Video: Brian Cookson says restoring credibility of cycling is most important priority
UCI president outlines what he sees as the most crucial steps for the sport Commenting after three months in office as UCI president, Brian Cookson has said that the early feedback from many within the sport has been that change was needed in the governance of cycling, and that the initial progress made has been positive. “I think already there is a sense of change and transformation building in the UCI and in people’s perception of the UCI,” he said in a video interview released by the governing body. “That has been really important to me. “I wanted to travel around and meet a lot of people and make sure they understand where I am coming from and where the new administration of the UCI is coming from. I think we are getting a really good response. From all the meetings I have had there was a general feeling that [...]
Moritz Milatz video interview: BMC Racing Team MTB rider riding cross to prepare for 2014 season
Former European champion speaks about structured preparation Riding cross races as preparation for the upcoming season, the BMC Mountainbike Racing Team rider Moritz Milatz competed in the Run and Bike in Reute, Germany last week. After finishing fifth in the event, he talked about his buildup to 2014 and named his main target for the season ahead. “The main focus is the World Cup next year, starting in March in Pietermaritzburg,” he said. “I did a lot of endurance training in the last weeks and in January I would like to focus on cross country skiing to do some different training. “Then the preparation goes on in February in Gran Canaria, with a lot of mountains. Long rides in the mountains for the power endurance. And in March I will start racing in Switzerland with some smaller races as the last preparation for the World Cup.” Milatz is a multiple [...]
Video: MTN Qhubeka’s Tour of Rwanda campaign covered in detail in episode three of African Bicycle Dream
Squad looks back on 2013 season and ahead to what it hopes will be first-ever Grand Tour participation At the end of its most successful season to date and weeks before the Giro d’Italia makes a decision about which squads it will invite to the 2014 race, the MTN Qhubeka team has released the third instalment of its fine African Bicycle Dream documentary. Episode three focuses on the team’s recent campaign in the Tour of Rwanda, as well as giving an overview of the Pro Continental squad’s season, its aims and its hopes for the season ahead. Riding a Grand Tour is a central part of that, but so too continuing the growth that the team has enjoyed and the example and encouragement it has provided to others from Africa. “What this team is doing for African cycling is creating a culture and demystifying what we have always watched on [...]
Matt Brammeier video interview: ‘I need to win as many races as possible’
Irish road race champion pleased with early impressions of Synergy Baku team, ambitious for 2014Now 28 years old and thus entering what should be his best years as an athlete, Matt Brammeier has pledged to take a more ambitious outlook heading into the 2014 season. After years of riding for others, the British-born Irishman had more personal freedom when racing with the Champion System team and should once again have the scope for personal opportunity in 2014. Having been frustrated by a long and ultimately fruitless search for a WorldTour contract, Brammeier wants to make a bigger impression in 2014 and thus avoid any more headaches over contracts and offers. “Of course I need to win. I just need to win as many races as possible,” Brammeier said, when asked about his targets for the season ahead. “To just kind of turn those near misses this year into wins next [...]
Luke Davison video interview: Double World Cup race winner gaining confidence prior to 2014 track worlds
Emerging Australian road and track rider shows strong promiseWinner of two gold medals in the recent track World Cup in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Luke Davison has taken a major morale boost from what is his best track form ever. The 23 year old Australian rider has increased motivation for the remaining World Cups plus the world track championships in February, and is aiming to improve on the bronze medal he picked up in the scratch race earlier this year. Speaking to VeloNation in the video interview below, Davison confirms that the worlds is a major focus for him. “It was disappointing not to make the top four riders at the team pursuit in Minsk, but this year [speaking about the 2013/2014 track season – ed.] is a different year. “I think I am going from strength to strength in the individual events in the omnium and I think that is also [...]
Will Walker video Interview: Over health issues, former top Australian talent ready to push hard in 2014
Move to Synergy Baku should see more international racing and opportunities Saying that he believes his health is the best it has been since he was forced to give up the sport due to the triple whammy of heart rhythm problems, mononucleosis and Bell’s Palsy, Will Walker is looking forward to the new season and what he hopes will be a successful campaign with the Synergy Baku team. Walker showed his talent early on when he took a silver medal in the world under 23 road race championship at just nineteen years of age. Several months later, in January 2006, he hit the line 27 seconds clear of the next riders in the Australian national championships, leaving established pros such as Baden Cooke, Robbie McEwen and Allan Davis in his wake. However, due to his age, the-then Rabobank continental team rider was not allowed to wear the Elite champion’s jersey. [...]