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Jessica Allen reflects on 2014 season and Rio 2016
tandem goal |
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November 13th 2014 |
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2014 was a mixed season for 2011 Junior Time Trial World
Champion Jessica Allen. It started with bronze in the under 23
time trial at the Australian National Champions and the elite
Oceania Road Race title. Success continued in Canada but
illness impacted her European campaign. "This year was
definitely a lot better than last year but you always have
your ups and downs. I think the hardest part was my time in
Europe," said Allen. "I was in great form at the start of the
year, knew that I potentially had a spot at the World
Championships and not showing that form when it was needed was
very disappointing."
Despite disappointment of missing out on a hard earned spot in
the worlds team Allen put it aside and with the help of her
coach Donna Rae-Szalinski, has found a new target to focus on.
After starting her career on the track Allen's career will
return to where it started. 2015 will see Allen become a
tandem pilot for two time Winter Paralympic medallist Jessica
Gallagher as they target Rio 2016.
Below Allen talks her 2014 season and her change of focus that
has reenergised her cycling career.
PelotonWatch: After a difficult season in 2013 you
started 2014 on a strong note. Bronze in the U23 time trial at
the National Championships and then your biggest win since
Junior Worlds with the Oceania Road Race title. Did you sense
this was a turning point?
Jessica Allen: Yeah I sure did and it was
quite unexpected too. After such a tough 2013 season I thought
I’d be head cracked for quite a while but once I came back to
Perth, spent time with my family and friends I was a lot
happier on and off the bike. I went into 2014 happy and really
wanting to prove to some people that I am a good bike rider. I
was in a really good headspace and I’m so happy I could turn
around one of my worst seasons on the bike.
PW: You spent most of this season racing in
Canada how did that go?
JA: I had an awesome season in Canada. I
raced for a team called the NCCH p/b DEC Express based in
Ancaster, Ontario. I lived near a lot of the team, we trained
together and did some awesome races like the Philadelphia
Classic and GP Gatineau. I lived with a wonderful host family
and I really enjoyed the environment I was in, so I think that
contributed to a few wins over there early in the season. I
really like North American racing as it’s not as intense as
European racing. I was able to get amongst the races instead
of struggling to hold on like in Europe. I think it is a great
stepping-stone for Europe.
PW: A guest ride for Specialized-lululemon at
the North Star Bike Festival. What did you learn from the
experience?
JA: I think guest riding for
Specialized-lululemon was the best experience of my year. To
guest ride for one of the best professional teams in the world
was amazing and I learnt so much in that week. I loved having
Carmen Small as the team leader, learning new tactics and
seeing how the professional team runs. The girls race
aggressively, respect one another and have so much fun
together. I hope to race in a team like that one day.
PW: By winning the Oceania Title you earned
an extra spot for yourself in the Australian World
Championship team. Did this then become your main goal for the
year?
JA: It sure did. You don’t earn yourself an
extra spot in the Australian worlds team often so this was
definitely a huge goal of mine. After winning the Oceania
title, I was told that I would get to do a stint in Europe
with the Australian national team in the lead up to Worlds. I
thought that my racing and training in Canada would be a great
lead up to a few tours later in the European Season and then
hopefully confirm my position in the national team.
PW: You went over to Europe to ride with the
national team to show you should be selected. Heading over how
were you feeling?
JA: I found out only 3 weeks before La Course
that I was to pay my own way to Europe to race La Course and
Route de France for the national team to confirm my spot for
the senior World Championship team. I was definitely not
confident going over to Europe as I had been struggling with
illness and on/off antibiotics in the previous four weeks. I
wasn’t going to go as I thought I wouldn’t be in good enough
form but that would’ve meant that I miss out on the world
championships. So I decided to give it a go otherwise I’d
always be thinking ‘what if?’
PW: Your first race was to be La Course but
you had to miss it after going to hospital a few days earlier
with kidney stones. How big a disappointment was it?
JA: Missing out on La Course was a huge
disappointment. I know I wouldn’t have been in great form if I
did it but it was one of the biggest women’s races of the year
and I think it’s every female cyclist dream to race on the
Champs Elysées. I was super upset but at the end of the day, I
believe everything happens for a reason.
PW: You then started La Route de France but
had to withdraw on the first day. Another big blow what was
going through you head?
JA: I knew it was going to be a big ask for
me to finish the 7-day tour with my lack of preparation but to
not finish the first day was mentally straining. I knew
immediately that it meant I wasn’t going to worlds and that my
season of racing was pretty much over. I was very grateful to
have my coach Donna Rae-Szalinski and also Loren Rowney there
as they were great support and helped me look at the bigger
picture. There are a lot more bike races out there and looking
after my health should always be my number one priority.
PW: Did you get to the point where you
thought I don't want to do this anymore? I just want to stop
and go home?
JA: Yes definitely. Once I pulled out of the
first stage of Route De France I didn’t even want to think
about racing. So many things had gone wrong in the last month
and I really needed to take a break and get into the right
headspace.
PW: Have the past 2 years been character
building? You have had some hard times but do you feel you are
now walking out the other side stronger because of it?
JA: They definitely have been, last year more
so. The last two years may not have made me physically
stronger but I definitely think I’m mentally stronger. Last
year showed me that if you’re not happy and in a good
environment you won’t succeed on the bike.
PW: You initially started your career on the
track and now you are going back as a tandem pilot. How did
this come about?
JA: While I was in Europe, my coach Donna
asked if anyone knew of a rider that would like to be a pilot
rider for a vision impaired girl in Melbourne aiming to get to
the Rio Paralympics. Tandem riding is something I’ve always
wanted to do as I rode as a pilot rider for a vision impaired
school when I was 14. I had a think about it, thought it’d be
a new and fresh opportunity and said I’d do it.
PW: You said being a tandem pilot was
something you always wanted to do. What is it that excites you
about it?
JA: When I was a pilot rider at the age of
14, I realized how much the vision-impaired riders appreciate
your time and effort to help them achieve something they
cannot do themselves. I’ve always loved team events like teams
pursuits, teams time trials and working my butt off for my
teammates in road races, so being able to help someone else
achieve a goal definitely motivates me and excites me.
PW: This new project seems to have reignited
the fire. Is that fair to say?
JA: Yes I think so. I was originally going to
have a year off the bike to have a mental break, work and
spend more time at home but by doing the tandem racing I can
still be involved in the sport in a more positive way, travel
a bit and also work and spend more time at home.
PW: You are going to attempt to set the WA
Hour record in November with your training partner. Do you
have a particular goal you are looking to set?
JA: I am attempting the hour record this
Saturday the 15th at 10am with my training partner Alisha
Anderson. I rode with Alisha was I was 14 years old and she
hasn’t ridden a lot since then. I’m honestly not sure what we
are going to aim for as Alisha is still getting her fitness
back and none of us have ridden an hour non-stop on the track
before. We are going to have to pace ourselves well,
communicate well and I’m hoping we will do around 120 laps of
the track in the hour.
PW: The World Tandem Hour Record is 42km 930m
set by Lindy Hou & Toireasa Gallagher is this something you
think you might look to target in the future?
JA: The World Tandem Hour Record is honestly
something I haven’t even thought of yet. Our main goal is
representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and if
things are going well I’m sure that record is something we
will look at breaking in the future. |
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