Pre-Worlds Interview: Ed Clancy
March 24, 2007
by Larry Hickmott (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk)
A rider many regard as a certainty for selection, Bradley Wiggins, says of former Olympic Academy rider Ed Clancy in his interview “Ed is now one of the fastest riders in the world now in the pickup position”, a compliment that has help motivate Ed as he strives to make the team and finally get a shot at a World title.
In 2005, Ed rode round 1 and was then left out of the final and so although part of a World Title winning team, never actually got to wear the rainbow stripes at 19. Last year, he never quite managed the form required for selection due to experimentation with his training and build-up. This year however, he has been in the form of his life and has his fingers crossed that he is one of the chosen four in Palma.
Talking about the session on Thursday he says “Today hasn’t felt that different as they have been checking out people all week. We all know we could have a bad day and that it wouldn’t make all the difference. There is a little more pressure today but then there has been pressure pretty much every day this week but everyone knows who has a fair idea of who will be in the team like Bradley”.
Speaking about Bradley’s public praise of him, Ed smiles and says “when I read that in his interview, that did a lot for my confidence that did. You get a lot people saying you can do this and that from tests but when it’s the worlds best track rider saying that it means a lot.”
Ed then explained the team were up at half six to have breakfast and make their way to a cold and empty track centre for their final hit out. “We’re still tired from the week gone by. We have been on the track for pretty much the whole camp bar one or two days and had double sessions sometimes.”
Agreeing that it will be special to be get selected at last for the team’s blue ribbon event, he said of the effort on the track that day “its in these race efforts we get a feel for the race gear and race pace and an idea of how hard its going to be in the last kilometre.” Ed then went off for the selection meeting with the coaches and managers and we wish him luck in Majorca.
