Dani Rowe has achieved an awful lot in her career. By the age of 22 Dani was already an Olympic Champion, a triple world champion and double European champion. But Dani's road to the top was far from straight forward. Plucked from the obscurity of a school maths lesson she would face constant rejection from the famed TeamGB track programme only to fight her way back to gold at her home Olympics in London.

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All right, everyone.

2

Today on the odd tandem,

we have a great guest, Dani Rowe.

3

Welcome to the podcast.

4

Thank you. It's great to be here.

5

first of all,

6

I have to say thank you for coming on

because I know that you've been busy.

7

What actually,

have you been up to this last month or so?

8

Well, I've been very, very busy.

9

I got roped into being on The Breakaway

for the men's Tour de France.

10

I say roped into.

11

I was very excited to be part of it,

but it was very last minute for me

12

only about ten days before the tour, so

it was a bit of a jump into the deep end.

13

but I absolutely loved it.

14

It was such a privilege to be a part of.

15

So that was three weeks, of course.

16

And then I've just had a week at home

back with the kids.

17

It was the longest

I've ever been without them.

18

and then to come back

was another jump into the deep end.

19

Actually, I forgot what motherhood

was like for a few weeks.

20

and that was just as hard,

if not harder, to be honest.

21

So, yeah, I'm

just enjoying a bit of downtime

22

and actually off to Spain for a holiday

tomorrow.

23

That is actually pretty cool

that you have a little bit of a holiday,

24

and they don't get you in for the Vuelta

as well.

25

on they are okay.

26

there you go.

27

So I've actually got a week off now,

28

and then I will jump into the women's

Tour de France.

29

Femmes.

30

And then I'll go straight into the Vuelta.

31

So another very busy period coming up.

32

So I'm jumping on a plane,

having a bit of a relax

33

and then it'll be bam,

straight back into it.

34

And for our, listeners and viewers,

35

during my nine days on a motorbike

at the tour de France,

36

I had a British commentary in my ear so

I would know what's going on in the race.

37

And I did hear

38

Dani quite a few times, and believe me,

she was just like a fish in the water.

39

She was in her element.

40

So I can only give her

the highest compliments.

41

She did actually fit in. Absolutely

perfect.

42

Just needed to say that.

43

Thank you.

44

That is very kind.

45

I was very nervous

coming into a very established team,

46

but I've been commentating on women's

racing for for many years,

47

and I've been part of The Breakaway

48

for Discovery Eurosport

and some of the men's classics as well.

49

And obviously I follow a very,

very passionate about cycling.

50

So yeah, I was nervous

that it went really well.

51

I really enjoyed it.

52

It was part of a great team and thankfully

53

they've asked me to come back,

so I must have done an okay job.

54

Well, that's a fantastic intro

55

into our little quickfire questions

that we have for you today.

56

So question number one,

do you prefer commentating or coaching,

57

commentating,

58

homecoming parade or the gold postbox?

59

And to our viewers and listeners

that don't know what that means?

60

Maybe you can explain

what the gold postbox is actually.

61

Yeah of course.

62

So after the London Olympics

63

they decided to paint every gold medalist

a gold postbox

64

so we could choose

which postbox was painted gold.

65

They wanted it to be where we were born.

66

But actually, I was born in a

in a city called Southampton, in the south

67

of the UK.

68

But I'm from a little village

just outside of Southampton called Hamble.

69

So I asked if I could have my gold postbox

painted there because it's

70

where my parents live.

71

I go back and visit a lot

and I do a little running route

72

where I pass the gold postbox,

and it was only supposed to be painted

73

gold for a year after the Olympics, and

then they were going to paint it back red.

74

But then they decided that now

they're going to keep them gold forever,

75

which I think is such a lovely touch

because,

76

you know, I get pictures of people

that have come to visit the gold postbox

77

and some friends, if they're just walking

past and oh, look where we are.

78

And then when I go back,

it just brings such a nice feeling

79

when I, when I run past it or I don't,

I walk past with the kids.

80

So that's.

81

Yeah, that's what happens.

82

So all over the country,

83

has a designated postbox

that's been painted gold.

84

Okay.

85

Next question.

86

Do you prefer track or road racing?

87

Oh, it's such a hard question.

88

I'm going to go track.

89

Okay.

90

And last one, Olympics

or the

Tour de France.

91

Which is your favorite?

92

Olympics I've never ridden.

93

It's all to France.

94

So I have to say Olympics.

95

If I'm talking about myself and riding.

96

since you already touched on it

with the gold, postbox

97

you are born in, actually,

the correct word is Hamble-le-Rice.

98

Correct.

99

And that's just outside of Southampton

or Portsmouth.

100

Right. 4600 Southampton..

101

not Portsmouth.

102

They're big rivals in the football Jens!

103

Okay okay.

104

So you depending to the Southampton

side of that okay.

105

And the British Channel is not too far

from there.

106

And 4600 and habitants.

107

So you would expect

half of them are fishermen.

108

How on earth do you become

a cyclist in the first place?

109

Good question.

110

I'm actually not from a fishing family,

so my dad is a two time

111

Winter Olympian in the sport of biathlon.

112

he actually got roped into skiing.

113

And here's part of the, the British Army.

114

And they asked him

if he wanted to try out for skiing.

115

And he thought it was fun downhill skiing.

116

And it turned out to be cross

country skiing.

117

He was pretty good at it. And then he was.

118

Yeah, part of the British team, whilst

being in the Army, went to two Olympic

119

Games, 84 and 88, in Sarajevo and Calgary.

120

Didn't medal but was yeah.

121

How British Red records for a long time

122

anyway are we never even knew.

123

I'm talking we as me and my sister.

124

I've got a sister who's two years

younger than me.

125

We never knew.

He never put anything around the house.

126

We were just very, very sporty,

a very active family.

127

I took part in every single club

you could imagine, from ballroom

128

dancing to football, swimming,

you name it.

129

Everything.

130

I loved it, and then I was keen

swimmer and runner in school.

131

but never going to be an Olympian.

132

Wasn't that talented.

133

Worked hard, love

the British Cycling came into my school

134

when I was 14 and asked if anyone wanted

to try out for the talent team,

135

which was a talent identification program

136

that they put in place to to find talent.

137

Initially, I did it to

138

get out of a maths lesson

because I loved sport

139

and I got through the first round.

140

It was just round the school

playing field.

141

They did an endurance test around

the 400 meter track and a sprint test

142

on the 100 meter track,

and I got through that test.

143

Then they brought in

kind of Watt bikes to test, obviously,

144

you know, different powers, measurements,

a bit more scientific.

145

Of course.

146

I got through that test

and then I got invited on a mountain

147

bike ride, which now, looking back,

148

I think they did to test mental capacity.

149

Whether you were up for the challenge,

whether you'd get stuck in.

150

And then I got a letter home to say

I made it onto the talent team.

151

Were my parents,

you know, happy to support me

152

because this could mean training camps

throughout the year, race in cycling.

153

So being a taxi driver for me,

and they said,

154

yes, if you want to do it,

we will support you 100%.

155

And that was the start, really.

156

So I was 14 very up and down.

157

You know, I was the British Cycling.

158

They've got a kind of pyramid system,

leading up

159

to the Olympic program

where you get selected for the Olympics.

160

So I was on

161

the talent team and then I was okay.

162

I was never that great.

163

I just tried very, very hard.

164

I wasn't winning from the start at all.

165

but I loved it.

166

And I just, you know,

I was a very hard worker.

167

So initially, I was an endurance rider.

168

And that's my background.

169

How, you know, my dad was a by athlete.

170

And then I don't know

if you remember Iain Dyer,

171

who was the national sprint coach

for a very long time for British Cycling,

172

said, oh,

you should try out for the sprint squad

173

because we think you're

pretty good at sprinting.

174

So I went on the Olympic

Development program for a year, sprinting,

175

and I was shit.

176

I got my head well

and truly kicked in by Jess

177

Varnish and Victoria Pendleton.

178

Becky James, who, you know, Becky

James is still one of my best friends.

179

Silver medalist from Rio, two time

silver medalist from Rio Olympics.

180

And then I got I said, this is not for me.

181

So I was coached by, Jan van Eijden

182

you know, went over to Germany again

183

to Cottbus, European champs,

got my head kicked in.

184

You know, riders like Kristina Vogel with,

I remember

185

actually, quite a funny story.

186

hold it me up for the sprint.

187

Obviously three laps or maybe two coppers

because it's a longer track.

188

And he said, Dani, your only chance of

winning is if you go from the gun,

189

which is obviously not really

the thing to do in cycling.

190

So I just want to pass as I could.

191

But anyway, I got passed

probably with about 300m to go.

192

So then I got invited onto the back

onto the endurance squad,

193

because when I was initially asked

to go on the sprint, I said, okay, only

194

if if it doesn't work, you put me back

on the injured squad for you.

195

But I

196

was crap

because I'd only spent a year sprinting

197

and then I got kicked off the program,

then for two years.

198

So I said, oh, you're not good enough.

199

You'll never be good enough.

200

yeah.

201

You’re chucked off the team,

202

and then I went away for British

Cycling and,

203

found my own coach

and my parents were amazing

204

and said, look, I will support you

as long as you want to do it.

205

And so I kept going and kept going.

206

Then I got glandular fever,

207

so I couldn't ride for a long time.

208

And I thought,

oh, I don't know if this is for me.

209

And it was the first time

I've sort of had a wobble.

210

But then when I got better,

I had about six weeks

211

to the national championships

on the track,

212

and my coach at the time said,

let's put everything into this,

213

because this will be a big opportunity

to compete against the girls

214

who were already

on the British cycling team.

215

So I was training three times a day trying

216

to trick my body into thinking

there was more days in the week.

217

just putting everything into it.

218

Went to the nationals

and I medaled in every event I rode.

219

And I got an email from Paul Manning,

who was the British coach

220

for the team pursuit at the time,

221

and he said,

222

do you want to come to Manchester

to try out for the team pursuit?

223

This is the event that we highlighted

as being out, you know,

224

most likely gold medal in London Olympics.

225

This was at the end of 2010.

226

went up to Manchester

and started on this.

227

I call it an X factor elimination process

because there was 12 of us, 12 girls.

228

I was the only one that wasn't on the team

at the time, so came in

229

and it was driving myself

up to Manchester.

230

This is about four hours from Southampton

every week to do a couple of sessions,

231

and then made the world's team

232

in the March of 2011

when we won, in Apeldoorn

233

And that was the start, to be honest,

that was the kind of upward

234

trajectory to the Olympics.

235

After each major competition,

someone was told, that's it, you're off.

236

You're not good enough.

237

Until that was four left

for the for the Olympics.

238

And then three of us rode

all three rounds.

239

So it was, Yeah, that's a quick journey

into my life as a cyclist.

240

I'm sure we'll get deeper.

241

A quick explanation, for their viewers,

242

back then, the women's team

pursuit was a team of three.

243

Now it has a team of four.

244

I don't know when it changed,

but back then it was a team for three,

245

for a women's teams

pursuit on a track right?

246

Yes. Three women, three kilometers.

247

It changed in 2013

248

to become kind of parallel with the men.

249

So it's now for women four kilometers.

250

But when I rode in the Olympics

it was three kilometers, three women.

251

And it was myself, Laura Trott and Joanna

Rowsell that rode the the Olympic Games.

252

Well, there's so many things to

unpack from your your last answer.

253

I always wondered, because Rod Ellingworth

is a good friend of mine and was a

254

mentor, is a mentor of mine, and he would

he was one of the guys that ran

255

that, program to go to the schools

and see the kids and to test the kids,

256

and I didn't know that it was tiered

like that into you do one.

257

And then if you pass that,

you do another one and another one.

258

I so,

so thank you for filling me in on that.

259

I'm going to have to get him.

260

Or are you on again to basically do

261

one whole episode asking about that

because it was so effective?

262

I mean, you know, it's difficult over here

in the US to, to, to find that talent.

263

But you guys definitely did it

and continue to do it.

264

So, yeah, you got stuck in for sure.

265

I mean, it is brutal.

266

Like I was on the road side of British

Cycling a little bit when I worked at Sky,

267

and I would just hear little rumors

and, you know, around the

268

when I, when I would spend time up there

in Manchester of how

269

many to lead difficult

the selection process was like

270

that was hard that that was the

it really honestly was the hardest for me

271

and I was very lucky that I had supportive

friends and family outside the bubble

272

because it was

you've hit the nail on the head.

273

It was absolutely brutal.

274

and that was something that you would

worry about every single day.

275

When you went into the track,

everything was scrutinized,

276

and I think that's why

they got the best out of us.

277

But it was done in quite a brutal way.

278

You know,

there was people on this journey told

279

after a World Cup

at the baggage carousel at the airport

280

that that was it, that

their journey to the Olympics had ended

281

and then they weren't

282

coming into the track on Monday

morning for the track session,

283

and you were always worrying about

284

whether that was going to be you or not,

even up even up to the Olympic final.

285

So there was four of us

that went to the holding camp,

286

which was two weeks before the games.

287

We were told a week before who was in

288

round one

the night before, who was in round two

289

and 30 minutes before the final,

who was riding the final.

290

So not only trying to perform up

291

to the absolute pinnacle of your ability,

but also in

292

the back of your mind is thinking,

am I going to get to the next round?

293

Am I going to be in this final?

294

Because, you know,

295

they could just put someone else in,

which is very different to most Olympians

296

because I guess injury or illness aside,

someone should know a year before

297

if they're going to be lining up

in the Olympics, you know,

298

at least six months before

not and 30 minutes before the Olympic

299

final, because, you know,

they're going to keep that from you.

300

Scrutinize the ride,

301

look at the bar chart that they used

to see who's slowing the team down, who's

302

pick it up too much and then tell you

that you're in the final.

303

It's it's brutal.

304

But but that's what I mean.

305

It was

so that around the baggage carousel, hey,

306

you're off the team sort of thing.

307

Where it's some of the stories

that I heard, but you just told us

308

that you actually got kicked off the team

multiple times.

309

And I know the people at British

310

Cycling like, once their head is made up,

you know, once their decision is made.

311

I mean, how did

312

you get back into the selection like,

other than performing?

313

I mean, mentally going through

314

that multiple times and then coming out

the other side eventually.

315

And we'll get into this later with,

316

with some amazing results,

including the Olympic gold medal.

317

But yeah, what was what was that like?

318

And how did you how did you get stuck

319

in, as you said, and, and combat that?

320

it was all for remember getting

the letter because you had to apply

321

for the Olympic Development Program,

which was, sorry, the academy.

322

So I was on the Olympic

development program for sprint,

323

then the Olympic Development program

for endurance,

324

and then the next tier in the pyramid

was the Academy.

325

And I applied for two years,

326

and I was told for two years in a row

that I wasn't good enough.

327

and I think those words in those words,

you get a letter.

328

Yeah.

329

I mean, I was told that

I wasn't good enough by a specific coach,

330

but in the letter it's a little bit nicer

word.

331

Not like, you know, but ultimately,

I think it was one coach

332

that maybe didn't believe in me

or didn't think I was good enough

333

that had the power over

whether I go on to the next level or not.

334

And I think I was so young still,

I was only maybe 17,

335

16, 17,

that is young, so, so still pretty young.

336

And I loved what I was doing.

337

I always I'd always dreamt

of being an Olympic and world champion.

338

I didn't care what sport it was in.

339

I was never

I didn't come from a cycling background,

340

so I was never a passionate bike rider.

341

But I loved competition.

342

I loved elite sport.

343

I got goosebumps watching anything

because I felt that I,

344

I don't know, I just love pushing myself

and that feeling of success. So

345

what I was told I wasn't good enough.

346

I remember crying for days on end

and my parents again

347

were the best thing in this journey

because they just kept me believing.

348

I never really believed in myself.

349

Throughout my whole career,

I didn't really believe in myself.

350

I always had to be picked up a lot,

but I guess there was

351

something in a

that just kept me going. I'm.

352

It's really hard to put into words

what that is.

353

I think maybe as a parent

354

you would know more because my, my dad

355

especially,

you always knew there was something in me.

356

I think you can kind of see it in kids,

whether they've got that

357

internal motivation to keep going when new

people tell you you're not good enough.

358

I remember when I used to swim,

359

something that sticks with me is that my

we used to have to get up really,

360

really early for swimming sessions

before school, and my parents said,

361

if you wake us up, we will take you.

362

So I had to set my alarm and wait

my parents up and they would take me.

363

So it never came from them.

364

It was always for me

because I wanted to do it.

365

And I think now as a pair of myself,

I think, wow, that's actually really

366

powerful because you hear about kids

living through the parents type thing.

367

It's their parents

dream, it's not their kids dream,

368

and the parents want them to do it

more than they want to do it themselves.

369

But that was never the case with me.

370

I always wanted to do it,

and I don't really know.

371

Well, I can't really answer that question.

372

And I think going back to your question,

Bobby, it's more

373

that that was just it drives inside me

that kept me going.

374

And I had the support from my parents

who would help me find a coach,

375

and I just kept training.

376

And then I went to

those national championships, did well.

377

And then it was a different coach,

Paul Manning,

378

who I had a very good relationship

with that obviously saw the talent in me

379

and maybe the hard work that I would have

had to have done, not being on the team

380

to get to that point.

381

and then that was it.

382

So, don't want to go too much into it,

but it sounds like, eihter.

383

You've got to be mentally extremely strong

to work under pressure

384

or to take the decision

to new that you out,

385

or you got to have a really good support

network, right?

386

Like close friends or a partner

387

or having, your parents on your side,

your siblings.

388

Otherwise, if you're 17, you got to,

actually know you're not good enough.

389

Maybe nicer words in the letter,

that's hard to take, right?

390

Really hard, 100%.

391

If it wasn't for them, it wasn't for.

392

So my husband,

who was my boyfriend at the time,

393

his dad was actually coaching me.

394

So it's Luke Rowe.

395

So my husband is Luke Rowe’s brother

Luke Rowe’s dad.

396

He's been a coach for many, many,

many years.

397

Was coaching me at the time.

398

And they all just stuck,

you know, got behind me,

399

kind of stuck together,

kept supporting me.

400

I kept right in, obviously.

401

but if it if it wasn't for them,

there's no way I would have kept on.

402

I would have listened to them and thought,

I'm not.

403

I'm not going to be good enough.

404

Maybe I'd have tried another sport.

405

and I think, you know,

that is half the battle,

406

especially with young, young kids.

407

It's so much about the

the support network.

408

Otherwise

it would be so easy to just give up

409

because you need those parents to drive

you up and down the country.

410

You need the coach to to still believe

411

in you and say, okay, that person's told

you you're not good enough.

412

But we still believe.

413

And if you're still enjoying it, then

let's crack on and see what we can do.

414

Wow. Yeah,

415

you absolutely hit that on the head.

416

I mean, you have to have

that support around you, but

417

so we've talked about the pressure

418

Let's hear about your positive memories

of of the games.

419

I mean, there's a lot that goes into it.

420

And we know that the pressure is there.

421

But tell us some of the good stuff.

422

Oh where do I start?

423

It was incredible.

424

Everything about it,

you know, it was my dream.

425

And to be at a home Olympic

Games was just amazing.

426

I remember pressure, but good pressure

because we were flying at the time.

427

we actually broke six consecutive world

records with the three in London as well.

428

So we we'd broken three beforehand

and then we broke

429

three in each round of the Olympic Games.

430

But I was sharing a room

in the holding camp with Laura

431

Kenny, she was Laura Trott at the time,

432

and we got a newspaper through the

through the door of the hotel,

433

and it had something like most

likely gold medals of the London Olympics.

434

And we were number one.

435

And we said, oh my goodness, there, hang

in this medal around my neck

436

before we've got on the track, you know,

but we work with,

437

Professor Steve Peters,

438

the psychologist, psychiatrist,

439

and he was amazing and still is amazing.

440

I, you know, seeing him up all day long,

I still speak to him now.

441

And I'm having a wobble about motherhood,

442

because I'm a big worrier,

and I worry about everything.

443

but he was so instrumental

to so many of our performances

444

because there was that pressure on us,

but we just had the best time.

445

I was only what was I, 21?

446

So I was so young at the Olympics

and it was just one big party,

447

really, from,

448

you know, the moment we got there

and we had all of our,

449

all of our kit GB kit,

went to the Olympic Village and we saw

450

all these superstars from other teams

and it was just the best feeling.

451

And although we were nervous,

we knew we were flying because we'd

452

we'd ridden a world record in training

before

453

we got to the, the Olympics.

454

and then yeah,

455

in terms of the,

the race in, it all went perfectly.

456

We rode three world records.

457

We nearly, caught America in the final.

458

And then after the games was

where I could really, really enjoy it

459

because obviously leading up to the race,

that's all you're thinking

460

And you don't really let yourself

think that it's the Olympics.

461

And that's what Steve Peters helped us do.

462

You know, this was just another race.

463

This is what we would have been doing day

in, day out.

464

yeah.

465

To could just control the controllables

what we were in control of.

466

And that was going as fast as we could

467

on a bike, around a wooden bowl.

468

And that's how he would put it

into perspective for us.

469

but after that, it was just

we were like superstars.

470

Sir Paul McCartney was stood in the crowd.

471

He got the whole crowd singing

Hey Jude stood on the podium.

472

I remember thinking,

I need to soak this in

473

as much as I can, because this moment

is going to be gone so quickly.

474

But oh my goodness, this is just amazing.

475

Oh, my dreams have come true.

476

You know, I've dreamt of being world

an Olympic champion.

477

I became world champion

478

And then this was the Olympics

and my family and friends were there.

479

And then we just partied, you know,

and we got to do some amazing things

480

after the games from meeting very,

481

very famous people, going out nightclub

and every single night,

482

going on holidays.

483

Yeah. It was just a very,

484

a whirlwind, a whirlwind

and something that I'll never forget.

485

And, wasn't it,

486

that moment or the day

you want your medal?

487

Wasn't it like these golden afternoon

of British sports or something?

488

Please explain that a little more

to our, to our listeners.

489

Sure. Yeah.

490

So it was the 4th of August 2012,

and it was deemed Super Saturday by

491

the British media because it was the day

that Great Britain won six gold medals.

492

So. Oh, you're going to this will test me

now, I knew those three in athletics.

493

So it was Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg

Rutherford us on the track and then I

494

believe there were two in the rowing lake

495

but yeah, don't quote me on that.

496

You got all of them.

497

our producer is is from the UK

498

and he put this all down, so.

499

Oh, nice. Nice memory there.

500

Nice memory there. Yeah.

501

So that was Super Saturday.

502

So yeah, it was just unbelievable.

503

I remember, you know, getting back to the

the room and my phone had gone crazy.

504

just the opportunities we got after were.

505

Yeah, it's really even hard

to put it into words.

506

It just gave me goosebumps.

507

And we felt like we were just

living on a cloud for, well, not that long

508

because we had to do a World Cup

in Glasgow in October and it was hell.

509

I got dropped and it was the worst team

pursuit I've ever done in my life.

510

If you've ever done a team pursuit,

511

it's the best when you go, well, I'm

the worst if you're not

512

because you start out like a sore thumb

513

and obviously you can't lose someone

when there's three riders.

514

So now with four, you can lose a ride up.

515

But back then you couldn't.

516

So you just had to hang on as long as,

as long as possible.

517

And I was just flapping off the back

for about the last kilometer.

518

Here's my little experience

was that I was, I believe, 16

519

German championships four kilometers.

520

I mean, I still had like these points,

race style bike with flat spokes.

521

We didn't have discs.

522

I mean, I'm talking 1986. Maybe.

523

And so I was the third spare.

524

So the first guy flopped,

the spare guy went, oh, I feel sick.

525

The next spare guy “ohhh but no”,

and they came to me.

526

I was not even the picture really said,

527

okay Jens listen,

we need two pulls Jens, two pulls.

528

It was actually in Cottbus, the track

you talked about the 330 meter, concrete.

529

And I said, look Jens,

we want three pulls.

530

And and you go up

and you scream on top of your lungs.

531

Three men left so I said okay, okay,

two pullsI can do this.

532

Yeah.

533

So I started last position and I did

my two pulls and there was three men left.

534

And then we won a bronze medal.

535

So that's how I

actually had a bronze medal.

536

at the junior championships.

537

But the other ones

were absolutely absolute legends.

538

But I just jumped in, like,

because nobody else wanted to.

539

And I know what you mean.

540

It is terrible if you're not in shape

or if your technique is not good

541

and you're afraid when you come down,

you're too close to touch the wheel

542

or too far off,

so you have to sprint to catch the,

543

There's so many things

that could go wrong, I know.

544

Yeah.

545

so the team pursuit

546

was obviously your jam, and,

you know, you,

547

like you

548

the Olympics in 2012,

549

So, you know, you were in the know

550

of everything that was going

on, you know, the gears and whatnot.

551

I know it's

552

it's what, three Olympic cycles later and,

553

you know, it sounds like you're

you're still kind of attached to us.

554

UK cycling, the track program.

555

And as a commentator,

how have you seen the sport of women's

556

team pursuit changed from

557

Until now, for example, I don't know,

558

gears, equipment, pacing times.

559

How has it changed?

560

yeah, it's changed quite a lot.

561

The gears are a lot bigger,

even though we rode

562

pretty big gears, but now even bigger

because they're getting faster.

563

So already we were spinning about.

564

I think my average cadence in the Olympic

final was about

565

122 is so fast.

566

but and that was on,

567

I think, something like 100.8in gear.

568

So I don't know what that would be kind of

chainring versus sprocket,

569

but it was pretty big,

but now a lot bigger.

570

The positions have changed a lot.

571

So if I look back at my position,

it was awful.

572

My head was right in the sky.

573

now obviously we've got a more head

to hands position

574

that you see on the road as well.

575

So you've come up higher, but you've got

your kind of frontal areas a lot smaller.

576

and then

577

in terms of

pacing, I think they use in longer terms.

578

So you're getting more rest than what

we were when it was three kilometers.

579

So you'll see riders do in longer

turns up to sometimes three laps.

580

I mean, I know Katie

Archibald was an absolute machine

581

and unfortunately she's not going

to the Olympics because she, she broke

582

her leg only a couple of weeks ago,

but she was doing monster

583

turns in the British team pursuit squad,

and it just enables everyone

584

to have more rest and more recovery,

to be able to then give more on the front.

585

But there the

586

the probably the biggest changes that

I've seen, technology will always change.

587

So they've probably got a lot of faster

equipment now, faster skin.

588

So even though we did a lot of testing,

we had

589

specific

skin suits made for us for the Olympics.

590

We did do a little bit of wind

tunnel work, but not a huge amount.

591

And then, yeah,

I mean, our bikes were great at the time,

592

but even even

they will be getting faster and faster,

593

which is what we're seeing on the track

and on the road.

594

All these records

are being broken every year.

595

So yeah, I'm sorry Jensie.

596

I just have one more follow

up question to that. So

597

when you're

598

on the front pulling in a team

pursuit versus

599

when you're fourth in the draft,

what is the difference there?

600

Like what do you what what are you pulling

to basically pace a team.

601

And what what

do you have to sustain to recover?

602

Okay, I got to try to think back

to what I used to do now,

603

I believe

when I was on the front of the team

604

pursuit squad, I'd have been doing about

605

450W versus

606

about 270 280 in the line.

607

So quite a lot, quite a big difference.

608

Yeah.

609

And then off the start

I'd probably hit over

610

1000W in the start

because our start was fast.

611

we used to come out quite hard

612

as we had quite the three of us were fast.

613

So myself, Laura and Joanna.

614

Joanna was in, so it was Laura.

615

where were we now?

616

Laura man one and then Joanna

and then myself at the games.

617

So we'd just get off the,

618

off the mark pretty quick

and then just be able to sustain it,

619

because it wouldn't

take too much out of us.

620

We were all.

621

Yeah.

622

Could sprint over 1000W pretty easily.

623

you mentioned Katie Archibald.

624

do you have any news?

625

for our listeners,

she had the ticket for the Olympics.

626

She was an important

part of the British team.

627

And she actually happened to fall over

in her garden, and, yeah,

628

in this weird accident.

629

Broke her leg in a terrible way. Right.

630

So did she needed surgery.

631

And is she back on the bike on recovery,

or do you have any news about her?

632

I don't have any more news

than anyone else who follows her

633

on social media.

634

She could have won three gold medals.

635

I'm not going to say quite easily,

but she was looking very, very good for

636

for three golds for the omnium, Madison

and the team pursuit on the track.

637

And then.

638

Yeah, like you said,

she had a freak accident in the garden.

639

no no no no more than that really

broke her leg in a couple of places.

640

Required surgery

and is now, rehab, not back on the bike.

641

Yeah.

642

The recent post I saw,

I think she'd just come out of a cast

643

because she was saying

644

how she'd lost so much muscle,

you know, when it's in a cast.

645

But I'm not sure exactly where she is

now, but it's just heartbreaking.

646

obviously, you know, when you're so close

647

to the Olympic Games in the shape

she was in, I just.

648

Yeah.

649

Hope she's got a lot of support

behind her, because

650

I'd love to see her come back from it.

651

Over here in the US.

652

You know,

we don't know so much about track racing.

653

You know, it's not super popular.

654

Can you just give a short few word

answer to explain the track events

655

that are going to be in the Olympics

this year?

656

starting off with the team

pursuit, team pursuit, obviously

657

four kilometers is for women or for men,

658

and it's what it says on the tin.

659

You just share the workload, try

and get from A to B as quickly as you can.

660

So 16 laps around the track,

the time is taken

661

on the third rider that crosses the line.

662

Okay,

this is one that I kind of understand,

663

but maybe you could shed a little bit

more light on it.

664

The team sprint.

665

Yeah.

666

So team sprint again is a sprint event.

667

So as quick as you can go

for three laps, but

668

one rider will pull off each time.

669

So you start with three.

670

Then the front rider will lead off.

671

Two riders slot in behind.

672

He'll go as fast as he can off.

673

She'll go as fast as she can swings off,

let the other two riders through.

674

They will then do another lap.

675

The front rider swings off

676

and that will leave

that one rider left to do that last lap.

677

And again,

it's the fastest team that wins.

678

Okay, how about the keirin,

679

I've seen this before

and I still don't really understand it.

680

Okay, so the keirin, it's

the one with the funny bike.

681

I always try and how I explain it.

682

So there's like a a motorbike

that gets the riders up

683

to speed, that swings off

with two and a half laps to go.

684

I believe I wasn't a sprinter,

so I didn't pay too much attention to it.

685

And then they just fight it out then.

686

So I think there's normally about,

687

I want to say

688

6 or 8 riders in a final,

689

and then it's just absolute carnage

for two and a half laps where they sprint

690

behind the dirt or the dirty,

so the motorbike is pulled off

691

and then they give it hell for leather

and see who crosses the line first.

692

But it's all argy bargy and there's always

crashes and it's so fast.

693

And I hate watching it

because it makes me very nervous.

694

The way they explained it to me

when I was young, is the

695

keirin is the event

where places three and five crash

696

and slide across the finish line

that’s how they explained it to

697

me? Right?

698

That basically backs up

what you just said, right?

699

Yeah, it is exactly that.

700

There's always crashes you oh,

there's always riders

701

trying to get into gaps

that aren't even there.

702

And then it just ends in

I mean, it's amazing to watch, but

703

I yeah, I never enjoyed it

when I did a little bit of sprints

704

in myself,

I just went from the gun and got caught.

705

Hence why I got kicked off

that program was the, I think the sprint,

706

is, is pretty self-explanatory,

so we won't have to go through that.

707

But can you shed a little

bit of light on the omnium?

708

Yes. So

709

that's actually changed quite a lot

since I was riding.

710

there's four races in the omnium now,

so there's a scratch race,

711

individual pursuit, elimination

race at a points right.

712

And that is then combined to the total.

713

So your your combined points

then give you that overall score.

714

So it's basically the best of a collection

of different races.

715

And the Madison we've seen this one.

716

This one is kind of known in the US.

717

But explain a little bit about the Madison

okay.

718

So the Madison is the longest race

I think maybe by the points race

719

you're in teams of two and you're

both riding around the track, but

720

only one rider is in the race at a time,

721

and it's almost like a relay race.

722

When you reach your partner,

you swing them in

723

using your hand, handsswing,

and then they will take over and you rest.

724

Then at the top of the track

while they're racing around the bottom.

725

And when they catch you again,

they use the hand sling you in.

726

And again there's loads of crashes.

Is that absolute carnage?

727

You can hardly follow

what's going on, but it's brilliant.

728

So if you wouldn't

have done the team pursuit

729

if you weren't a team pursuit

specialist of those other Olympic

730

events that we just talked about

and you explained so well,

731

which one would you go for

if you couldn't pick the team pursuit?

732

Well, there was only the team pursuit

and the omnium

733

that were available to to us

when we were riding as endurance riders.

734

And I'd actually ridden a few omnium,

735

it was myself and Laura that would go in

for that spot at the Olympics.

736

so I medaled in a few World Cups

that I've done in the omnium.

737

So I did enjoy that.

738

But Laura was obviously Laura,

so she got the spot

739

and then I enjoyed the Madison as well.

740

So myself and Laura have been national

Madison champions.

741

and I loved it.

742

So to be honest, all of them.

743

I really like track racing.

744

if I had to pick one,

I'd probably go Madison,

745

because I really like the thought

of riding racing with someone else

746

and being able to share that

with someone else.

747

Like the team pursuit.

748

In a way,

I really liked that collective goal,

749

working together with other people to

to reach it and then target.

750

But I enjoyed the omnium as

well, so it's hard to answer.

751

in your

752

last training camp or last days or,

you know, maybe not days,

753

but weeks before the World

Championships, the Olympics.

754

How would your training be looking like?

755

I mean, you train for an event

756

that's like just a little more

than three minutes, right?

757

Or maybe four and a half or four minutes

nowadays.

758

Is it just all anaerobic?

759

Max, Max, Max, max

760

and just suffer until you got, like,

lactic acid, like coming out of your ears

761

or you actually, do like some normal

three hour, like, endurance rides as well.

762

Also, just all on the track and full gas.

763

No. So we did a Pre-Olympic camp

in New York.

764

we used to do a lot of camps in Mallorca,

and we would combine a lot of road,

765

a lot of our training with our efforts.

766

So we would just do

general three hour rides.

767

We didn't do a lot of riding without,

with our efforts.

768

A lot of our rides had effort.

769

So the, I guess the easiest type of ride

770

we would do if it wasn't a rest day

would be like a zone two ride.

771

So kind of just at that niggly type

pace for a couple of hours.

772

but we would also do a lot of efforts.

773

So 20/40s was a big one.

774

I don't know if you're,

775

you know, Mallorca, but

there's a very famous climb Sa Calobra.

776

And we used to have to do 20/40s up there.

777

So 20s full gas as hard as you could,

and then 40s

778

just basically to, to keep you upright

because on Sa Calobra it’s pretty steep.

779

So to just keep moving,

you still probably have to do.

780

I was probably still having to do around

I dunno, at least 150,

781

if not 200 watts and then Bam, go again.

782

And we do kind of blocks of

783

maybe like ten minutes at a time,

which was pretty tough.

784

And then we would do

a lot of split days as well.

785

So we might do a two hour zone

to ride in the morning,

786

and then in the afternoon we'd go up

and down the coast and do capacity for so

787

three minutes, trying to average

as high power as you can.

788

So not so full.

789

Got a full gas from the off,

but just to try and measure your effort

790

throughout three minutes and try and have

the highest average that you could.

791

And that was really hard.

792

So a lot of specific training,

but we'd still probably be doing

793

at least

794

15 hours on the road awake, I would say.

795

But very specific to team pursuit effort.

796

Well, that that's a great transition

797

because obviously, again,

you were doing a lot of road riding,

798

a lot of training on the road,

and you also raced a lot on the road.

799

you know, the Commonwealth Games

you did Fleche Wallone

800

You came to the Tour of California.

801

You even did the the race in Philadelphia,

which was the biggest race in America

802

back then.

803

You did Strade Bianche,

Tour Down Under, Giro d'Italia feminine.

804

I mean, you raced all over the world

on the road.

805

how how was how was that experience

after coming off such a successful career

806

on the track and then getting to do

all these different road races?

807

I actually love the road and I race

quite a lot on the road before and whilst

808

I was still training on the track,

so I actually got,

809

I medaled in the under 23

national championships back in.

810

I think it was 2008,

so I would have been 18.

811

And then I got signed into Vision One,

which was Nicole Cooke's team,

812

and she, won the Beijing road race.

813

yeah.

814

One of British, Britain's most successful

road women.

815

she had a team called Vision One.

816

So I did a lot of race it out in Belgium

when we went out and stayed in Italy

817

for a training camp,

did a few big races back then.

818

So something

that I always really enjoyed.

819

So after the track and when I transferred

onto the road, that's

820

when I kind of really focused on it

for a few years.

821

yeah, I again, it was very,

very different from the track.

822

We were allowed to live

where we wanted to live.

823

So when I was on the track,

we had to be based in Manchester

824

with the British team,

825

and if we were on the road

then we could be wherever we wanted

826

because it was,

827

you know, down to our road contracts

and our road teams to be happy

828

with where we were.

829

I always stayed in the UK.

830

and then kind of flew out

to races from there.

831

But yeah, I love I love the road.

832

I was, I was okay.

833

And if I've carried on after 20 18

when I stopped,

834

I think I probably would have carried

on doing better than that.

835

I've done in 2018

836

I just felt that I achieved everything

837

and more that I ever dreamt of,

and I wanted to start a family,

838

something not really cycling related

when you get to Commonwealth Games

839

and for me, as an outside European,

what is going on there?

840

Sometimes you be England,

sometimes you be the United Kingdom,

841

and sometimes you are Great Britain.

842

Well, what is all that about?

843

Like can you like make it like easy

and on the break it down for me

844

as a stupid continental European

because how can you have three different

845

nationalities for the Commonwealth Games,

846

for Olympics, for whatever

the World Championships and so on?

847

Oh God, don't ask me.

848

I have no idea. I just do what I'm told.

849

I mean, obviously Great Britain is made up

of different countries, so England, N.

850

Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

851

So I actually live in Wales,

but I'm English.

852

but yeah.

853

So in the Commonwealth Games

you would compete as either England, N.

854

Ireland, Scotland and Wales

855

and when it's the Olympics or the World

Championships it's Great Britain.

856

So you would have athletes,

English athletes,

857

Welsh athletes, Scottish athletes

that will all compete for Great Britain.

858

Thank you very much for clarifying that.

859

Great.

Not just a pretty face there, Jensie.

860

That's a great question.

861

I think we all struggle with that one.

862

you know, this year in the tour de France,

863

Yonas van ago had, you know,

he finished second in the tour de France.

864

I don't think

he needs to be sad about that.

865

But after his crash down in Pay Basque

866

he had a very similar injury

867

which was a, snapped

rib cage and collapsed lung.

868

you also spent ten days

in, in the hospital.

869

Can you give us a little bit of info

870

on the recovery back to full convalescence

after that sort of injury,

871

because it had us all kind

of scratching our heads

872

this year, watching him recover

so fast and perform so well in the tour.

873

Yeah, it was remarkable, to be honest,

because I could somewhat

874

relate to, you know, what he had

come back from.

875

So I had a very bad accident. Yeah.

876

Like you said in 2014,

I was out just with a club run,

877

a local club run,

a group of guys, actually,

878

and we were on our way back

and it was raining.

879

Typical Wales, and there was a pothole

that was covered in water

880

and someone in front of me went into it,

881

lost his hands on his

balls, went over the bars,

882

and then I had nowhere to go.

883

So I went into the back of him

over my bars.

884

Initially, when I hit the floor.

885

I think you do this as a rider.

886

You kind of think, am I okay?

What have I done?

887

It must have been a split second later,

the 100 kilo

888

ex rugby player rode into my back.

889

did all of that damage.

890

So the impact broke ten ribs

and punctured my lung.

891

And initially

I remember thinking or saying,

892

I will never ride a bike again,

and I thought I was going to die.

893

It was.

894

It was all for I remember

being in the ambulance initially.

895

I was on the ground for an hour

because the the ambulance took

896

that long to come

and there was injuries everywhere.

897

because on the face of it, I looked okay.

898

I was the last one to be seen because,

you know, some people would hit their head

899

and it looked catastrophic,

but actually they were fine.

900

Even so, all of my injuries were internal

and I was still conscious. So

901

when I got

902

into the ambulance,

I was in a lot of pain.

903

And then I was in intensive

care for a couple of nights

904

because I broke my wrist,

two of my ribs in two places,

905

and they said if that bit of rib

had become kind of dislodged,

906

it would be floated

with my internal organs and that would be

907

really like catastrophic,

probably wouldn't survive.

908

And then with the punctured lung,

909

you would be in intensive care anyway

because I had a chest drain.

910

because I had a pneumothorax

on a human thorax.

911

So I had,

912

like, fluid in and air out.

913

So I had to have a chest drain.

914

I mean, it took ages.

915

I don't know how I did it.

916

It's incredible because I

917

don't think I touched the bike

918

for six weeks at least,

and then slowly got back on my bike.

919

I mentally I was petrified.

920

I remember having to go down

the longest stretch of road

921

that I knew of, where I could see

as far into the distance as possible,

922

so I knew I didn't have to brake,

or I could see very clearly.

923

I could see every hole on the road

because I was just, yeah, really worried.

924

But yeah, it didn't take me long

to get back and wanting to race again,

925

even though initially

I said I'm never riding a bike again,

926

it was even when I had a chest strain,

I was begging the physio in the hospital

927

to take me down to the gym in the hospital

and let me ride a bike

928

in the hospital because, yeah,

I think we're not all there are.

929

We are athletes.

930

but I was so keen to get back on the bike

after initially getting over

931

the trauma of the accident.

932

and then I think I raced again, maybe.

933

I don't

934

think probably about four months later,

935

so maybe 16 weeks ish.

936

But it was the worst pain I've ever felt.

937

I think if you've ever broken ribs,

it is so.

938

They're so painful.

939

And obviously I've broken ten, so

I had to have an IV epidural where they,

940

I think, kind of block your upper body

in terms of the pain that you're feeling.

941

they give it to, mothers when they have

942

a caesarean section

when they cut the baby out.

943

so I had that for a couple of days

and then had to

944

just be on very high painkillers

after that.

945

just a quick explanation.

946

The human body has 12 pairs of ribs. 24.

947

So if Dani broke ten roughly,

we could say she broke half of him.

948

That is actually terrible.

949

But fascinating

that you came back from that.

950

Yeah.

951

So I broke eight separate ribs,

but two of them were broken in two places.

952

So, yeah, nearly all of them on one side.

953

but yeah, I think I just wasn't done

with, with cycling.

954

And I wanted to, Yeah, ride again.

955

I actually really wanted to be selected

for the Rio Olympics on the road.

956

And actually, again,

957

I did everything that I was supposed to do

in terms of the British selection.

958

but some another rider

got selected over me

959

because they could double up

in the time trial on the road race.

960

but yeah, that doesn't matter.

961

In hindsight, I think it's quite good

that I've got one Olympic memory,

962

and that's the the London Olympics

where we won gold.

963

But I love, you know, road

racing was something that I did for

964

what, nearly

so five years, after the Olympics.

965

But I guess fully focused

for probably two, sort of six.

966

Well, ‘16, ’17, ‘18,

where I was riding for, for Wiggle

967

and then for a while deals with my of,

968

well, an easier question.

969

as a woman, it is it requires

more planning to become a parent.

970

Right.

971

So my wife,

I mean, we have six children, right?

972

I'm a cyclist.

973

So I was gone a lot.

974

So in all this,

my wife is actually the hero, right.

975

Because she had to do a lot of work

when I was gone.

976

Exploring the world for you as a woman,

977

was it a if we allowed to ask?

978

It was a was it a conscious decision

to wait for after the career

979

because nowadays,

the Olympic circle is for years.

980

If you have a child within the first year,

you could still have a comeback

981

in the next three years.

982

Did that ever cross your mind

or is it not?

983

I won't have children when I have time for

them and I can stay at home.

984

It was actually quite different

985

You know, in the last

sort of 2 or 3 years, it's changed a lot.

986

And we're seeing a lot more athletes or

bike riders coming back after motherhood.

987

But it was something that I never wanted

to do for me and my psychology.

988

I if I was doing something I wanted to

just do that one thing.

989

and I had to be so selfish as an athlete,

990

and my thought process was,

991

I don't want to go to bed at night,

be woken up by a baby

992

and be annoyed because I've got four hours

training the next day

993

I want to be woken up by a baby and think,

994

okay, I'll just have to drink

more coffee tomorrow and it's fine.

995

I didn't want to feel any sort of,

996

I don't know, all almost

997

anger on on any child

that I was bringing into this world

998

because they were going to have

a detrimental effect on my training.

999

I just wanted to be a mum after

00:54:24,760 --> 00:54:28,080

after that and just focus on

being the best mum I could be.

00:54:28,080 --> 00:54:32,040

And that's not taking anything away

from these women who who are coming back

00:54:32,040 --> 00:54:36,360

from, being a mother or having a child

and coming back into the sport.

00:54:36,360 --> 00:54:39,720

I salute them because I think it's amazing

and I couldn't have done it.

00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:43,440

You know, I just couldn't of

been the person that I am.

00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:49,120

because I felt

00:54:49,120 --> 00:54:52,160

that I'd achieved everything and more

than I ever dreamt of on the bike.

00:54:52,160 --> 00:54:55,320

And I was 28, nearly 29.

00:54:55,320 --> 00:54:57,880

I didn't know how long it was

going to take for me to have a baby.

00:54:57,880 --> 00:55:00,280

I had enough periods for ten years.

00:55:00,280 --> 00:55:02,920

My bone density was low.

00:55:02,920 --> 00:55:06,640

you know, I was obviously very lean,

00:55:06,720 --> 00:55:10,120

so I was worried that it was going to take

quite a long time as well.

00:55:10,120 --> 00:55:13,560

I had no idea if my body's

going to allow me to have a child.

00:55:14,080 --> 00:55:18,120

00:55:19,040 --> 00:55:20,840

yeah. Here we are, two kids later.

00:55:22,560 --> 00:55:23,560

Wow. Right.

00:55:23,560 --> 00:55:25,360

Well, I know

we're getting towards the end of our time,

00:55:25,360 --> 00:55:29,040

but I have one last question, because

very rarely do we get somebody like you

00:55:29,280 --> 00:55:33,360

who was an ex athlete, a commentator,

00:55:33,760 --> 00:55:36,480

and you also run Rowe

00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:41,280

and King coaching with your husband

and brother in law, Luke,

00:55:41,560 --> 00:55:46,200

who has a lot of knowledge around training

00:55:46,200 --> 00:55:50,400

because he's been with the, Sky and Ineos

for, for a very, very long time.

00:55:50,720 --> 00:55:55,320

So my question is this with your insider

knowledge and experience as a coach,

00:55:55,920 --> 00:56:00,280

how can you explain or what do you think

is the the reason

00:56:00,280 --> 00:56:04,320

why we have to answer the question

all the time?

00:56:04,320 --> 00:56:07,600

How are these riders going so fast?

00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:09,120

What do you think?

00:56:09,120 --> 00:56:11,280

What would be your answer to that?

00:56:11,280 --> 00:56:13,480

Oh, that's a great question.

00:56:14,520 --> 00:56:16,080

I think it's the combination

00:56:16,080 --> 00:56:20,600

of everything that they are, exposed to.

00:56:20,640 --> 00:56:25,280

So the best nutritionist,

the best equipment, the best coaches,

00:56:25,880 --> 00:56:28,560

and the best kind of lifestyle

00:56:28,560 --> 00:56:31,800

they are all now, I'm talking to Luke.

00:56:31,800 --> 00:56:36,120

I know this, and they are putting

everything into their bike.

00:56:36,120 --> 00:56:36,360

Right.

00:56:36,360 --> 00:56:39,200

And they do not have a life

outside of bike riding.

00:56:39,200 --> 00:56:43,000

They are eat, sleep, breathe in, bike ride

and now at altitude

00:56:43,680 --> 00:56:46,160

when they are not racing,

00:56:46,160 --> 00:56:48,920

they are eating right all the time.

00:56:48,920 --> 00:56:51,920

In the off season,

they're not putting on ten kilos anymore.

00:56:52,280 --> 00:56:54,320

They might put on a couple,

but they're not.

00:56:54,320 --> 00:56:57,600

You know, Luke used to come home, party

every night, put on ten kilos,

00:56:57,600 --> 00:57:00,280

and even him in the last few years

wasn't they?

00:57:00,280 --> 00:57:04,200

He couldn't do that because he wouldn't

be able to compete in tour Down Under

00:57:04,200 --> 00:57:06,800

if he was doing that,

or even the classics.

00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:10,680

So I think it's just that combination

of everything.

00:57:10,680 --> 00:57:12,160

And in terms of training,

00:57:13,600 --> 00:57:15,320

they're just

00:57:15,320 --> 00:57:19,320

that training, the demands of they're

then, you know, there, there are altitude

00:57:19,320 --> 00:57:22,800

that they know what they have to do

is very scientific now.

00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:27,320

So they know exactly what what specially

they're going to have to put out on lap

00:57:27,360 --> 00:57:30,360

on that

for how long it's going to take them.

00:57:30,600 --> 00:57:31,920

And that's what they're training.

00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:34,920

That's what they're doing that day

in day out.

00:57:35,280 --> 00:57:39,400

So their body is is used to the demands

that the race is going to put on them

00:57:39,400 --> 00:57:41,080

when they when they get to that. Right.

00:57:41,080 --> 00:57:44,960

So whether it's the classic season

that they're, that they're targeting now

00:57:45,120 --> 00:57:46,800

or the tour de France or the World

00:57:46,800 --> 00:57:49,960

Championships,

they work back from that goal

00:57:50,120 --> 00:57:51,960

and they'll be training

to the demands of that.

00:57:51,960 --> 00:57:56,040

Then from from when they start,

you know, race training in the winter.

00:57:56,720 --> 00:57:58,480

and that's what it's all about.

00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:00,760

And that's what we do

in our coaching company.

00:58:00,760 --> 00:58:04,000

We, you know, if someone comes to us,

they tell us what they want to achieve,

00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:07,040

whether that's a race or just to complete

00:58:07,160 --> 00:58:10,160

their first ten mile bike ride.

00:58:10,320 --> 00:58:13,280

And then we use the time that they've got

and trained specifically

00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:17,640

to the demands of whatever the,

the challenges that they want to achieve.

00:58:18,680 --> 00:58:20,640

We so need you back on the podcast.

00:58:20,640 --> 00:58:23,400

I just have a very quick, easy question.

00:58:23,400 --> 00:58:27,120

The answer is only one word for all out

for all three of us.

00:58:28,040 --> 00:58:32,400

Maybe we start with a Danny,

If you would be Tadej Pogacar

00:58:32,400 --> 00:58:36,480

this year, would you pick the Vuelta

to win another one?

00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:38,120

Or would you pick to win the words?

00:58:38,120 --> 00:58:39,840

What would you pick?

00:58:39,840 --> 00:58:42,120

Worlds, Bobby.

00:58:42,120 --> 00:58:43,640

Worlds Vuelta.

00:58:43,640 --> 00:58:45,880

For me, that would be historic.

00:58:45,880 --> 00:58:47,400

Nobody ever done that.

00:58:47,400 --> 00:58:50,400

Thank you for the quick answer.

00:58:51,280 --> 00:58:52,000

well, Dani,

00:58:52,000 --> 00:58:55,800

we really appreciate you coming on today

and spending so much time with us.

00:58:55,800 --> 00:58:59,080

you're going to be busy, but first

00:58:59,080 --> 00:59:03,000

and foremost, you get to go and recover

and have a little bit of a vacation.

00:59:03,000 --> 00:59:04,360

So enjoy that as well.

00:59:04,360 --> 00:59:07,560

And we'll,

we'll have to get you back on the podcast

00:59:07,560 --> 00:59:09,000

because we have so many more

00:59:09,000 --> 00:59:12,120

little questions that we could talk about

for so much longer.

00:59:12,320 --> 00:59:14,600

So, enjoy your vacation.

00:59:14,600 --> 00:59:17,600

Thank you very much

for coming on the odd tandem.

00:59:18,120 --> 00:59:19,560

Me thank you for having me.

00:59:19,560 --> 00:59:20,640

It's been brilliant.

00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:24,160

well, that's

everything we have for this week.

00:59:24,160 --> 00:59:29,240

Now, please remember to follow us at Odd

Tandem on TikTok,

00:59:29,520 --> 00:59:33,720

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and wherever

you get your favorite podcasts.

00:59:34,240 --> 00:59:38,200

Thanks a million to Dani

for joining the podcast.

00:59:38,280 --> 00:59:41,240

Also remember,

if you want to see the video version

00:59:41,240 --> 00:59:45,120

of this podcast,

it is up now on our YouTube channel.

00:59:45,160 --> 00:59:50,360

Right now, YouTube.com/@oddtandem.

00:59:51,240 --> 00:59:54,600

And if you want a full,

uninterrupted version of this podcast

00:59:54,600 --> 00:59:58,880

and your name in the titles,

just head to our Patreon

00:59:58,880 --> 01:00:03,920

where you can sign up for $5 a month

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01:00:04,200 --> 01:00:08,520

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01:00:09,000 --> 01:00:13,800

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01:00:13,800 --> 01:00:18,920

Kralik, Brian Colon, Chris Merritt, Tim

Farriss and Jim who have done just that.

01:00:19,240 --> 01:00:23,560

And please remember,

if you want your question in our next

01:00:23,560 --> 01:00:28,040

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01:00:28,240 --> 01:00:32,920

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01:00:33,320 --> 01:00:37,040

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01:00:38,600 --> 01:00:39,640

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01:00:43,440 --> 01:00:46,440

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