Ian Field Interview

Interview Posted: 3 February 2007

Joolze Dymond talks to Mountain Bike and Cyclo-Cross ace Ian Field

A straight-talking, Mr. Inquisitive, bombarding those he meets with 20 questions, usually about trivia - that was my first impression of Ian Field. However, his jokey persona soon gives way once he's in the saddle and when the chips are down his determination shines through, which is why Ian Field is now our number one under-23 rider.

A season of injury has finally been put behind him and encouraging results at recent World Cups and the Cyclo-Cross World Championships have once again show us his talent. With at least another three years in the under 23 category ahead of him, he's got time on his side, but he's already mixing it with our top elite riders, winning the first round of the 2006-7 National Trophy series.

Despite choosing to substitute a lucrative life on the football pitch for a life of two-wheeled mud-plugging, he's a young man happy with the life of a pro bike rider. I caught up with him recently at the world 'Cross Championships:

So I guess you're an old hand now at Cyclo-Cross racing?

I started as a youth rider. Back then I got 2nd overall in the National Trophy series. Then I moved up to junior and went on to represent GB in Italy at the Cyclo-Cross World Champs that year. The following year I was ill, so just raced in the UK. After that I stuck to the National Trophy races, then last year I did the Worlds again, got 21st in the under 23's and won a round in the National Trophy series. I also got 2nd overall in the seniors. This year (2006-7) I did Cheltenham, won that, then got injured and had a big break, so I'm only just getting back to form after that really.

The Worlds was my first big test after such a long lay off. I pulled a muscle in my leg just 3 days before Mallory Park (Round 3 of the National Trophy Series)and had to have 5 weeks off my bike. The Nationals didn't go too well for me as I hadn't been on the bike too much in the run-up. But I've just come back from a week in Lanzarotte, which was good and now, I feel ten times better than I did at the nationals. I was 10th in the Nationals and second in the under-23 category. That race didn't go to plan - the plan was to win! Last year I was in the lead group, when my chain got jammed and after that I couldn't see any reason why I shouldn't go on to win it this year. But after the injury I couldn't do too much about it. I got 17th in the Trevino World Cup and I have a couple more years in under 23's, so my aim is to get up there.

You been to quite a few World Cups and Champs now, do you still get nervous on the run up to any of these?

Hell yes! If you haven't got the nerves then there's no point starting. The run up is pretty much the same now for all the events, but it's not till the actual day that it's different. The Champs are huge: the crowds are enormous, much bigger than anything else I've done, even the mountain bike worlds.

What were your thoughts about the course in Belgium at the recent World Champs?
I liked it. It had a bit of everything, plenty of places to get your effort out, lots of challenges both physically and technically: there was a lot of getting on and off the bike, so technique was crucial. Even coming out of the pits you've had some quick sections and coming out onto the road you needed a bit of speed there. It was very twisting and turning with lots of little banks, quite technical, but I liked it.

How did the course shape up to others you've ridden?

It seemed to be the most interesting so far. Usually you expect a Belgium Cyclo-Cross to be a romp round a flat field, into the woods a bit and back out. The National Trophy series in the UK has seemed pretty similar too. So it was a good course to get stuck in to.

Did you fancy your chances?

I wasn't expecting a medal this year. Albert, Stybar, Boom and Villa were all the favourites and the race unfolded around them. Everyone else was racing for 5th spot. I'd have loved a top 10, but I wasn't a hundred percent sure of my form, as I've not done that much because of injury, so to get 16th felt pretty good.

You've had a mixed year, but some of your results have been impressive?

Yeah I had a knee op just after the first Cross-Country NPS, so that put me out of action for 4 weeks and at the next NPS I didn't get going and that was it. The Mountain Bike Worlds didn't go to plan, which was a bit disappointing. It rained and turned into a bit of a running race on the day. I just mucked it up a bit really, but you learn from your mistakes and come back stronger.

I had a good ride at the World Cup in Slanznick, where I came in the top 60. I would have done better but I burnt the tyre. Then at Checkendon the following week I got 3rd in the elites so I was pretty happy with that and managed to carry that form into the Cheltenham 'Cross, which I won. I was hoping to go on from there and just win when I wanted to, but it went a bit wrong with the injury.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Well I go straight from the Worlds into training: I've had such a lot of time off through injury that I'm not taking a break. I'm off to Benidorm for a week's training with the academy and Oli (Beckingsale). Then it's back for a few weeks before I go to Cyprus to do a mountain bike race. I have three events lined up over there. Hopefully I'll start UCI collecting points and get into the rhythm of mountain biking ready for the new season. Although my main focus is mountain biking and Cyclo-Cross, I will be doing a bit of road early season just to improve my form.

What are your goals?

Long term it's London 2012. No doubt about that. Along the way, Fort William this year, is gonna be massive. I definitely want a podium there. And then picking up National Points and National Trophy's as they come along.

You're now a full time GB Academy rider - how do you find it?

I love it, you wake up in the morning and you just have one thing on your mind: riding your bike. You don't have to think about anything else. I've been in the academy two years now, but for the first year I lived with my team-mate Ian Bibby in his house. Now we both live full time at the Academy.

What do your parents think of your 'job' as a full time bike rider?

They love it. Apparently when I was 13 I told Mum I wanted to be a pro bike rider, so this is a good stepping-stone to that ambition. Mum and Dad are really happy for me. They see me once a year at Christmas and then at whatever races they can come along to. I'm from Ashford, Kent, which is closer to France than it is to Manchester, so you can't just pop home on a weekend. Being away is just like being at uni, but with more focus on riding and none on the drinking!

So what did you do before cycling?

I used to ride moto-cross, from about the age of 6, up until I was about 16 and then gave it up to concentrate fully on my cycling. I also used to play football, which I was pretty good at. I guess if I'd stuck with it I could have done something with that, but cycling took hold when I was 13 and that was that.

Does any one inspire you?

I guess that would have to be moto-cross rider Stefan Everts: he dominated his sport for years. Cycling-wise, it has to be Boonen. He's taken cycling to a different level, the next stage in fact, making it mainstream, bringing in the big money, big sponsorship and the women!! And, after all, I'm only in it for the women and the money!!! OK, Only joking!

Final thoughts?

It's not just a job, it still fun. Even if I weren't in the GB Academy, I'd still be riding.