Interview with Teschner Grand Prix & Creswick Handicap Winner: Jo Hogan

 Q. Jo, first of all a huge congratulations as you just took out the women's section of the CreswickHandicap on the weekend! Conditions out there were brutal with freezing temperatures and then rain just for fun. How did you manage to hold off the Scratch group as well as all the other girls to get the win?

Yes, the conditions were a bit average to say the least, but I had been warned that this race never has good weather and it didn't disappoint! Our bunch worked pretty well together and we managed to catch the two other groups in front of us, that contained other girls in contention for the win on the 2nd lap. As the race unfolded I lost my teammates Stephanie Hanson & Kendelle Hodges and the other girls that we had caught in front of us. I was feeling pretty good and was mixing it with the guys, who I don't think weren't entirely impressed! I managed to finish in the lead bunch and came 9th over the line. The scratch bunch finished about 5 minutes behind our group. I think the conditions played a big part in scratch not getting up for the win. The Icke family donated prizes for the race in memory of Fred Icke who started the race in 1959, I would like to thank them for their continued support of the event and also the Bob Farley (VIS mechanic) who braved the condition all day as team support.

Q. You also recently won the Tour of Canberra as well. For those of us not lucky enough to be at the race, can you explain to us how it all unfolded?

Thank you! I knew the course was a climber’s course, so my plan for the Tour was just to be at the front of the race. My Prime Estate teammate Jenny Macpherson had a solid ride on Stage 1, breaking away from the main group solo for 30kms of the race. We only caught Jenny with about 10kms to go, all of which was uphill. Lisa Jacobs (VIS), and my now teammate, was very strong on Stage 1 and managed to put a minute into Bron Ryan (ACT) and myself on a very testing uphill finish. Having five of my Prime Estate teammates start the Tour with me was a great support on the road and I knew that as a team, we had a big advantage on the field with some really strong experienced riders.

After Stage 1 I knew that if we were going to make up the minute time gap, I was going to have to make an aggressive move without the other contenders of the race. I started Stage 2 in the pink polka dot QOM Jersey, after having claimed some of the hill sprint points the day before. Stage 2 was slow to start and again the climbs sorted out the field. Coming over the crest of one of the climbs, with 30 kms to go of the 91km stage, I found myself thinking that this could be an opportunity to have a go. I clicked up a gear, put my head down and went. I had a fleeting thought that this could be a bit ambitious with 30kms of the race still to go, but I knew my teammates would support me and I was feeling good. There was a turn around about 10kms up the road and as I rounded the corner and saw how far the gap had blown out to, it gave be confidence to keep up my speed and not look back.

After going over the last two QOM climbs of the day and with 5 kms of the race go I started to feel like the dream of a solo victory was getting closer. I came into the criterium circuit finish a winner and more importantly I put a minute and half into Lisa and Bron, who had broken away from the main field to claim 2^nd & 3^rd. My teammates Jenny Macpherson and Nicole Whitburn had been great support in Stage 2, to help me claim both the leader of the QOM Jersey and Tour leader. 

Stage 3 saw my teammate Jenny break away again with 2 other girls 3 kms into the 81km stage. They managed to stay away for the whole of the race with Jenny claiming the victory and finishing the Tour 4^th overall by 30 seconds. I followed a move from Lisa 15kms from the finish and we came into the finish together and I managed to hold onto my lead and claim the Tour. One of the special moments of the Tour for me was seeing my parents standing on climbs on Stage 3. They had driven from Melbourne overnight on the Saturday to see me race on Sunday, after they had got word that I was leading the Tour. They are a great support in my cycling and I would like to thank them.

 
Q. You seem to be in great form lately as adding to the Tour of Canberra win you also won the A Grade women's event at the Teschner Grand Prix Criterium a couple of weeks ago! It seemed all the girls wanted to avoid a bunch sprint with Belinda Goss. Can you give us your thoughts on the race?

Yes, I wasn’t to keen to get into a sprint finish with a few of the girls in the race and Belinda was definitely one them! She is a very strong sprinter and I had been training with her recently as she prepares for her next World Cup Track meet. The race was slow to start and then a few attacks started to come, one being from Jenny Macpherson, just has I had a mechanical. I had to jump off the bike and sort it out and go to the pit area at the start finish. Jenny flew past with a few hundred meters on the field, I then jumped on the back of the field and made my way to the front at the bottom end of the course. The adrenaline was pumping and I put in an effort at the front of the main field with my teammate Kendelle Hodges (VIS) to bring Jenny back. We caught her and then I attacked out of the next corner, as the girls slowed. I managed to get the gap and could see at each corner that Belinda was chasing me. My coach Stuart McKenzie, friends and family encouraged me to keep going and I managed to pull off the win. 

Q. Would you say that was a dream result for your first race in Victorian Institute of Sport colours?

Yes, definitely! I have found the support of the Institute overwhelming and it is definitely reflecting in my training and performance.

Q. Have you found it a big step up to race & train with the VIS girls and renowned coach Dave Sanders?

No not really, I have definitely stepped up my training this year under the guidance and support of my coach Stuart McKenzie. Training sessions with Dave Sanders and the other VIS team squad are great and it is invaluable being pushed by others to places you didn’t think you could go! One of my teammates Lisa Jacobs is currently overseas racing with the Australian National Team, which is very exciting. My other female teammates Stephen Hanson and Kendell Hodges are very talented riders and I am really excited for Stephanie, who has recently made the Australian Junior Worlds Team. 

Q. For the young girls out there who want to one day get to your level, can you give us an insight into how much training & preparation goes into a big event such as the Tour of Canberra?

I am excited to see over the last year and half how many more girls are getting into cycling and racing. I think developing a good base of consistent training and getting race experience is definitely the key. I would really recommend to just get out there and having a go! I am currently training around 450-650kms a week, depending on what block of training I am doing. Preparing for Tours like Canberra involves consistency, lots of hill training and putting yourself in the right position at the right time.

Q. You already have a couple of big wins under your belt this season, what are your goals for theremainder of the year?

My goals this year are to win the National Road Series and continue to improve on areas of my performance that need work. I really want to be in good form for the National Road Championship next yearand be in contention for the Australian National Road Team 2011.

Q. How do you find the time to juggle working, training & down time socialising?

I sometimes find it very challenging, there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day! I am only working three days a week at the moment as nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Aged Care Community. Reducing my hours at work has definitely improved my training and recovery. I have a very supportive manager at work, which definitely helps with the flexibility needed to attend training camps and races. My coach, friends and family are a massive support in my life and without them I definitely wouldn’t be in the position I am in at the moment. It is all about finding the right balance.

And finally...

Q. Would you rather have the power to be invisible or the power to read minds?

Definitely the power to read minds, I would love to know what people are thinking at times.

Thanks for your time Jo!

Jo would also like to thank her amazing sponsor St Mel’s and suggests that everyone who like her likes to look cool in their own unique cycling inspired design should check out their websitehttp://www.stmeldesign.com/