Rachel Neylan, Cyclist

China World Cup

Yesterday was the final race in China, the World Cup. This race was the epitome of the Chinese particularity and organisation. Our bikes were boxed up separately at 5pm the evening before, in wooden cases and transported over to the race start in Shanghai.

On arrival we we’re greeted by a continuous ceremony of music, rollerblades, UCI flags… involving energetic above the head waving (of unidentifiable description) soft toys to top off the morning’s choreography.

As much as it was a little over the top it did make us feel very welcomed and proud that the Chinese are embracing women’s cycling…. perhaps as it should be on regular occasions in Europe?

Huge congrats to my ex teammate and good friend Shelley Olds on her win yesterday! Marlen our sprinter for whom we worked for scored a top ten finish which is a promising result for races to come.

Now begins the epic journey to the USA… via Germany!

health.com.au

I am thrilled to have been given a recent opportunity to work with the exciting new Aussie health insurance venture to hit the market, health.com.au

I will be giving insights on their health blog, my first piece being released last week!

Being a professional athlete, and a health professional I have happily continued to acquire a unique combination of sport, exercise and health science knowledge. Naturally I am passionate about sharing a collective mix of expertise and experience to inspire, inform and motivate change with relevant and simple health promotion concepts.

Health is a myriad of physical, mental, emotional, and lifestyle factors… there’s no one way, each persons health ‘pathway’ is unique. Empowerment through knowledge is the key to unlocking your body’s complete health potential. My philosophy is that health can be attained through seeking information, becoming inspired and discovering the intrinsic motivation for vital lifestyle practices that lead to one’s optimal health.

I enjoy informing, inspiring and empowering others to find their own ‘pathway’ way of living a healthy life… through experiences, factual knowledge or simply sharing thoughts this blog will inspire education and discussion around a diverse collection of health topics.

Looking forward to sharing more with you via health.com.au shortly…

China #3

So the tour finished today with a strong performance by GreenEdge taking the win…. Congrats girls!
As a small team of 4 we raced hard together, present in the aggressive moves both yesterday and today and did our best to get a top ten position finish. Wasn’t to be but it’s encouraging moving forward,

Here are a few snapshots among the few; enjoying life on tour without pasta every meal, Imported Aussie goodness for breakfast, the four of us relaxing pre race, Marlen set to drag race, friendly smiles and the completely infatuated locals seeing bike racing for the first time!

CHINA #2

I like China. The last time I was here in China it was actually in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics. As a spectator it was one of the most unbelievable two weeks I’ve ever experienced – i’ve carried fond memories and inspiration with me the past four years. I never expected i’d be back in such time racing a world cup on a bike.

There is a lot I appreciate about the Chinese – people, philosophy and most infatuating is the cultural diversity even within one 10km stretch of a city (honestly itching to exit the hotel and explore but I’ve remained behaved & well rested for tomorrow!).

The delivery of the opening welcome speech this evening’s welcome dinner was one with sincerity and pride that they could successfully draw professional athletes from the global stage and showcase this small island to the world. This is an encouraging example of an extremely well organized race in our sport, that is increasingly looking for visibility in the global sports market.

For them this is a big event – four race books, billboards, accreditation tags, banners and roadside flags. The volunteers and locals don’t stop smiling and are most happily sharing their roads with us. Exhibited profoundly this morning with the guy on his scooter whizzing past our bunch of eight girls squatting in the roadside grass taking a pee stop in a small street – it didn’t him from belting a huge ‘HELLOOO…. WELCOMEEEE’!

Our Team Nutrixxion is only four…. Anna, Dani, Marlen and I. My fellow countrywomen Emma and Belinda unfortunately didn’t win the extraordinarily difficult battle to get a visa in Europe. I on the other hand have the grand old Patrick Neylan from the Emerald Isle to thank for that.

Whilst its a pancake flat course it’s my turn to work for the team result… and a hard race is also a hard race. In any pro team its often necessary to participate races in those other than ones particularly suited to your own strengths.

Aside from focusing on the upcoming racing challenges I’m having fun with two of my teammates while they enjoy many discoveries on their debut trip to China (and 21 year old Anna’s first to Asia!) Daily new food safaris and of course the mandatory chopsticks lessons have been quite the entertainment.

CHINA

We arrived in China this afternoon…. greeted with flowers and five chaperones we were whisked away in a big blue bus straight to the nearby Chongming island home of the UCI Tour of Chongming Island & World Cup The best way to cure a little travel fatigue is to jump straight on the bike to spin the legs over – needless to say it was just a spin dodging stray dogs, cargo bikes and tiny cc scooters (offer with a smiling kid propped up on the back).

Pleasantly reminded first hand what I appreciate about the Chinese – hard working, polite, calm, proud and gracious as our every need is tended to.

In the midst of packing for the month away & adhering to travel logistics I failed to consider the lack of Facebook and twitter we’d have in this week being under the communist governments extensive web censorship so this will suffice as my connection to the world for this week…

Happy to be here doing the same thing i love but in a completely different world… enjoy the stories