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Rochelle Gilmore: Cycling Tribe Interview
Q.Rochelle, since we saw you and the rest of the Honda Dream Team dominate the Jayco Bay Classic, what have you been up to?I’ve been racing all over the world; NZ, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, China… I race in Europe from March to October every year with my European, Belgium based team, Lotto. The Lotto team is also sponsored by Honda. We have 16 women on the team including 3 Australians; Josephine Tomic, Vicki Whitelaw and me. Other Lotto riders are from Sweden, USA, NZ and Belgium. I’ve already done 17 races since departing Australia on the 25th of March. I’m finally home for 2 weeks, it’s so nice to unpack my bags and sleep in my own bed. This will be the longest stay I get at home for the entire year! (Home is in the Italian Dolomites, near San Martino di Castrozza, Northern Italy).
Q. Whether you're riding in Australia for the Honda Dream Team or with your Pro team Lotto, what's it like to know you have a group of girls behind you who will give their all in order to give you the best chance of picking up a win?
What is it like? It’s like pressure- a lot of pressure! Lucky I love the pressure! I get very nervous when my girls have done a great job and it’s up to me to finish it off. My girls know me very well, and they help me overcome the nerves and they give me confidence. I’ve worked hard for many years to create the team’s I now ride with; the mix of riders and staff is perfect. We have a strong committed group that know what it takes to win, and at the same time they know how to have fun and maximise exposure for our dedicated sponsors.
Q. Over the years you have had a lot of success. Is there one win or one moment that stands out above all others?
Winning a Road World Cup in Australia was a great moment but the stand out moment is yet to happen, can you ask me the same question at the end of 2012? I hope to give you a much more impressive answer! The Jayco Bay Classic was a proud moment for our team. It was a nice way to thank Honda for all the support they had given us in the lead-up.
Q. Such success comes after a lot of hard work. Can you take us through an 'average' training day?
Which day will I describe? I do a lot of different sessions; Endurance, Power and Speed. I often train twice a day and take more recovery days than most female cyclist due to the intensity at which I train.
Wake Up, big breakfast; cereal with Metaphysics Choc MetaLite formula for extra carbs and nutrients. During a power phase I’ll often ride for 2-3hrs in the morning with specific maximum power efforts, I’ll come home and immediately make a protein shake (HighFive Choc Protein Recovery with water). Then I’ll shower, then I’ll take a 10min hot bath to warm the muscles and I’ll stretch for one hour while watching an episode of something on my laptop. I then fill in some time working on my computer (team logistics and organisation) before I get on the rollers for a 30-45min spin at 100rpm, sometimes I’ll do 3-5min intervals at 120rpm. I eat dinner (steak and vegies) early, around 5-6pm then I work on my computer or watch a movie before going to bed at 9pm.
Q. You live in a beautiful part of the world in the Dolomites in Italy and have one of the best jobs in the world. Do you have any words of advice for the kids out there who one day hope to be where you are?
All I can say is that this really is my dream life, I’m not sure if it is for everyone but I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I absolutely love it! I love the racing and the drive to always be better; faster, stronger and fitter. I love the pressure and I love the success. The travel can be a bit of a drag but the destinations are often amazing! We have such a great group of girls in our team so when we’re not smashed (tired) we can amuse and entertain ourselves on long trips!
I’d encourage young talented athletes to try cycling because if you get to Europe and join a pro team, you can have a great lifestyle travelling the world whist enjoying the sport you love!!Q.Would you be able to name the things you find you've come to value the most being out on the road and all over the world for so much of the year?
To name one thing is easy- my team, they are everything to me while I am on the road. In regards to my performances and career I value my team the most, without them I’m nothing. Without a team; the riders, the staff and the organisation I wouldn’t be able to race and I wouldn’t be able to win races. Secondly, I value having a home in Europe. Even if I only get to spend a few days here and there at home, it’s nice knowing that I have my own place to return to. I love returning to my home and finding it exactly the way I left it…. I can feel organised and relaxed even if it’s a flying visit. Other things I value while on the road are my family, my coach- Warren McDonald and my sponsors!
Q. What inspired you to want to become a professional cyclist?
The desire to win and represent Australia.
I raced BMX (as well as doing many other sports) from a very young age but it wasn’t an Olympic sport at the time. When I was 13 years old I had decided I wanted to go to the Olympics so I was looking for options which were Olympic sports. I’d been identified by a Talent ID program at school for having potential talent as a rower, triathlete, MTB rider or cyclist. I received some support and motivation from Mitch Law who was the Illawarra Academy of Sport Cycling coach so, together we made the transition. At that point, I just enjoyed the sport and winning… and then I ended up here. (I’m sitting at home in the heart of the Italian dolomites).
Q. You really thrilled the crowds earlier this year with some awesome riding at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic. Will we see you in Geelong again next year to defend your title, and if yes, will it be one of your target races?
I will be back in Geelong!! (hopefully I’ll also be there before the Bay Crits for that little race on 02/10/2010… the World Championships). I’ll be back with the Honda Dream Team for the Jayco Bay Classic and we will target the race with the ambition to win!
2 comments to "Rochelle Gilmore: Cycling Tribe Interview"
Great to see such a strong minded women, go girl
Nice one. All the best Rochelle. Was great reading about you
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