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Ben Dyball Interview: Tour of Canberra Elite Mens Winnner
Q. Congratulations on winning the Tour of Canberra, you're now the leader of the National Road Series, that must give you great confidence for the rest of the season.Thank you, yes this is my first major win of the year. The Canberra tour was a very important win for me and the team, after coming so close in Mersey valley it feels good to repay the team for their confidence in me. The National series jersey is definitely a big bonus for all the sacrifices that I have made over the past few years and gives me a greater confidence going into the next series of races.
Q. Your early season form looks awesome, as it was when you flew up Mt Hotham December's Tour of Bright. Is it a case of training hard while others ate ice cream over summer?
Last year was my first full season of racing. I had been steadily improving the whole year. After the tour of Tasmania I was completely wrecked both mentally and physically. My coach decided that it was time to have a break, I had 3 weeks completely off the bike. After that I started training specifically for the national road championships and found my performance had improved greatly. I think it was a combination of the rest and hard training that helped with my form.
Last year was my first full season of racing. I had been steadily improving the whole year. After the tour of Tasmania I was completely wrecked both mentally and physically. My coach decided that it was time to have a break, I had 3 weeks completely off the bike. After that I started training specifically for the national road championships and found my performance had improved greatly. I think it was a combination of the rest and hard training that helped with my form.
Q. Your team manager Pat Jonker hailed the great teamwork and mateship shown during the Tour of Canberra. Given that Virgin Blue RBS Morgan is a relatively new team, can you give us a bit of an insight into how you all got together and how often you see each other?
We got together in March for a week long training camp in Brisbane, it was an exciting experience meeting all the riders and was a chance to see what the guys were like on and off the bike. Since then we have kept communicating, all keeping in regular contact with each other, discussing how training is going, how races went and general well being etc. They are all a great group of guys willing to put in the hard work and listen to what each other have to say. Most of the guys are from interstate so I only get to see them whenever we get together for a race or training camp.
Q. There's always one in the team with no dress sense, can you name and shame here?
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The only thing that comes to mind is Scott Law's retro pink Oakleys.
Q. Leading a Tour from start to finish isn't easy, how did both you and the team absorb the pressure applied by the other riders?
It was very surreal at first, I am used to riding by myself without a team so to have team of riders willing to give everything enhanced the experience. It is very motivating watching the guys giving everything in each stage and having a director like pat really helps. With his experience it gives me s great deal of reassurance and support to handle the mental demands of holding the yellow jersey.
Q. With your early success this year, how do you plan to deal with the increased level of expectation going into the rest of the season?
I tend not to let expectations worry me. At the end of the day I go into every race with 100% commitment & give everything that I have to give and I will do all in my power to achieve what the team expects of me and what I expect from myself.
Q. Given that you're currently leading the National Road Series, what are your goals for the rest of the year?
I have many goals for this year but my main focus is I want to stay consistent throughout the NRS this year from start to finish, train right, eat right, sleep right, race right, these are all important factors for me. I feel that every little detail adds up to the best form I can be at and are what help me achieve the best result I can in each race .
Q. And in the future, is the big aim to end up racing for a Pro Tour team?
Definitely, ever since I watched the tour on TV when I was about 13 I’ve dreamed of one day racing over those hills.
And finally...
Q. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
At the moment it would probably be ''Bullet with Butterfly Wings" by the Smashing Pumpkins because the lyrics give a powerful message
http://www.pegasusracing.com.au/
http://www.pegasusracing.com.au/
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