Rob Hayles Interview

 

13th of March, 2006; By Larry Hickmott in Melbourne
Rob's Website: www.RobHayles.com

 

 

It seems an eternity ago now but 10 days ago I caught up with Rob Hayles who was in Sydney for the World Track Cup where he won Gold in the Individual Pursuit. He'd only been in Australia for a week when we spoke so to win so convincingly was an awesome performance from the double World Champion.

He was one of only a few senior riders doing the Sydney World Track Cup explaining that he needed to qualify another spot for the Individual Pursuit after Paul Manning won the Manchester round way back in December. By having qualified two spots for GB at the Worlds, Rob is hoping that there won't be a need now to have a ride off to see who rides the Pursuit in France in April.

"I'd rather do a ride to earn my own place" he said to us. "I know that if I come up against Paul and its not race day, I'm in trouble. It's bad enough on race day with Paul because he can pretty much do his race time most times of the year where as I am very up and down. Even three days ago I wasn't creeping but I wasn't going particularly well. Then yesterday (March 2) it was a lot better."

Talking about the Commonwealth Games, Rob says that he's hopeful of a ride in the Pursuit and has fond memories of Melbourne 2004 where he went the closest yet to getting rainbow stripes in that event, winning a Silver to go with a bronze for the Pursuit in Manchester 2000. "I love that track in Melbourne" he says. "They (Sydney as well) look the same as Manchester to the eye but they're not. They are short straights, bigger bankings and more of a bowl. Really nice".

Asked about goals for the Commonwealth Games, he says "We need the Team Pursuit desperately. And if I can come away with a Gold in the individual then I'll be ecstatic with two Golds. I am only riding events I think I can win and that's the whole point of me riding now".

Rob then hopes to take the form from the Commonwealths to the Bordeaux Velodrome for the Worlds. "Last years pursuit result doesn't bother me because I finished off with two golds anyway. But I do want to prove to myself I can do it."

 

Rob sweats a tad on the rollers at the Dunc Gray Velodrome.

Fatherhood
It has certainly been a big start to the year for Rob because not long before he came out to Australia, Rob became a father for the first time with the birth of his daughter Madeline (Maddy). It's an event that he admits like many new fathers, has turned his world upside down and whilst he is away 'working', he's been speaking to the mother of his daughter, wife Vickie, every day. "We are both learning and being a big kid, people can't actually believe I'm a dad."

Asked whether the birth of his daughter affected his preparation for the Games, Rob explained "it wasn't too bad really. I missed one or two key sessions over the period of the birth and just after. The major problem was they both got a little sick as I did which was the reason I had to pull out of the last Revolution meeting because it was the only way to get over it and that was to rest."

Rob was speaking to us before he won the Gold medal in Sydney, qualifying five seconds faster than the next rider. Prior to his ride, he said "I'm not going as well as I should be so if I can do a half decent ride here, I'll be happy as this is just a progression ride - helping me go from here in Sydney to peaking for the big ones in Melbourne."

He did of course do that half decent ride and then some. Coming off the track, his first words were "That was horrible! I'm pleased with the result but that wasn't a very nice ride like this morning. I'm really pleased that the two times are consistent but it felt like a different World out there tonight. I got a better catch this morning and in the final, when I caught him, I didn't know whether I was going to continue but eventually decided I would and it was really starting to hurt then."

"This morning I kind of cruised a little bit and this evening it felt a lot harder. The ride here was more about the exercise and the effort and although I am really pleased with the win, I just hope today bodes well for the next couple of weeks and then the World Championships."

When I put it to Rob that the win would be a medal for his six week old daughter Maddie, he replied, "Yes, I got a picture text earlier on from her saying 'go daddy go', and although she didn't spell it right I'll let her off as she's only six weeks old!"

Now his focus is the Commonwealths in a few days and we'll be following his progress in the coming days along with the training of the riders from the home nations. Rob starts his Games with the Individual Pursuit on the Thursday evening and then has a day's rest before the Team Pursuit on Saturday.

Good luck Rob!

Rob's Sydney Photo Album

 

 

Rob on his way to a Gold medal in the Sydney World Cup.

 

 

Decisions, decisions -- Rob talks over the gear he wants for the Gold medal ride with mechanics Mark Ingham (left) and Ernie Feargrieve (right).