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Annasley Park a rising star of
domestic racing joined British Cycling's Senior Academy last
October. With the move in to the Academy facilitating the
opportunity to train and race on the track in one of the top
development pathways in the world.
After making her track debut at round two of the Revolution
Series in October, Park has used the opportunities since to
develop her bunch racing skills making rapid improvements in a
short time.
December interview: Annasley Park looking to continue track
development after joining British Cycling Academy
It's been a hectic few weeks, but I have finally got the
chance to write a little bit about my experiences and thoughts
of competing in the Revolution Series. As some of you may
know, I am very new to the track. I have only started to ride
the track properly since joining the British Cycling Women's
Endurance Olympic Academy Programme last year. I have loved
every part of my journey so far. Opening myself to the track
has not only allowed me to set new goals and targets, but to
also divert the skills learnt from the track onto the road.
All my teammates have grown up riding the track, as well as
competing on the road. This was quite daunting for me, but at
the same time comforting to know that I could go up to them
and ask for advice. My first track race was the Revolution
Series Round 2 in Manchester. I'm not going to lie, I was so
nervous. I hadn't done much bunch racing and the line up had
Olympic and European champions. But I had to start somewhere!
I managed to stick in all the races and did a few moves. My
main focus was to just get comfortable riding in the bunch and
placing myself in the correct position for any dangerous
moves.
I think I found the elimination and scratch elimination races
the hardest. You've really got to be focused and be aware of
who is around you, as well as conserving as much energy as
possible. I found it hard to get over the top of the group and
I would always dive down. That got me out quite a few times.
However, as I became more confident in riding through the gaps
and finding better wheels to ride on, I started to gain
places. I think my best result was at the last Revolution,
where I came fourth in the elimination.
The scratch and points races were hard, but I found that these
were more suited to me. The bunch would always start off by
setting quite a nice steady pace. Then, after about five laps
the pace would pick up or an attack would go which would
string the bunch out. The pace would yoyo, which gave me
chance to either do an attack myself and hope someone came
with me or wait for someone to go and try and gain a lap with
them. I never managed to quite gain a lap, but I was very
close. When a break away did get close to gaining a lap, the
crowds would roar and shout at the riders with encouragement.
You don't really hear it when you're racing, as you are in
your own little bubble (I am anyway). However, when you are in
your pen resting and watching the other races, you really get
to soak up the atmosphere and noise.
Overall, I am really happy with my first season of Revolution
Series and can't wait to hopefully do them again. I can take
some of the skills I have learnt from the track and now take
it into my road season. I am very excited to get back on the
tarmac, but I will still be training on the track as we still
have gaols on the track further down the line this season.
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