Joanna Rowsell

January Update

2010-01-16T18:19:00.004Z

I have just returned from a training camp in Majorca which made a nice change from the cold weather we have had in England! I was pleased to get a lot of hours done in the better weather, although surprisingly the roads weren't entirely snow free as there had been some snowfall at the top of the mountains! I am only home for a week though we then head out again for another block next weekend. This is a nice way to break up the winter months and keep the training interesting during the long break in competition between Melbourne World Cup in November and the World Championships in March.

At the end of December I was invited to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Sheffield. I'd not been to an event like this before and it was a great experience! I really enjoyed getting dressesd up and meeting lots of sports starts from other sports. Below are a couple of pictures from the evening:

Women's Team Pursuit to be included in the London 2012 Olympics!

2009-12-12T15:22:00.003Z

In the last few days it was announced by the IOC (International Olympic Comittee) and the UCI (International Cycling Union) that the track events at the London 2012 Olympics will be revised in order to give equal medal opportunities to men and women.

This is very good news for me as it means the Women's Team Pursuit (in which I am current World Champion and World Record holder along with Lizzie Armitstead and Wendy Houvenaghel) will by an Olympic event in London 2012!

However this has come at a cost for other events, including the Individual Pursuit, in which I had placed 4th at this year's World Championships. The Individual Pursuit will no longer be in the Olympic progamme but whilst this is disappointing I think it is very good that men and women will now have an equal number of events (5 each).

This news is very exciting for me as I am now able to concentrate all my time on the Team Pursuit which has always been my favourite event!

December Update

2009-11-27T15:46:00.003Z

I am now back into structured training again following a much needed break after Melbourne World Cup! The first week back home was spent trying to recover from the jet lag but I am finally back to normal now!

The trip to Melbourne was a great experience. We travelled there to consolidate our World Championships qualification, but having won the event in Manchester there was not much pressure for a result here. In the qualifying ride we were only 4 tenths of a second slower than the New Zealand team but in the final they brought in a fresh rider and were too strong for us and beat us by just over a second. However their time was no where near our World Record we set in Manchester 3 weeks earlier so we are all still very motivated to break that record again and retain our World Title in Copenhagen in March next year!

A short break from the bike followed and now I feel refreshed and eager to train for the Worlds :)

Manchester World Cup

2009-11-08T15:10:00.003Z

I was delighted to win the Team Pursuit at the UCI Manchester World Cup last weekend with my team mates Wendy and Lizzie in a new World Record time of 3:21.8!! The Team Pursuit was on Sunday which was the last day of competition so it was a bit of a wait for me but in the meantime the other GB riders were out there winning so I was very motivated to keep the good results coming!

Me second in line behind Wendy, with Lizzie in third.

Our qualifying ride was 3:23 which was the fastest ever qualification time, more than a second quicker then we qualifed at the World Championships in March, so we knew we were on for a good time in the final! The final ride is always quicker due to there being another team on the track. Our main priority was to win the final but we also wanted to do a World Record time and luckily we did this!

Finish picture - trying to cross the line together as the time is taken from the 3rd rider.

I have had a week of training on the road and on Friday I am off to Melbourne for the second round of the World Cup!

Podium picture with the white World Cup Leaders jerseys. Photo thanks to Velodrome.org.uk

October Update

2009-10-28T16:27:00.007Z

I am currently in the team hotel for the UCI Manchester World Cup which starts this Friday. I will be competing for Great Britain in the women's Team Pursuit which is on Sunday. We have only spent the last 3 weeks training together as a team after the end of the road season but I'm very excited and looking forward to the event! Also the home crowd in Manchester is always the best so it will be a special event!

Manchester World Cup Team Pursuit 2008, photo thanks to Larry Hickmott. This year all 3 of us will be in the World Champion stripes!

5th win in Belgium!

2009-09-16T17:25:00.004+01:00

9th Grote prijs Cafe Den Toren, Leeuwergem-Zottegem Kermesse, 85km, Sunday 13th September 2009. Result = 1st. This race was 11 laps of a 7.7km circuit. The circuit was quite rolling which I enjoyed with an up hill finish too. I attacked lots over the climbs and eventually forced a split of 11 riders. We worked well together and built up a good lead over the peloton. There were lots of attacks on the last lap and I also tried to get away but we came together before the finish and it was a sprint which I won! I was really pleased to take my 5th win out here in a month!

Link to pictures from the race

I only have two more weeks out here now before returning to Manchester for track training. It is amazing how quickly the time has gone! I am racing both Saturday and Sunday this weekend so fingers crossed for then!

A puncture, a second and another win!

2009-09-08T11:15:00.012+01:00

I have ridden 3 more races since my last blog and have had mixed luck! I have had my 4th win, 2nd place and took 8th place in the other race finishing on a puncture.

26th Avond van Zonnebeke Criterium, 70km, Monday 7th September 2009. Result = 1st. This race was 40 laps of a 1.75km circuit which was pretty wide with some fast corners. There were primes each lap of 5 Euros so everyone was keen to get these so there were lots of attacks. The race finished in a bunch sprint and with the last corner quite close to the finish it was a race into the last corner. I managed to get round first and then lead out the sprint and won!

Link to more pictures from the race

27th Omloop van Wenduine Kermesse, 92km, Saturday 5th September 2009. Result = 2nd. This race was 12 laps of 7.7km. Wenduine is on the sea and the course went along the coast so it was very windy! It was a very agressive race with lots of people attacking. In the end the successful break went away with 2 and a half laps to go. There was 8 of us and we worked well together. In the sprint I got 2nd. I was pleased I was in the break but timed the sprint a bit wrong but still pleased with another podium place!

Link to photos from the race

Gijzenzele Kermesse, 85km, Tuesday 1st September 2009. Result = 8th. This race was 12 laps of a 7km circuit. It was raining heavily at the start but luckily after a couple of laps the rain eased and by the end of the race the sun was out! I got in the break of 8 riders but I had a slow puncture which was gradually going down throughout the last 3 laps of the race. By the finish it was completely flat so I just had to ride in behind the other 7 riders contesting the win. This was quite frustrating as I'm sure I could have been up there in the sprint but never mind there are plenty more races!

Link to photos from this race

Win number 3 in Belgium!

2009-08-31T20:50:00.005+01:00

Sint Katelijne Waver Kermesse, 93km, Saturday 29th August 2009. This race was 16 laps of a 5.8km circuit on very exposed, windy roads! There were 65 starters which included a lot of foreign riders and pro riders who do not usually turn up at kermesses, so I was looking forward to an interesting race!

On the first lap a Belgian girl attacked to take a prime and she stayed away so at the start of the 3rd lap I attacked to go across to her. Christina Becker, a German rider who rides for the pro team Nurnberger and who has also reprented Germany in the Team Pursuit on the track, came with me and we soon caught the Belgian rider Hannah Verhaeghe. After a lap of working together a Dutch rider from the Lotto Belisol team Vera Koedooder came across to us, making a break of 4!

We worked well together and built up a lead of over 4 minutes on the bunch and also picked up some primes along the way! Coming into the finish I was second wheel and waited until Vera Koedooder started the sprint and I managed to come round her to take the win!

I was really pleased as my parents were here to watch today and my dad got some great photos!

Second win in Belgium!

2009-08-22T17:56:00.010+01:00

There was no racing during the week last week so I took the opportunity to get some good training done. I then raced on Saturday at Morkhoven, near Herentals and won! Below is my race report and a selection of images:

Herentals Kermesse, 90km, Saturday 22nd August 2009. This race was 20 laps of a 4.5km circuit, mainly on narrow twisty lanes, apart from a fast, wide finishing straight and there were 87 starters. The race was fast from the start with everyone strung out in the lanes and sprinting out the corners. I tried to keep a good position and put in my first attack after 4 laps. I got a good gap with one other girl and then 3 more riders came across to us but unfortuately it came back together.

Initial break early on. Photos thanks to Ruben Verhaeghe

There was a lot more attacking but it wasn't until just over halfway, with 9 laps to go, that I got away with one other girl. We worked well together and built up a good lead of over 2 minutes. I was feeling strong so having gone through with 2 laps to go I attacked and rode away to take the win by a minute from my breakaway companion, then just over 2 minutes back to the bunch!

Successful breakaway with Veerle Ingels

Away on my own for the last lap and a half.

Finish!

After the finish with Joscelin Ryan. Photo thanks to Daniel Shand

Link to more photos

Win in Belgium

2009-08-14T14:15:00.006+01:00

I have ridden 3 more races out here in Belgium since my last blog and last night I won!

Hoeleden Kermesse, 96km, Thursday 13th August. My first win on the road this season! The race was 12 laps of a 7km circuit and on lap 5 my team mate Hannah attacked. I went across with another woman so there ended a break of 3 of us with 7 laps to go. Me and Hannah worked well together and we built up a lead of over 2 minutes. I felt strong whilst we were away so was confident for the finish. Hannah jumped first but I got round her to take the win!

The break with me on the front and Hannah on my wheel.

After the finish with Hannah. Photo thanks to Joscelin Ryan.

Here is a link to more pictures from the race at Hoeleden: http://www.cyclingnews.nu/wedstrijdverslagen%20weg%202009/Dames%20Elite%202009/Hoeleden13-08-2009.htm#Donderdag

Brasschaat Kermesse, 101km, Tuesday 11th August. This race was part of the Wielertrofee series so there was a big field of 115 riders. There were also two sections of cobbles on the 9km course to make things more interesting! I was in a break of 3 early on but this got brought back and then the next break stayed away! So I ended up in a chase group of 7 of us sprinting for 7th place. I was 3rd in this sprint so took 10th place. I was pleased as I felt strong today while riding in the breaks so think I am starting to get a bit of form!

Belgium Racing Block Report 1

2009-08-05T14:19:00.014+01:00

I have been out in Belgium a week and a half now and have ridden 6 races, 5 in Belgium and 1 in Holland.

Bambrugge Kermesse, 90km, Friday 24th July. Being my first race in Belgium since April and first proper race since the 8 weeks spent training in Manchester I was unsure how I would find it. Luckily I surprised myself and was up there attacking and getting stuck in. Unfortunately a break got away in the closing laps and despite numerous attacks other riders were unwilling to work with me so I was unable to bridge the gap. However I then surprised myself by coming 2nd in the bunch sprint to take 5th in the race. So pretty pleased with this for race number 1!

Boezinge Kermesse, 108km, Sunday 26th July. I made the mistake today of being at the back when the break formed in the opening few laps! I went on the attack to try and bridge the gap and nearly made it but the woman who came with me wouldn’t work so unfortunately we didn’t make it and the break was gone! I ended up back in the bunch but attacked again later in the race and stayed away to take 13th place.

Grote Prijs Kapellen 60km, Tuesday 28th July. My best result so far has been 3rd place in the Kapellen Criterium. I spent the race always up the front of the bunch attacking and going with moves but in the end the race finished in a bunch sprint. I was pleased with my 3rd place as my sprint has never been my strong point before!

On the attack! (All photos thanks to Joscelin Ryan)

Flowers for 3rd place!

Herentals Post Tour Criterium 40km, Thursday 30th July. Again I got stuck into the race and kept attacking and going with moves. My team mate Hannah Mayho attacked and won on her own so the bunch was sprinting for 2nd. I ended up with 12th place which was alright as my legs were beginning to feel a bit tired after racing every other day since I have been here!

Before the start with Dani, Starla and Lizzie.

On the attack!

Erondegem Kermesse 107km, Saturday 1st August. Not such a good day for me today. It was very hot and with no helper to hand up bottles I struggled a little in the heat. I had a few attacks but nothing stuck for very long. Towards the end one girl got away so it was another sprint for 2nd place. I was in second wheel coming up to the last corner but got swamped and slipped back so only finished in 25th place. However it was still a good long race on an interesting circuit including an uphill section of cobbles which are always fun!

Draai van de Kaai, Roosendaal Post Tour Criterium (Holland) 60km, Monday 3rd August. I had not ridden this race before and have not had much experience of racing in Holland and having seen all the big names on the start list I was unsure how I would get on! But I felt good and started up the front. The circuit was 2.7km and all on “klinkers” – like cobbles but not quite as bad! I got involved with the early attacking and probably did a little too much but the bunch had halved in size pretty quickly. In the second half of the race I put in a big attack and stayed away on my own for a few laps, picking up some primes and even a “Super Prime”! I was caught before the end though and despite a few more attacks and ending up in a small break with 2 laps to go, this was brought back and it was a bunch sprint for the finish. I came in 20th but was pleased with how I rode today. The racing in Holland is a lot different to the racing in Belgium and it was a nice change to race some different people.

On the attack again!

I now have a few easy days before racing again this coming weekend. There are a lot of races coming up now so I need to take advantage of these easy days while I can and hopefully improve on my best result of 3rd so far!

July Update

2009-07-06T20:58:00.005+01:00

I moved into my new flat this weekend so have been spending lots of time unpacking and sorting everything out. The location is far better for road training so I'm looking forward to having less traffic to contend with on training rides!

Training is going well and pretty consistent. I have begun evening races at Preston Arena once a week as well. The first race was a bit of a shock to the system after a couple of months of no racing but I got round fine and have been enjoying racing there, plus we have been very lucky with the weather too!

Now I'm really looking forward to going to Belgium at the end of the month where I'll be able to get stuck into lots more regular racing!

Manchester summer weather!

2009-06-17T21:20:00.013+01:00

Here are a few images showing the variety of weather conditions I've been training in here in Manchester over the last couple of weeks!

Here a hail storm:

I don't think the picture really does it justice! On this day we also had thunder and lightning.

Below we have brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the mid twenties:

And here we have a rainbow:

Training Update

2009-06-09T09:32:00.005+01:00

Hi and welcome to my new blog and my new website www.joannarowsell.com. Hope you enjoy the site!

At the moment I am training in Manchester which is going really well. After the Track World Championships I had a break and some time at home with family getting steadily back into training before coming back up here. I also had the great news from British Cycling that I am now a Podium Programme rider as a result of my 4th place in the Individual Pursuit at the World Championships! This is great for me as it means I will have access to top level coaching to train specifically for the Individual Pursuit event with the 2012 Olympics being the ultimate goal! I believe there is a lot more to come from me in the IP event so it is great to be able to now focus my training on this goal.

I am looking forward to a racing block coming up in Belgium from July-Sept as preparation for the Manchester World Cup (30th Oct-1st Nov 2009) but until then I am trying out some new training methods here in Manchester. All quite exciting stuff!

I will aim to keep you updated on my progress!
Joanna

Welcome

2009-05-29T14:04:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the new Joanna Rowsell blog.