|
|
Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen targets top 10 at Junior Road
World Championships after claiming elite Danish title |
|
|
|
September 26th 2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amalie Dideriksen, Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen (centre) and
Betina Cramer. Photo: Henriette Brandt/Danmarks Cykle Union |
|
|
|
|
|
Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen took up cycling jealous of the
success of her brother but has since confirmed herself as a
rising star in her own right.
In 2015 before she even entered the junior category, Norsgaard
Jørgensen surprised the field in the elite road race at the
Danish Championships to finish second behind dual junior world
champion Amalie Dideriksen.
Despite adding a silver medal at the European Youth Olympic
Festival to her name in 2015, Norsgaard Jørgensen lined up at
the 2016 Championships thinking she didn't stand a chance.
Part of a select group coming to the line the 17 year old
unleashed her sprint to reverse the 2015 result edging
Dideriksen to second.
From there it was a quick switch to the track bike for the UCI
Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland. In
just her second ever track event the young Dane finished
fourth in the points race on the opening day, filling her with
confidence for the omnium later in the week.
Initially disappointed with her results in the omnium
Norsgaard Jørgensen now sees her seventh place finish as good
experience for 2017.
Before then the UCI Road World Championships in Qatar are
calling. With a perfect course for the rising sprinter
Norsgaard Jørgensen is hoping for a top 10 finish, but knows
the combination of heat and limited experience racing against
the top juniors in the World will be her biggest challenge
yet.
How did you first start cycling and how old were you?
I started because of my brother. I was so jealous of all his
medals and success, so I started when I was 8-9 years old.
Did claiming silver medals at the Elite Danish
Championships and European Youth Olympic Festival in 2015 give
you confidence heading in to your first year in the under 19
category in 2016?
Yes it did definitely. Because of these results I started
believing more in myself and so did my trainer, who by the way
is my brother.
Heading in to your National Championships this year
what were your goals? After finishing second last year did you
have higher expectations?
Actually my expectations were not that high. The strong team
BMS, from Denmark, was at start with nine strong riders, so I
didn't think I could stand a chance. But the luck was by my
side, and lucky for me we did finish in a sprint, which is my
strength.
How did the race play out for you? Coming in to the
finish as part of a select group what was going through your
mind?
Coming to the finish in the leading group, a lot was expected
of me I think. But actually I was really calm in the last few
hundred meters. Simply because I didn’t had any expectations
of myself, I hadn’t expected to win – so I was really calm but
still focused.
What does it mean to be the Danish national champion?
Does winning the elite national title while still a junior and
beating experienced professionals make it even more special
for you?
I think it really means so much! I am so happy about my new
title as Danish champion, and even cried when I crossed the
finish line and at the ceremony of the Danish champions
jersey. It was an unreal feeling, so I was and still am really
happy to have won the race.
Less than a month after winning the national title on
the road you were racing on the track at the Junior World
Championships in Switzerland what were your goals?
Since I did my very first track race in January at the start
of 2016 and didn't do any other international races, I didn't
know what I even could expect of myself so my goals were just
to get some experience
Finished fourth in the points race on the opening day
did a strong result give you confidence ahead of the rest of
the week?
It was a really hard race the points race the first day, so
ending fourth definitely gave me some confidence.
You started the final omnium points race in ninth were
you happy with how you had raced so far and what was your plan
for the points race?
I was so disappointed by my omnium results. I failed in the
races were I should have showed some results, but looking back
at it now, I think it's an okay result.
Took a lap and picked up a few sprint points to move
to finish seventh how did the points race go for you?
I took a lap and some points in the last point race, and that
was the plan from the start. My other results weren't
impressive, and before the last race I was number ninth, so I
had nothing to loose, so as my trainer would have said - "You
just go full gas."
Your best result in the omnium was fourth in the IP
among a strong field. Is the IP your favourite event?
It’s funny because actually the IP used to be my least
favourite event. The other starts in the omnium suit me a lot
better. I just managed to mess them completely up, so it was a
good thing that I finally could make a fine result in the IP.
Overall were you happy with your performance in the
omnium?
As I said earlier right after the race and even some weeks
after the race, I was so disappointed by myself. But when I
look back at it now, I think I should give myself I little bit
more credit for my results. I just wish for better luck and
legs for the next World Championships.
How do you find combining road and track? What do you
find to be the biggest challenge moving between the two
disciplines?
My trainer and I have found a fine combination between road
and track. But it hasn't even been a problem at all, because I
had only raced one track race in January before I went for
the Worlds. So it was not much of a challenge.
You have been selected for the Road World
Championships in Qatar a flat course but always plenty of
crosswinds what do you think the biggest challenges will be?
My biggest challenges will without doubt be the heat. I find
it hard to make my body perform in heat, as in Qatar. But
hopefully I will manage because the course is absolutely
perfect for me.
Have shown you have a very quick sprint and with
Worlds on a sprinter friendly course what are your goals?
I think its so hard to say what my goals will be for the
Worlds, because I don't know the half of the girls I will
meet. But I hope for a top 10.
Looking ahead to 2017 do you plan to continue to
combine track and road?
As it seems right now you can't get rid of me just yet on the
track and I will be back again in 2017. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|