In August, the UCI world championships are coming to Scotland. Seven different disciplines, from track to artistic cycling, 200 odd champions being crowned in the same country over the same two weeks for the first time ever. And I’ve got myself a place on the start line.
Late last year I took the plunge and entered a qualifying event for the Gran Fondo. A couple of friends qualified last year and this, coupled with heaps of support from my other half, was enough to make me want to enter. I only started amateur racing a couple of years ago so I knew this was going to be tough. I’m just young enough to still be in the 19-34 age category, an age span so wide I was starting to doubt myself early on… maybe I should try in a few years time instead. But no, I got myself a coach and trained religiously. The course was hilly so I also eased off on the sweet treats and cut right back on alcohol.
The event I entered was in Cyprus and involved a time trial on day one and then two days of gran fondo racing, each day a chance to qualify for the champs by finishing in the top 25%, with the podium qualifying automatically. Time trial wasn’t really my thing, the only time trial I’d tried before I ended up crashing out of. But, I was there, a friend was also racing so i had some support and I’m competitive enough that I wasn’t going to just let it pass. I just had to not ruin my chances for the next day by burning myself out.
The racing was exhilarating, most people were super friendly, the scenery was incredible and all my training paid off. On day 1, I finished third in my age category in the time trial, and on day 2 and 3 I finished second in my age category in both gran fondos. Overall, I was third female in the general classification and had an absolutely brilliant time. I was pretty exhausted by the end of it all so I was very happy to have a few extra days in Cyprus to relax with my mum, who had been on support duties over the race days.
Since being back in Scotland, I’ve started training for the worlds as well as keeping myself busy with the ‘domestic’ race scene, including a time trial which I’ve found a new passion for. To support my attempt in August, I applied for the UK Civil Service Sports Association’s elite sponsorship fund and I’ve been awarded £400 to go towards clothing for the time trial. So hopefully I’ll be able to shave a good few more seconds off my time when I’m racing on Dundee’s roads.