Rob Jebb - Not Just a One-Trick-Pony!

15 March 2007

Interview: Joolze Dymond

Images: Phil Ingham, Andrew Kennedy, Joolze Dymond

Mountain Bike and Cyclo-Cross reporter Joolze Dymond travelled with the GB team to the World Cyclo-Cross Championships back in January. Whilst she was there, she interviewed Rob Jebb, who making his GB Cycling Team debut.

My first meetings with Mr. Jebb were just hurried chats after arduous Cyclo-Cross races: not really sufficient to get a sense of a man usually dressed head to toe in Wheelbase green and yellow, with a decorative splatter of mud.

I'd heard snippets out on the circuit that he was 'The' 3 Peaks man, but that he wasn't really a Cyclo-Cross rider, 'just' an extremely talented fell runner, which gave him a distinct advantage over the competition in the 'Peaks. His tally so far in this race is six straight wins (it might have seven but for the cancellation of the race back in 2001 due to foot and mouth).

However, the fell runner really came good as a cyclist during the last Cyclo-Cross season with an outstanding showing in the National Trophy Series, where he finished a creditable 8th overall, with a breakthrough win to his name. He then topped things off with a fantastic bronze at the National Champs: not bad going for a young man who admits he doesn't actually ride his 'Cross bike except at races.

I spoke to him at the World Championships earlier in the year and we started off by talking about his training: work commitments and where he lives, mean winter training can be a bit of a chore:

"If I didn't work I could be miles better, I could train in the light. I can't practise my skills in the dark; in fact I don't ride the Cyclo-Cross bike at all, unless I'm racing it. I just go on the road or turbo in the winter. It's too dark to get out there and give it some welly. I might try and take some time off next year and do at least one day a week in the light."

Rob on his way to his first National Trophy win at Bradford

So how did this international fell runner get caught up with Cyclo-Cross in the first place?

"Cyclo-Cross is normally just something to do in the winter. It's just a bit of a break for me. I enjoy the tussles you get; you don't get them in running, elbows out etc. Luckily the fell season wraps up around September, so it splices nicely into the 'Cross season. It's been something to do really!

"I've only been doing it properly for the last couple of years. Barry Clarke took me to my first National Trophy back in 2002 and I've done them ever since. I've learnt a lot this year and got a lot more confident - after this year I might concentrate a bit more on it!"

So, last season was a breakthrough for Rob - previously many leading Cyclo-Cross riders had dismissed this straight-talking Yorkshireman as a runner who specialised on winning the Three Peaks. But now he's proved himself as a rider capable of winning National level events, how does he feel about those that wrote him off as that"3 Peaks" bloke:

"It makes me laugh, though I don't mind. The 3 Peaks is a bit special, it has to be with nearly 600 hundred people wanting to ride it every year. A lot of people do think that's all there is to me and that I just train for that event, but there is a lot more and by doing so well in he National Trophy this season, I think there's a few more people ready to sit up and take notice of me now"

Of course, there is a lot more to Mr. Jebb than a string of wins in the 3 Peaks and a cracking season of 'Cross. This confident but down-to-earth guy, with a typically dry Yorkshire sense of humour, is an internationally respected fell runner with national, international and world titles to his name. He doesn't just ride up mountains quickly, he runs up them much faster than most too. Not only does he have the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross crown, he is also only the second person to have won the Three Peaks fell race twice. Add to this the English and British Fell running titles, plus three straight wins in the Ben Nevis fell race, and you start to get a picture of one determined and talented man.

Rob races in the distinctive Wheelbase colours

But this winning streak didn't just start overnight. Rob has been fell running from an early age: inspired by his Dad, who was also a fell runner, he ran through his teens but didn't make any real headway until his twenties, when he realised that with a bit of dedication he could achieve some results - and the rest, as they say, is history. He gives credit to the running club he joined, for his grounded outlook:

"Growing up in a running club helped me. They don't like anyone who thinks they might be a bit special and you soon get brought back down to earth. The social side is important and I suppose it's where you learn to be yourself. No one likes a big ego. Piling into the pub after a race is what we all look forward too, which is completely different to Cyclo-Cross"

Perhaps his greatest achievement has been his stride into sky running, a sport that makes fell running seem like a stroll in the park.

"I got invited to do a race and I thought 'brilliant'! I enjoyed it, entered the next one and won it, so the next year I did the series."

For sky running altitude is the key: each race must reach a minimum height of 2000m with some, such as one Rob did in Malaysia, reaching the dizzy heights of over 4000m (three times the height of Ben Nevis). In 2005 Rob captured the series and with it the World title. Although it sounds an exciting lifestyle, Rob says it was anything but:

"I wish it was as exotic as it sounds but it's not! I get paid to do some races but like when I went to Japan, they flew me out there, put me on a train to a mountain, I ran up it and went home? it wasn't any more than a long weekend! I certainly didn't get to see very much of Japan when I was there. When travelling to these races, jet lag is a real problem. Take Malaysia: we got there the day before, so I had no time to adjust, then the race just felt like I was running in the middle of the night, it was rubbish!"

So for Rob, it seems that, literally, the sky's the limit. I wondered, however, how the World Cyclo-Cross Championships measured up next to all the other tough events he'd been involved in?

"It was definitely different. In the other things I do, like the fell running, I know I'm going to be up there. That's what was different with the Cyclo-Cross world champs. I know I'm not a front runner, so I just had to go out and do my best. And it's so different, it's all about speed and technique, but I enjoyed it all the same. The cycling keeps me grounded: if you win too much it can affect you, I don't win so much with cycling.

It's also been a good opportunity. I've never had the chance to represent GB in cycling before and although I sort of knew what to expect it was still a bit of an eye opener. Having 50,000 people lining the circuit, cheering, the atmosphere was something else. Despite knowing you're not going to be in the thick of it and you're not going to make or break anything, it was a brilliant experience. I went out and did my best. "

Rob in action at the 2006 and 2005 Three Peaks, a race he has dominated in recent years

So what does the future hold for the BT engineer now based up in the Lake District?

"I'll possibly do the sky racing again, but they've changed the goals slightly and you have to do 5 marathons, so I might just put that on hold until I'm older - maybe when I'm 37 I'll start doing events like that. It's good to do as you can win quite good money!
Closer to home, well I have to say the 3 Peaks is another aim, both on and off the bike.

 

Cycling wise, I think I'll start taking Cyclo-Cross a bit more seriously, now I've shown I can mix it with the best. Oh, and you never know if my running schedule lets me I might even do a couple of mountain bike races? But my main goals are just to stay fit and healthy and keep enjoying whatever I do, if I do that, then good things usually happen."

Interestingly, at present Rob coaches himself:

"I don't have a coach, I don't need anyone telling me what to do. Though maybe I could pick up some hints for my cycling, but not running, I already know everything there is to know!"

I asked Rob if there were any athletes who inspired him or that he'd like to emulate. As usual, his answer was straight to the point - no hesitation. He's a man who knows his own mind:

"I'm happy with me. I don't want to emulate anyone, though I admire past and current champions in running. In cycling I admire Nick Craig, especially since I've got to know him a bit more. Like Phil (Dixon) I've got to know him gradually, and I think he's fantastic. There's a lot of big egos out there and I can't be doing with it."

Although he's a very determined, disciplined and self motivated individual, Rob has been lucky in the support he has enjoyed from family and friends. His Mum and Dad are incredibly proud of his achievements, in a typical Yorkshire way, along with his long term partner, herself a very competent fell runner with her own goals. However, she doesn't share his fascination with the bike:

"Mum and Dad are really proud. They wouldn't come and watch me in a running race, but they came out to watch me in Belgium, in the 'Cross World Champs. My partner is also a very good runner, with her own goals, she's dead proud of me too, but she can't understand the bike. Running is so much easier you just have a pair of shoes and you're off. With cycling, it's all the bikes and equipment you need - she doesn't quite get it. Beyond my family, I'm also lucky in that I'm sponsored by Wheelbase and they really look after me."

So there you have it - Rob's a man passionate about his sports, both cycling and fell running. Getting to know his a little at the 'Cross worlds was an education. He's also a friendly individual who soon had us all laughing our socks off with his dry outlook and witty observations of situations and people. He exudes confidence in his ability as an international fell runner - a confidence built on gritty hard work and determination. He also knows his limitations, but isn't afraid to push himself into new situations. Under all that mud, there's a very talented individual who, I guess, has really enjoyed proving he's not just a one trick pony.