Patrick Constable ready for World Championship debut after World Cup sprint win
	February 23rd 2016         Patrick Constable on the podium after team sprint national title with Jai Angsuthasawit (left) and Matt Glaetzer (right). © PelotonWatch           The past twelve months have seen Patrick Constable step up on the international stage following his World Cup debut in January 2015. Now in his third season out of the junior ranks Constable has made a steady progression the past two and a half years since his successful 2013 season. Having come to prominence in his final year as a junior in 2013 taking World, Oceania and Australian titles in the team sprint. Just over a year ago Constable finished fifth in the sprint on debut in Hong Kong adding fourth at the Australian National Championships two weeks later. Having trained with Cycling Australia's High Performance Sprint squad during 2015 Constable was offered a scholarship and has gone from strength to strength since then. After finished seventh in round two of the 2015/16 World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand Constable was selected for the final round in Hong Kong. One year on from his debut for his third World Cup in 12 months. Despite a focus on the team sprint heading in Constable was unbeatable in the sprint as he swept to the biggest win of his elite career. Including dispatching reigning Olympic Champion Jason Kenny on the way. Constable has grabbed the opportunities presented him over the past 12 months impressing Australian coaches and earning him a spot in the team for the 2016 UCI Track World Championships in London, March 2-6. While not getting ahead of himself Constable plans to continue to take advantage of every opportunity presented him with an eye on competing at the Rio Olympics in August. Made your World Cup debut in Cali in January 2015 finishing fifth in the sprint how important was the experience for you? Cali was vital experience for me; I went in with no real expectations other than learning from the experience. The outcome was a bonus, I just took each race as it came at soaked it up. Heading in to Hong Kong what were your goals? Heading into Hong Kong I placed an emphasis on the team sprint. It was my first opportunity to race the event this season so no matter what position I rode in the team, I was thinking about executing to the best of my ability. The sprint was just another opportunity to put my hand up before the World Championships. Strong rides through the rounds in Hong Kong including beating Jason Kenny in the semi final happy with how you executed your races? Of course, I tried not to place too much emphasis on my race with Jason, it can be daunting racing the reigning Olympic champion, however we were both there to win so I just went out and really thought the race through. Won gold against Chao Xu in two rides what did it mean to stand on the top step of the podium? Well I haven't seen the top step individually since entering the senior ranks, so I just enjoyed the moment, they don't come around every day. In your three World Cups you have finished fifth, seventh and now first in the sprint what does having that consistency at international level mean to you? For me the consistency is what I strive for every time I step on the track, regardless of the competition. The best in the world are all consistent in their approach to each race, that's the level I want to reach. Joined the Cycling Australia HPU sprint squad at the end of 2015 how important a step is that in your career? The HPU is definitely a step in the right direction; they provide the high performance setting that you can't find anywhere else. I had been training with the team since April, so to be offered a contract was a long time goal of mine. Past 12 months have seen big improvements from you what do you put that down to? Different approach to racing or training or just continuing to develop with another years experience? I think my progression has been steady. I've been making solid improvements since leaving juniors in 2013. The training offered in the HPU team has probably amplified my progression too. Gold in the team sprint and fourth in the sprint at Track Nationals happy with your racing and results? Yeah for sure, the team sprint was a big target for Jai, Matt and I after riding as a team a year ago. I feel I put some competitive racing down in the sprint which came in my lead up to Worlds so I was quite happy at the end of the week. What does it mean to be selected for your first elite Track World Championships? It's a bit surreal, I'm very proud. I just want to approach it like any other race and strive for the consistency I mentioned before, but I want to enjoy the experience and see it as another learning opportunity. Four years ago I watched the world titles in Melbourne and thought 'I want to be out there one day'. Heading in to the World Championships what are your goals? To execute what we've practiced in the training environment, and also really think about what needs to be done each time I hop on the track, if I can get that right the outcomes will follow. With Rio Olympic Games quickly approaching is making the team your big focus this year? I think it can be done, however I'm just trying to grab my opportunities as they come and take each day for what it is.