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GERALD TUDOR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
TMTBR: Can you give me a brief summary of your racing to this point. GT: I did my first race in 1999. I had no idea what to expect and only did a few races here and there. I raced mainly local Gorrick races and the Southern Series in Sport. In 2005, I did my first NPS race and then did the full series in 2006 and 2007. TMTBR: What category will you be racing this year? GT: Expert TMTBR: What are your short term and long term goals in bicycle racing? GT: During the 2008 season, I would like to make the podium at least once at the NPS and gain a top-5 national ranking in Expert. Long term, I would like to be at the sharp end of Expert/Master and work towards racing more enduro events like a 12-hour solo ride. TMTBR: Do you have a coach or are you self-coached? GT: I am self-coached through trial and error. I have thought about getting a coach, but my work commitments have stopped me. TMTBR: Last year you had a very successful season in the Sport category. How long did it take you to get to the point where you could place consistently in the top of that category? GT: I would say it took two seasons prior to the 2007 season, but the turning point for me was 2006 when I started to really focus on my training and put the time in. It was also the first time that I raced the national series in full. This really helped me to determine how much effort is needed to get results at this level. TMTBR: Did you do anything differently in your training last year that got you to that point, or was it just a steady progression from year to year? GT: I put in a few longer rides before the 2007 season which definitely helped, but the main difference was racing all the NPS rounds in 2006. The racing at this level is totally different to what a local race can provide, and so it was this experience that helped me get ready for the 2007 season. TMTBR: What do you view as your toughest challenge to make the transition from top Sport rider to competitive Expert rider? GT: In Sport there are usually 5 or 6 riders who are just that bit quicker than the rest of the field, so you know where your main challenge will come from, but in Expert all the riders are quick and you will have to be at your best for all the races. I think the toughest challenge will be producing consistent quick lap times, at a high tempo for the whole race. The Expert guys are quite a bit faster and so the pace of the racing will be challenging. The extra distance will not be a problem, but increasing my speed and not fading could be. TMTBR: What, if any, significant changes have you made to your winter training in preparation for the 2008 season? GT: I have tried to do more cross training during the off season to improve my overall fitness. This has included running and rowing, but I have also tried to focus on recovery ready for training in the new year. TMTBR: Speaking of cross training, people often comment about your size when speaking about you. Anything from, "He looks like a weightlifter riding a bike" to "He's the one with the massive shoulders". I assume you've spent some time in the gym. Saying that, I've also seen you do very well at some rather hilly courses. Do you feel the extra upper body weight/strength helps your riding or slows you down in some cases? GT: Yes, I do not have what you would call a conventional body shape for cycling, except perhaps a track sprinter. It all came about quite a few years ago when I fractured my lower back in two places at a race. The recovery involved going to the gym and I got hooked from that point on. The strength and build definitely helps to prevent and reduce the number of injuries I get, and it enables me to take a fall and get straight back on the bike. The extra strength does also give me a good power output, but is not ideal for becoming a top bike rider. I have reduced the weight I am now lifting for 2008 so that I can be more competitive in Expert, but I think it all comes down to getting the right balance. I enjoy strength training and will continue to include it in my training. TMTBR: What are your ideal race conditions and course profile? GT: My ideal race conditions are dry and warm -- it makes for fast, smooth and fluent racing. Anyone who knows me knows I struggle in the wet; I couldn't tell you why! I used to be known as a flat course power rider, but this year I have shown I can climb as well, so my ideal course would include several big climbs with fast technical descents and rolling flat power sections. I hate any course that is stop-start-stop and prevents you from getting into a rhythm. That does not mean I do not like it technical; I think you can have technical courses that still flow. TMTBR: If you could give a first-season Sport racer one piece of advice on how to get to the top of the field, what would it be? GT: Do as many races as they can, but enter at least one NPS round to see what it is like. The atmosphere at the NPS is brilliant; there is a real buzz and it will enable you to test yourself against the best in your category. The additional races will give you the experience to build from. The next step will then be structuring your racing. TMTBR: Anything else you'd like to add? GT: Remember to enjoy your racing!! TMTBR: Thanks Gerald and best of luck for a successful '08 Season!
2007 Accomplishments:
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Over the holidays Thetford MTB Racing caught up with 2007's number 1 nationally ranked Sport rider and 2007 NPS Series Sport champion, Gerald Tudor. With the taste of victory still in his mouth, Gerald has set some lofty goals for his first season among the expert ranks in 2008. In our exclusive interview with the champion, he gives some insight into what it took to get to the top of his category, how he's preparing for the increased intensity '08 is sure to bring, and offers some advice to all the Sport riders hoping to step into his shoes in the coming season. |
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