Team Presentation @ Diadora HQ
Last Saturday was the inaugural launch and presentation of our team at the Diadora headquarters in Montebelluna, Italy.
Watch team presentation video here!
It was an exciting day to see everyone in one place celebrating the launch of a world class Brand supporting a world class Women’s cycling team and anticipating great things to come this year..
Now that you know what we all look like It’s time to get stuck into some racing!
NZ brings success in first race for Diadora
The first race of my 2011 season was set to be one of firsts.. First race back in 4 months, first race for the new team, with a new director, new teammates and my first race as a professional.
My team Diadora Pasta Zara won stage 4, were second in stage 3, third in stage 4 and 5. For the first time racing together and with only 4 riders this ain’t bad!
Personally I was happy with things physically after some rocky recent months.. I was sixth in stage one after getting in a break over the first climb of the tour, and finished ninth overall, however not at any stage were the team concerned about any GC position, it was all about winning stages and the focus remained this way.
First race of 2011.. off to defend Tour of NZ title!
So I’m packed up and ready for 2011 season.. on the road again and cant wait for my first race with my new team Diadora Pasta-Zara the Women’s tour of NZ out of Wellington starting on Wednesday…
A sneak peak at the new team jersey;
Here are some media bits prior to our first team race;
http://www.cycletournz.com/womenstour/Mediareleases/ChampionReturn/tabid/757/Default.aspx
http://www.fujibike.com/womensproteam/
AGF term winds up.. The start of a new era!
Its been a good month, it’s mid Feb and a few things are winding up..
Firstly my training, progressing well off the back of a complex injury and frustrating few months… and secondly my Amy Gillett Foundation scholarship term comes to a close.
Next week I will race the Tour of NZ in my new pro team colours Diadora-PastaZara so I wanted to take a head start at acknowledging the AGF for the past 12 months before I jump into the new kit!
It has been a complete honor to be awarded with the 2010 AGF scholarship. To me it’s prestige amounts to one of the highest accolades in the developmental pathway of women’s cycling in Australia.
The AGF scholarship has given me the opportunities for me to be able to mix my passion, dedication and determination with – to develop physically and mentally onto becoming a world class rider.
In 2010 through the benefits of the scholarship I was able to race in Europe with the AIS / National team which enabled a springboard transition to signing my first professional contract with a European UCI team 2011.
Aside from the sponsorship assistance and racing support the AGF scholarship completely opened up a network of mentors and relationships that I have been able to establish and which will take me forward into my professional career.
To have been welcomed into the AGF family and shared in the spirit and the passion in which it was built has been a truly inspiring experience that will continue to drive my professional cycling career forward in years to come. I wish all the 2011 applicants the best of luck and look forward to remaining involved with the work of the foundation.
Thank you to the AGF team for the amazing work you do and for all that it’s allowed me to learn, experience and improve as a person and indeed as a cyclist!
racing update – that and the other three p’s
Passion, Preparation and Performance are what I like talking about however much to my dislike Patience, Perseverance and Persistence are the 3 P’s I have been well acquainted with the past month!
My vision of summer was happily tapping out the kms in the sunshine, racing domestically and preparing for Nationals.. I had been looking forward to it. After surgery in November I was organised, had a plan and ready to go… I recovered and was on my way, probably with a little too much haste. Ain’t hindsight a wonderful thing!
It has been eloquently reinforced to me (yes indeed a health professional) that listening to the body is THE most important thing in being an athlete. I have been managing injury through December being forced to get off the bike and get right.
Versatility of athleticism is also an asset in times like these.. Pool, gym and altitude training have been staples in while unloading the required amount to rectify the issues in need. Over the past 4 weeks my patience has been tested and have learned a good lesson or two in patience and have needed to pull out my top shelf perseverance and persistence characteristics!
I am incredibly optimistic and things are well on track however, sadly I won’t be starting Nationals this weekend. I wish all the girls a great race and I look forward to being in Ballarat, this time roadside with a rare opportunity to watch and learn.
Facebook
Linkedin
Flickr
