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Amy Cure ends 2014 on top of the World |
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December 19th 2014 |
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2014 has seen Amy Cure confirm herself as one of the best
track endurance riders in the world.
Cure shot herself to attention in 2009 winning gold in the
scratch race and silver in the individual pursuit as a first
year junior at the Junior Track World Championships. The
following year Cure successfully defended the scratch race
crown, went one betting claiming gold in the individual
pursuit as well as taking the team pursuit to make it three
gold. Cure also claimed bronze in the time trial at the Road
World Championships.
Over the next three years Cure consistently picked up medals
across Australian, Oceania and World Championships on the
track but gold eluded her. 2014 would see that change. Two
gold from the individual pursuit and team pursuit at the
Australian Track National Championships. In both events Cure
beat the highly favourited Annette Edmondson and West
Australian team.
Another bronze medal in the team pursuit followed in Cali in
February but it was the points race where Cure stepped up.
Riding a very tactical and impressive race Cure claimed gold
in the Points Race. Becoming only the second Australian after
Kate Bates to have done so.
At the Commonwealth Games Cure was again in the spotlight
claiming bronze in the individual pursuit. In the scratch race
Cure strung out the field so much while leading out Annette
Edmondson to gold she held on to claim silver for herself.
Her track program resulted in a much shorter road season, but
after four victories on the road in 2014 a full road season
awaits Cure in 2015. But first a defence of her points race
title at the Track World Championships is on the horizon.
PelotonWatch: 2014 has been a big year for you. How would you
describe it?
Amy Cure: 2014 has been a massive year for me. It started of
really well at nationals when I claimed my first ever
Australian Championship title. Then on to worlds where I got 2
bronze medals and won my first senior rainbow jersey and
continued to Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where I came home
with 2 medals. It has been a fantastic year full of fun and
I'm so happy that all my hard work I have put in over the last
few years has paid off.
PW: It started with claiming your first elite National
Championships on the track taking gold in both the individual
and team pursuit. What did these mean to you?
AC: These events mean a lot to me. Even know the Individual
Pursuit is not an Olympic event I have a lot of history with
loving this event. The teams Pursuit was an amazing experience
to line up with a good group of girls all from Tassie was
amazing and I must say it was quite satisfying breaking
Western Australian 7 year winning steak.
PW: Were you able to take a lot of confidence out of these
results heading in to the World Championships?
AC: I think we as a county have a lot of really top track
cyclists who are always up there on a world level so I think
anyone who wins a national title can take a lot of confidence
into any race it is they are competing in.
PW: You had a hugely successful Track World Championships.
Bronze in both the individual and team pursuit before a
stunning gold in the points race. What did it feel like
pulling on the rainbow jersey?
AC: It was an amazing feeling putting on those rainbows I
don't think you could have wiped that smile off my face. To
know your the best in the world at what you love doing so much
is a pretty good feeling.
PW: How did winning your first elite rainbow jersey compare to
your Junior World Championship titles?
AC: I think all my 5 rainbow jerseys are pretty special and
they all have their own individual meaning to me on and off
the bike. But obviously my senior jersey is way above any of
mu junior. I think to know you are the best in the world, at
that event, for that year, for open women is personally a way
better felling than being the best junior female at that
event.
PW: More medals followed with bronze in the individual pursuit
and silver in the scratch race at the Commonwealth Games. What
did these mean to you?
AC: Getting a medal in the Individual Pursuit was my goal at
the Commonwealth Games. It would have been nice if it was gold
but I'm sure every other athlete would have also, I was so
happy to bring home my bronze medal. The scratch race is not
my most favourite event and to be honest I did not have high
expectations on myself for a medal. I wanted to go into that
race and support my team mates the best I could so to come
home with a silver medal behind team mate Nettie [Annette
Edmondson] was a pretty amazing feeling.
PW: Named Australian female track cyclist of the year how much
of an honour was this?
AC: This is a massive honour to me to win the female cyclist
of the year against the names of Anna Meares and then even to
be a finalist for the oppy medal against the likes of Alex
Edmondson and Simon Gerrans was a massive honour for all the
hard work I have put in over the years. We are a very
successful county within cycling so it was a massive honour
for me.
PW: Your first chance to wear the rainbow jersey was the UCI
C1 points race as part of the London Track World Cup. How did
wearing it in competition for the first time feel?
AC: It was an awesome feeling putting on those rainbow stripes
and being able to race in them for the first time. I was lucky
to have my partner there and all my friends came over from
Belgium to cheer me on for the first time, it meant so much to
be able to honour those rainbows the best way I could!
PW: You claimed gold in the points race, did wearing the
rainbow jersey make it more special moment?
AC: For sure, I was a little nervous going into the race as I
have never raced in the rainbow colours and I was unsure of
how the race would plan out but I felt so happy to be able to
cross that finish line with the gold. It was a very hard race
and I was really happy with how I road.
PW: As well as gold in the points race you came very close to
beating GB in the team pursuit. Does it give you confidence
going forward knowing you are closing the gap?
AC: GB have shown to everyone and proven why they are the
number 1 and they are continuing to do so. Australia has been
a little behind GB in the Women's teams pursuit for a few year
now and not only GB but other teams as well. However, we have
realised this and every individual of our team is working so
hard together to change this. We have all been so committed to
each other, so to start seeing results and seeing that we are
slowly closing the gap is a really good felling for all of us
and a positive step in the right direction. We realise we
still have a lot of work to do, but as the saying goes 'Rome
wasn't built in a day.'
PW: If you had to pick one moment as the highlight of your
year what would it be?
AC: I don't really have one moment that is the best. They have
pretty important meanings to me but for sure my World
Championship is right up there.
PW: You had a short road season this year due to track
commitments but still came close to your first win as a
professional, finishing second at Trofee Maarten Wynants. How
would you rate your road season?
AC: I had an amazing year with the team at Lotto-Belisol
Ladies and they have really supported me 100 per sent in my
track and road. However, my road season was very short due to
racing Commonwealth Games half way through the road season but
while I was racing on the road I really loved it and I just
wanted to help my teammates out the best I could with the
circumstances. I'm really looking forward to next year and
being able to race a full season with the girls again at
Lotto-Soudal.
PW: What do you have as your main targets for 2015 on both the
track and road?
AC: I think the teams pursuit for sure and closing down that
gap towards the Poms and for sure defending my points race
title on the track. For the road I would love to be able to
play a more bigger role in the team helping my team mates out
more in races and hopefully getting a few wins would be nice
also.
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