2WheelTonio · @2WheelTonio
7th Oct 2015 from TwitLonger
.@GeegeeMansfield: "I'm hoping to see Women's Grand Tours"
by Tonio Rosales, aka @2WheelTonio
I decided I would interview one of my followers, a young cyclist, Georgia Mansfield.
Follow her at @GeegeeMansfield
T: Hey Georgia, first of all thank you for your time and for accepting to do this interview.
G: Hello Tonio, happy to take the time to do it!
T: Tell us a bit about yourself: Where you were born, how old you are, how you got into cycling.
Are you in school?
G: I was born in the North of Scotland, Moray and have lived here since. However, my parents are from Yorkshire so I'm really a bit of both. I'm 16 now, 17 next March but I've only been cycling a couple of years. But, when I started I truly fell in love with it. I've always watched the TDF and when our home hero Wiggins won, of course I was immediately inspired and wanted to cycle too! Currently I'm still at school as it's something to do alongside my training on the bike.
T: What made you choose cycling over any other sport? What attracted you to it?
G: Out on the bike you can be so free. Cycling can give you so much! It truly does make me happy and I just love the thrill of personal achievement. People don't see the suffering and sacrifices you make while out training.
T: What cyclists do you look up to? Who is an inspiration to you?
G: Bradley Wiggins and Alberto Contador, my very first inspirations. But, now there is more coverage of women's cycling, Lizzie Armitstead is my top hero!
T: What are your major achievements so far? Races won, podiums, etc.
G: 2nd in the Scottish National Youth TT Championships late this year and I was also Best Alround female Youth rider in Scotland by the end of last year! They were most significant results but I've had quite a few podiums and wins over the past couple of years.
T: What's a typical race day/week like for you? How do you prepare in terms of training & nutrition?
G: Mostly I race at a weekend. So let's say for a Sunday race, the weekend before is when you start to think ahead. Saturday would likely be a short ride packed with hard intervals and Sunday would be a couple of hours maybe with some hills. Monday rest day! Tuesday a rest day again or easy 30mins on rollers. Wednesday and Thursday an easy hour on the road just to keep the legs ticking over. Friday rest and Saturday another easy hour make sure the legs aren't too rested for the race the day after! My coach always says "you're not going to get any fitter a week before a race, you're only going to tire yourself out". So it's important to take it easy and get the training in before!
While I'm young I've been told not to worry too much about food, it's so easy not to eat enough to fuel a ride. The only things I stick by nutrition-wise is a big porridge with raisins and chopped banana slices in it 2hrs before a ride and pasta if it's later in the day when I'm due to race/ride!
It's always better to eat too much than too little though, something I have learned the hard way.
T: Where do you see yourself in a few years?
G: In a few years I would like to have made it onto A) British Cycling Olympic Development Academy or B) found a Domestic Team sponsor where I can try and move up to a Pro Team.
T: Where do you see women's cycling in a few years?
G: I'm hoping to see Women's Grand Tours! It's maybe a lot to expect in just a few years, but women can do better than just one day races and I hope to see at least a step towards some longer stage races rather than short one day criteriums.
T: What would you change, if anything, about women's cycling or cycling in general?
G: Prize money and team sponsorship! I was sad to read that the Women's World Champion receives about 1200 euros where as the men receive 8500 euros. It's a disgrace, not even a quarter of what the men receive, yet they work just as hard. We need to see more money invested in women's cycling, there is so much talent out there!
T: Do you have any advice for others wanting to get into the sport?
G: Just stick at it and enjoy it! Never give up, if it's what you truly want, make it happen don't let the low moments stop you from enjoying it or reaching your dreams.