When did you move to Australia, and did you cycle before moving?

I moved to Australia at the end of 2003. Back then, I was a runner, although at that stage I didn’t race much and really just ran for fitness and enjoyment.

What was your best achievement in the sport to date?

I was really proud of coming 23rd in the Australian Nationals last year after only 3 months of racing (and it was my 3rd race!). I was also really happy to come 9th in The Tour of Bright last year. I recently came 6th in my first international race too (Women’s Tour of NZ), so I scored my first UCI points and worked really hard on the final day, so I have to be happy with that!

What was your favourite race (and why)?

That would have to be the Tour of Bright. My husband is from the area where this race is held and so it feels a bit like we’re going home! Plus, the mountains and scenery in this area are just stunning and the race atmosphere is always great. Plus, I am no time-trialist, but the TT course is hilly, so it’s the only TT course I have a chance of doing ok on!

What was your least favourite race (and why)?

My first ever club race! I had no idea what grade to enter (and entered the wrong one…way too hard!), it was pouring rain, I was dropped by the pack very early on and there was a lot of cow manure on the road…

What is your favourite discipline?

Road – especially the hills…the longer the hills the better!

How long are you cycling? Have you competed in other sports previously?

I have been cycling competitively for about 1.5 years. Before that I was a runner. I stopped running after my last marathon as my body had had enough and was falling apart (I had a lot of tape holding me together for that last race!).

Where are you based for the majority of the year? And are you working also?

I spend all my time in Melbourne…I am not in a position to really travel for races at this stage, but if there is anyone out there who would like to sponsor me!!!?? I am a fulltime PhD student (with about 3-4 months to go) and I also work as a casual lecturer and lab demonstrator at Uni too. I am also a volunteer frefighter which can take up a lot of my time. I try and prioritise cycling though, as firefighting can be physically demanding. It has been difficult to balance everything this summer though with the bushfires we have just had.

You recently came 6th in the Tour of NZ – how did that pan out for you?

Day 1 of the race was basically a pack ride with some intermediate sprint and KOM points up for grabs. There were 2 crashes during that race and I was involved in the second one. It was a nasty crash, so I was lucky to get back in the race. After that I was feeling nervous, so I stayed at the back of the pack on the second day. Coming into the last day of the race I was on the same time as most of the other riders and I managed to get in with a break away group at about 60km (race was 125km). We worked really hard together to maintain our lead, which at one point was 4 minutes over the pack. The final 10km were up Admiral’s Hill, near Masterton (New Zealand’s north island) – affectionately known as “The Wall”!! It lived up to its’ name, with some very steep sections and a significant altitude gain over the 10km. At this point I broke away from the group I was working with and stayed in 3rd place all the way up the hill – until literally 10 metres from the line, when 3 of the group I was with caught me and beat me over the line, so I ended up coming 6th. I could have been disappointed with being caught at the line, but I was working as hard as I could have, so I don’t think I could have asked any more of myself. I was really happy with the result – especially beating a lot of Australian/Chinese/Japanese National Team and Talent ID athletes.

Do you ride on a team?

No, in fact I rarely even train with anyone else!

What are your big goals for the year?

One of my big goals was to do well in NZ, and I was very happy with how that went. Now the summer season is coming to a close, so I don’t have too many big goals until the Tour of Bright again in December – and then the Nationals next January.

Have you raced in Ireland? And if so – how does it compare? If not – would you like to?

Unfortunately I have never raced in Ireland, although I would love to! There are loads of things I miss about Ireland, so a trip home some time would be great! Sponsorship…anyone!?

What do you love most about the sport?

The personal challenge…especially with hill climbing. I love trying my hardest and doing a regular hill in a PB, that’s always very satisfying! And doing well in races always feels great too!

What bugs you about it?

The tactics! Coming from a running background, I am not used to the tactics which the girls use during races, so I am quite happy to sit at the back and keep an eye on things! Also, the way the girls bump into one another in the pack! I am always worried about crashing and am still not 100% happy with handling my bike, so I don’t like being bumped by another rider or pushed off the road!