minutes at really high intensity with very short rest periods. That ones a killer!

11. What are the goals for 2017?
George: The main goal is the under 23 BCF TT champs. I’ll have a few years left in this age group so it’ll be great experience. Also the national time trials and to get some podiums in road races throughout the year.

12. What will be the first race of 2017?
George: I’ll be kicking off with the Wrekin 18 mile hilly time trial on the 4th of March followed by the brutal Tour of the Mining Valleys road race the next day which should be interesting! Looking forward to it!

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