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January 12th 2016 |
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After claiming the British junior national title in 2013, Anna
Christian made her debut at a major competition at the
Commonwealth Games the following year and turned professional
with the then Wiggle Honda squad in 2015.
A broken collarbone and wrist in November 2014 interrupted
Christian's start to 2015. Despite the early set back
Christian who combined her season with British Cycling Olympic
Academy in addition to Wiggle Honda went from strength to
strength.
With a season including a mix of UCI races in Europe as well
as domestic racing in Great Britain, from spring classics to
criteriums, to a World Cup at GP de Plouay-Bretagne and a
hilly stage race at La Route de France it has given Christian
a great introduction in to the professional peloton.
After impressing at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships and
Commonwealth Games, Christian has her eye on making the
British team for the 2016 Olympic Games. With the current
depth of talent in Britain and the small team size she is
aware of the challenge of the task. Christian who has
re-signed with the now Wiggle High5 squad for 2016 is hoping
for a strong start as she puts her name forward to selectors.
PelotonWatch: How old were you when you first
started cycling and why did you take up the sport?
Anna Christian: Cycling has been something
I've done since I can remember! I started young at around the
age of five at the youth Isle of Man cycling league (run by Dot
Tilbury). From there the enjoyment started and I got more
involved, I started to go away to the national races with the
Manx youth team, and it went from there into the junior races
and onto senior.
PW: Competed at the Commonwealth Games for
the Isle of Man in 2014 finishing top 20 in both the time
trial and road race what was the experience like?
AC: I loved the racing at the commonwealth
games and I was really happy with the results I came away
with. Being my first games and big international races I
really didn't know how I'd do. It was great to get stuck into
the road race. It was good to be apart of the Manx team, which
is always a laugh with everyone.
PW: Earned a contract with Wiggle Honda for
2015. What did it mean to turn professional with one of the
top women's teams?
AC: I was really happy to turn professional
with Wiggle Honda. They are a great team with such experienced
riders and staff. So it was the perfect environment for me to
develop and learn as a rider. It's great to see how much
they've grown and succeeded as a team over the past three
years, and become world number one for 2016. I remember when
the team was first set up and I really looked up to the Wiggle
girls as inspiration, so it's cool to be apart of that now.
PW: Broke your collarbone and wrist in
November 2014. How did this impact your preparation and start
of your 2015 season?
AC: Breaking my collarbone and wrist at the
end of November set me back in my winter training by a lot
more than I thought it would. I was off the bike a lot longer
than I wanted to be (five weeks in the end). I went out to
Majorca when I could ride on the road again, and came back
with a bad knee, which was another set back. I therefore
started the season further behind than I would of liked to
have been with a lot of catching up to do.
PW: Didn't race a lot in 2015 was it always
the plan to ease you in to racing at the highest level?
AC: I did a mix of racing in Europe with the
team and racing in British national races last year. They gave
me a mixed programme, with a lot early season. I was happy to
do whatever races they raced me in, as I guess it's always
adding to experience. This year I'm hoping to do a few hillier
races suited to me.
PW: Got a mix of racing though from spring
classics to a World Cup in GP de Plouay-Bretagne and a hard
stage race in La Route de France. Happy with your programme?
AC: Yes, the team gave me great opportunities
to ride these races in my first year. I've taken so much from
them and hopefully in the future I can go to these races
looking for a result.
PW: Raced alongside and against some of the
top names in the sport. How important do you think that
experience is going to be for the future?
AC: Wiggle-High5 is full of the top names in
women's cycling. It's great to call them teammates and learn
from them. Being the youngest on the team, it's nice that they
are such humble people and it's never intimidating to ask them
for advice.
PW: Spent 2015 based in Wales with the
British Cycling Olympic Academy while racing with Wiggle.
Different environment how did you find it?
AC: Going on the to British Cycling Academy
and stepping up to the professional ranks with Wiggle-Honda
was a huge step and a big change for me in 2015. I went on to
the programme with a clear focus on the road, and although
it's a road and track programme they were good for letting me
predominately do the road. I found it a change coming from the
Isle of Man where there are so many people to go out training
with to going out by myself for road rides most of the time. I
also had a new coach and a different training routine than I
had the previous year.
PW: You have re-signed with Wiggle High5 for
2016 why did you want to remain with the team?
AC: When I was offered an extension to my
contact I didn't hesitate to say yes. It's a great supportive
team with amazing sponsors. I'm really looking forward to
another year racing in the black and orange!
PW: Had a team camp at the end of 2015 how
did it go and what are your goals for this year?
AC: I really enjoyed the team camp. It was
held in Calpe, Spain, I've never been there before - it's an
amazing place to ride a bike. The roads in that area are
amazing with some challenging climbs, which I loved. It was
great to all get back together again for some training. Also
with the new riders on the team joining, it was good to see
them before the season. It's always good to get away from the
wind and rain for a bit and get some rides in shorts and
jersey!
PW: 2016 is an Olympic year and with a hilly
course is selection something you have your eye on?
AC: It would be a dream to make Rio and with
it being a hilly course, I do have my eye on it. The British
team is going to be a hard team to get on to. Hopefully with a
race programme with hillier terrains, and being back on the
Isle of Man with the same training and mindset I had in 2014,
I can make an impression on the team.
PW: What is the biggest challenge you faced
and the most important thing you learnt in your first year as
a professional?
AC: My biggest challenge was the intensity of
the racing. Last year as my first year as a professional I
lived away from home, so I learnt how to do the washing! |
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