Sarah Kent interview

By Andy, BikePure

So you’re at the training camp in Adelaide ahead of the World Championships. What’s the vibe like in the team and has everything gone smoothly in preparation?

The vibe in the camp is great. We have a pretty unique situation in the Australian team where we are all around the same age, we’ve all come through juniors together and taken every step with each other’s support, and I think that’s what makes our program so special and strong. We’re the fresh blood of Australian track cycling, with the enthusiasm and excitement to train and race, and I think that has taken us all to a new level. Of course every team will have ups and downs in the preparations, but I believe it’s how you handle those circumstances, and it helps to be surrounded by great teammates and staff. We are blessed to have both those things, so through any hitches you know you are not in it alone.

You’re an established rider, which events will you be riding other than the team pursuit?
At this stage, my focus is the Team’s Pursuit. Anything else is a bonus, so long as it doesn’t interfere with my ultimate goal. I haven’t even thought about any other events yet. I just want to put everything into the TP for myself, my teammates, and for Sutto (Gary Sutton).

What has training involved at the camp and has it all been based on the track?
Well now.. that would be giving away secrets, wouldn’t it?

You started racing aged 13, how did you become involved and what drew you to the sport?
My family had a bit of history in the sport, and I tried everything else, and when I finally tried track cycling, I just loved it. I actually didn’t even start on the road.. straight to the track! I loved the speed and skills on the track compared to the road.

I nearly gave it up about a year later, for horse riding, believe it or not.. But I’m not sure why I stuck with it.. Only that I’m glad I did.

Who was your idol and role model when starting out?
That’s an interesting question actually. I remember Cam Meyer asking me in a bike shop in Perth one day who my idol was. I didn’t really know anyone back then, so I said I dunno! He said if he were me he’d look up to Kate Bates and Katie Mactier, so that year I watched them closely at the 2004 Olympics.. It’s funny that 6 years later I’m not only riding alongside Kate, but rooming with her. I find it funny remembering what you used to think about as a junior!

You had dabbled in athletics prior to cycling, can you tell us more about that?
I loved to run! I was Champion Girl in school every year from Year 4 til Year 12, and back then I had those stick legs of a skinny long distance runner, which is why I also started Little Aths.. But I was lazy and found the training boring. Dunno what happened between now and then, but now I love to train, and I certainly don’t have those skinny little running legs! But I like to think one day after cycling I’ll go back to running!

You’re a long standing role model for Bike Pure, can you tell us what this means to you?
I’m passionate about anti-doping. I get so frustrated when these riders keep getting caught, and when I think about all those out there who aren’t getting caught too. I think there’s something really cool about a race when it comes down to who wants it most, who’s trained hardest, and who hasn’t taken any shortcuts.. The sport has been tainted instead by those who seem to believe they can’t win without doping. I don’t really understand the mentality behind making someone want to do it, but I guess that’s why an organization like Bike Pure is so great. All the younger riders these days now think it’s cool to wear the blue bands and be a part of Bike Pure.. And that’s where it all starts, as a kid! It’s just great to be part of something that’s going to make a difference.

You’re ideally suited to the IP and Team Pursuit, although you could well be riding additional events at the worlds. Is the Team Pursuit a discipline you wish to remain at?
It is.. I love Team Pursuits. There’s something special about riding like a unit and having the perfect ride where you are all on song and everything just goes to plan. I can see a big future for women’s TP, and one day (hopefully in my time) we’ll be able to ride it more like the men with 4 women all on the rivet. There is so much potential to go so much faster!

Many of your track team mates will be heading over to race the road season in Europe, do you have nay plans to do likewise?
I will head to Holland mid June and stay in Apeldoorn for 2 months with the AIS track girls. It’s always a good trip, but I’m not a big fan of crit racing. So hopefully we’ll mix it up and do a few tours and kermesses in Belgium instead this year!

Women’s cycling has moved on in recent seasons with the inclusion of some high profile road teams such as HTC and Garmin-Cérvelo. What are your thoughts on women’s cycling and how do you see it progressing and gaining a higher profile regarding TV coverage and the like.
It’s been great seeing the small steps women’s cycling has taken. I hope that someday I can be involved in some of these big teams to get a feel for what the coverage is like on the road, but for now I can really only speak from my experiences on the track. It’s certainly come a long way, and equality for men and women on the track is a lot better in terms of events and TV coverage, but I still feel there’s a way to go on the road.

The one thing I love about women’s cycling is that you can guarantee every single female does it because they love it. You’d probably get paid more being a check out chick, so its rare that you find someone doing it only for the money. In the men’s, sure, most love it, but I’ll bet that a good lot of them do it because it’s their ‘job’.

What would you say to any young rider who wishes to take up cycling, especially track cycling?
If you want to take up track endurance.. get a real good seat and some chamois cream! It’s the worst bit about it.

What are your plans after the World’s?
Unfortunately I’m headed straight back home to get my wisdom teeth out! They’ve been giving me some problems lately and the xrays aren’t real pretty! I’ve also got to do a regional school program with WAIS for a few days in Geraldton with some other athletes. That will be a good experience!

Who is your toughest training partner?
I’d say they are all tough in their own ways! Jos (Josie Tomic) has always been a pretty tough nut. Even when she seems to be going through a tough patch, she always screws her head on in time and pulls out the goods on the track. I could mention them all at one point on camps, but I’d be here all day!

Who is the most talented rider you’ve had the pleasure of cycling with?
Our whole Aussie Team!

Looking towards 2010, you’re focussing on selection for the Olympics…
Very much. It’s my ultimate goal at the moment. I’ve imagined in my head exactly how it I want it to happen. To be on the top of the podium alongside my teammates, with my family in the crowd would be very special. Then again, who doesn’t have that goal? It gets down to who wants it most.

Australia is such a dominant force on both the track and road now. With Cam Meyer winning the TdU and Jack Bobridge taking the IP world record, what do you put the national success down to?
Originally I thought it was a freak bunch of juniors that came through and would take Australia through a few good Olympic cycles again. But if you look at the results from Junior Worlds of those that were at the 2004 Olympics such as Anna Meares, Kate Bates, Brad Mcgee, Mark Jamieson etc, they were very similar to the new era. I thought the talent would die off after the 2006-08 juniors moved on to seniors, but they just keep coming!!! We have talent everywhere you look!

I think the work that Gary Sutton did with the juniors, was amazing. And since moving on to the senior women’s program, guys like Tim Decker and Kevin Tabotta, last year, have only carried on his program and made it stronger again!

How do you like to spend your days off the bike?
Catching up with friends over coffee or lunch and enjoying the simple things in life.

If you weren’t a cyclist what would you be doing?
I used to want to be like Cathy Freeman, and now I want to be an Olympian champion in cycling, so I think if I wasn’t cycling I’d be doing another sport, trying to make it to the top.. But otherwise, I think I’d just be living a normal life, whatever that is!!!

A huge thank you to Sarah – we wish you every success this week, thanks for taking the time out for the interview.

Photo © Karin Calvert/The Sunday Times Magazine
Team Pursuit image courtesy www.jxpphotography.com.au

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