Interview: Matt Brammeier (Wales)

 

14th of March, 2006; by Larry Hickmott

Commonwealth Games Features Page

 

Former Great Britain Under 23 Academy rider, Matt Brammeier, will be riding for Wales in Melbourne 2006, having been entered for the Points and Scratch races where he is happy to take on a supporting role for Geraint Thomas who he says is can win a medal. Matt is also riding the Time Trial and the Road Race.

When asked if he is nervous, Matt replies "Yeah, I suppose I am starting to feel pretty nervous, as I've shifted from the track to the road over the winter and most of my training has changed a lot."

 

"I also don't have a specific coach telling me exactly what to do each day so most of my training I've had to think up my self after looking at what I have done in the past as well as taking a bit in from what Simon (Jones) has the other boys doing too. But so far things are going well and I've got 17 days of racing in my legs from one training camp in Majorca and five to six weeks with Winny (Julian Winn) and the Welsh team in South Wales. So far the form is good and I think I'm where I need to be."

Looking ahead to going to Australia and the final preparations, he says having been there with GB before, "I think the main advantage of being in Oz will be the weather. It makes it so much easier when you are doing intense efforts and also it reduces the risk of getting ill too. It's also always good to be away from home and in the team environment because it gives us a better chance to recover properly with no distractions of being at home.

As for races, besides Revolution 6 where he rode with Alexander Aesbach of Switzerland, he gives us an insight into what he's been able to do saying "I've already ridden in the Tour Of Siam in Thailand with Wales and the Tour of Langkawi with Great Britain. I think there will be opportunity to ride a few crits out in Oz whilst we're in Sydney."

"All of these races are purely about training and getting a hard work out. I think the highlight so far has been my time out in Malaysia. It was a great form of training, (beats thumping round the lanes here in the ice) and it was good to get back together with the lads (from GB) again too.

Good luck to Matt at the Commonwealth Games and thanks for his time in talking to us.