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Miffy Galloway interviews her own DS, Hans Blom
Team: SwaboLadies cyclingteam (NED)
Base: SwaboLadies cyclingteam is a combination of Swift (Leiden), wv Avanti (Alphen a/d Rijn) and Bollenstreek (Lisse). The best riders from each club may represent them in the Swabo team.
What is your main profession? ICT projectmanager (www.dce.nl)
Ambitions for the team: Short term ambitions are to stay in the top 2 of club/regional teams in the Netherlands. Long term ambitions are to be able to compete with the professional UCI teams and to be a valuable asset for women cycling and for the participating clubs in particular.
Why did you decide to form a Women’s cycling team? When we started with SwaboLadies cyclingteam, Women’s cycling was very much still new territory however we already realised that there was huge potential. Within the last two years, teams such as Cervelo and Highroad did a great job bringing professionalism into women cycling.
On the other hand there are a lot of challenges when it comes to gaining sponsorships and getting budget. The world of female cycling can’t even stand in the shade of the male dominated cycling business, therefore there’s always a lack of money, media attention, sponsors and management, even though the number of cycling ladies is growing and growing.
Why did you choose to have riders from Australia and New Zealand? The SwaboLadies management was looking for cyclists who could be a valuable asset for team and bring the girls to a next level of performance. Due to a lack of competition for the (Female) cyclists in Australia and New Zealand the girls are really eager to ride in Western Europe in the strong (and fully filled) pelotons. Combined with a good attitude and strong personality, these ladies are really “gold” for the SwaboLadies cyclingteam. At the moment there are not only the good results, but the girls are excellent team players and fit perfect within the team ethics.
What do you look for when choosing cyclists for your team (Attitude vs. Results??): The most important thing we look at is their attitude and personality. When the ladies have the right attitude, the results will come, that promise can make. Team spirit is the most valuable asset in the Swaboteam and every member of the team has fit in.
What do you enjoy most about cycling? Apart from all difficulties the cycling sport has these days, cycling is pure and honest; riders can’t hide when the going gets tough.
What do you do when the girls aren’t looking? That’s the moment when you have to be extremely cautious, women have eyes in the back off their heads, and they notice everything... hahahaha.
What exactly do you talk about when you are following races in the team car... We analyse the moves (strong)opponents make and are strongly focussed on punctures or accidents, but most of the time the bunch or riders can’t be seen from the team car and than what happens in the cars stays in the car...
What is the most unusual thing you’ve had to do in your role as DS? To ask the mechanic to put a box of tampons in his “technical” case.
What the best part about your job? SwaboLadies gives young (age 18 – 22) cycling girls a podium where they can perform on the highest level of competition. This podium is built on passion and devotion and is free from accountability for results. The best thing in our job is to see young girls grow as human beings and cyclists and still come and hang around even when they are promoted to a big UCI team.
One of the most important things you have learnt being a DS of a cycling team: After 3 years of being a DS of a women cyclingteam, you’re a fully skilled (and should be certified and qualified) psychologist.
Best moment with the SwABoLadies team: This year SwaboLadies formed combination with Cervelo Test team in Exloo. It’s nice to look into that kitchen.
Anything else? At the moment we are planning for season 2011 and next to Myfanwy Galloway, there place for 3 more foreign riders (march-june), ask for info at SwaboLadies.nl.
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A: It will be fast and I havent been thinking deeply about it, honestly.
