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Alex Manly Interview Junior Track World
Championships |
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August 23th 2014 |
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It has been a whirlwind four and a half years for South
Australian Alexandra Manly. The past twelve months have been
the most exciting culminating with two rainbow jerseys at the
recent Track World Championships in Korea.
Last year Alexandra Manly took bronze in the World Time Trial
Championship and eighth in the road race in Italy. This year
Manly has again split her time between the track and the road,
claiming gold in the U19 IP in January beating then World
Champion Lauren Perry in the process. A brief return to the
road saw her win the time trial at the Oceania Road
Championships in February. Silver and bronze in the road race
and time trial respectively at the Australian Road Nationals
followed before her attention returned to the track.
On the second day of Track Worlds in Korea earlier this month
Manly teamed up with Macey Stewart, Lauren Perry, Josie Talbot
and Danielle McKinnirey to claim her maiden world title in the
team pursuit. The following day Manly was in a league of her
own in the individual pursuit. Qualifying fastest to make the
final before sweeping to gold in 2:24.624, by over three
seconds.
PelotonWatch: You have won gold at Australian Track
Championships, Oceania Road Championships and now World Track
Championships in 2014. It has been quite a year for you.
Alex Manly: Yes a year I won’t forget in a
hurry.
PW: Track Worlds started off for you with the
team pursuit. The new format involved an extra ride to make it
through to the gold medal final. What sort of impact did this
play?
AM: Having three rounds definitely made it
harder, but we had just come from track camp and were well
prepared to back up after the first two rounds. We had a team
focus on control, so we could look after each other as much as
possible. Having three rounds also gave more opportunities for
all our riders, as we used five people in rotation instead of
four and we all got to ride at least twice. I think in
retrospect it may have helped us win gold as our endurance
training held us in good shape.
PW: What did it feel like pulling on your
first rainbow jersey? Were you able to take confidence from
the TP gold in to the individual pursuit the next day?
AM: Putting on the Australian jersey was an
honour in itself, but being able to put on the rainbows was
surreal. It was great to be able share the moment with the
other Aussie girls. I felt very proud. I definitely took a lot
of confidence from our TP gold as I felt it showed we were the
strongest team there.
PW: What went through your mind in the IP
after you crossed the line and looked up at the scoreboard?
AM: It didn’t really click at first but when
I came down off the track and gave Belinda a hug I realized I
had done it.
PW: After the win in the IP you posted on
Instagram "4.5 years ago I never would have imagined this was
possible." What have the past four and a half years been like
and what has been your biggest motivation to get here?
AM: 4.5 years ago was the first time I got on
a track bike at a come and try day at the Adelaide Superdrome.
I remember watching a girl ride into the net which stops the
indoor soccer players kicking their ball onto the track. So
that was where I set my first bike goal, to not crash into
that net. The rest of those 4.5 years I set many little goals
I achieved or am yet to accomplish. I got into SASI (South
Australian Sports Institute) and from there I started to work
towards making an Australian team. My biggest motivation was
my dream to represent my country and also watching Nettie
(Annette Edmondson) race. Nettie has helped me a lot being a
friend and mentor when I have needed. Watching her race always
inspires me.
PW: Overall you must be extremely pleased
with how the five days went?
AM: It was an amazing experience and was
great to be able to achieve all the goals I had set myself for
Track. I thank the Korean Cycling Federation for hosting such
a wonderful event. The Korean people we came in contact with
were so friendly, organised, respectful, helpful and
professional that the experience could not have been any
better. I really wasn’t sure how I would go on the track
against girls from other countries especially the Europeans
where cycling is held in such high regard. It was nice to meet
some of them.
PW: The 333m track was a bit different to
what most are used to. What was it like?
AM: I’m used to wooden 250m tracks so getting
used to the longer concrete track took some time. We had to
readjust the position where we swung in the TP. The good thing
was that all the other teams were in the same boat. As the
track is longer you don’t get as much feedback from your
coach, as the IP was 6 laps instead of 8 and the TP was 12
laps instead of 16.
PW: After doing Road Worlds last year and
Track Worlds this year, how did the experiences differ?
AM: Road worlds felt bigger in the sense that
we had much bigger crowds and the atmosphere was amazing,
probably because the seniors were also racing. However I
enjoyed the more social atmosphere at the track. It’s a lot
easier to support your team mates when they are competing.
Both were awesome experiences and I was lucky enough to have a
great team and support crew with me at both events.
PW: You head off to Europe this week for
preparation for road worlds. As the only member of the team
who went last year do you feel this puts you in a bit of a
leadership role?
AM: Last year’s experience definitely allows
me to advise and help the other girls with what to expect and
how to prepare for the intense environment they will be
confronted with. The competitors and fans get very excited and
speak many different languages and it can distract you at the
start of the race if you’re not really focused. I am very
excited to be able to put the skills I learnt last year to
good use.
PW: Third in the time trial and eighth in the
road race last year. Have you had a look at the courses do you
think they suit you?
AM: Last year suited me really well as the
time trial was very technical and the road race very hard with
crazy hills. I was well prepared for that terrain. This year
I’ve had a strong track focus but the time trial course looks
pretty flat so I should be able to give it a good crack. The
hills in the road race are also not as steep or long as last
year so coming out of a track base I think I have a good
opportunity.
PW: 2014 is your last year as a junior. What
are you hoping for in the new few years?
AM: My dream is to compete at the Olympics.
In the mean time I’ll be trying to step up into the senior
ranks the best I can. I will continue to ride both track and
road for a few years. There are a lot of wonderful Aussie
girls in the seniors like Nettie, Amy Cure, Gracie Elvin and
Tiffany Cromwell and many more that I look up to and hope to
compete with and against soon, I can’t wait.
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