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  Amy Cure ends 2014 on top of the World  
 
  December 19th 2014  
     
  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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