Talking to Trackman turned Roadman Steve Cummings
Interview by British Cycling's Larry Hickmott
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Next Saturday, Olympic Silver medallist Steve Cummings will don his 'fast clothes' and join his GB teammates as they look to win Great Britain's first World Team Pursuit title. Talking a day before he left for Los Angeles, Steve said that his season so far is all going well. His season has mainly focused on riding the road. It started in the Algarve where he went close to a stage win and then he rode his first 'classic', Het Volk where he said it was "different roads, different weather and more frantic".
Asked to explain more about the difference between a classic and a stage race, he replied "Everyone wants to be at the front all the time in Het Volk because no-one really rides a classic like that to ride into form. Algarve though was a bit more laid back on wider roads, longer climbs and because it's a stage race, after the first split on day 1, a team controlled it so it's a lot steadier."
After Het Volk, he rode the semi classic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne which he says was better for him. "In Het Volk I was struggling as I had been ill during the week and I didn't know whether I should even ride but I rode and loved it. It was good experience to see what it means to the people, the Belgiums, they love it too and there are so many people out watching and that in itself is motivating for me. Whilst Kuurne was easier because on the way out, its on the one road and initially there were not as many left and rights and climbs."
And the cobbles, I queried, how did you find them? "I got sore hands from the vibrations and the cold" Steve replied. "People said to relax and I was relaxed on the bars and it was hurting more. Then in Kuurne, when we went up the Karewmont I was having to ride one handed and slow right down because it was that painful before chasing back over the top."
After the Belgium classics it was back down south to ride the Tour of Mercia. "I felt like I was back where I was in the Algarve" Steve said of the Spanish race. "Mercia went really well and I was looking to see how I could fare on the GC as I had never considered it before. On the day up to the mountain top finish, I made it to the final split of 35 guys and I was in good company and then when the gradient got steeper, and one of these little guys attacked, I yoyo'd off and on and lost six minutes."
"On the last day I had two punctures, one before the first climb when it was lined out and I had just got back on when it had started to split. I still managed to get back to the front group, and so I was pleased with that. Then just on the run in, I punctured again when it was splitting in the cross winds. I got back on okay after digging deep and was going to have a dig late on but I didn't have the legs after making those efforts."
"I have shown I can be competitive and I'm looking to get results where ever I set my goals. Its not like the track where you can peak because on the road you do that much racing, you can't. It's more a mental thing where you set yourself a goal and go deep and get everything out in the one race that motivates you."
Switching to the track, I asked how he felt on the boards after racing on cobbles only weeks earlier. "I felt really good even though I feel tired. When we get to Los Angeles we can taper." And I asked, does the track still motivate him after his experience on the road? "The Worlds always motivates me" he replied.
"I want to be World Champion as does everyone in the team and I am certainly going as well as I have ever gone. I've wanted this since 2001 when I came into the track squad. My first goal back then was to get into the team and I did that straight away really. It shocked a few people and since then it has been up and down. In the last year, after May, its been on the up for me so for me to win the Worlds would be fantastic."
Steve then recalled his first ride with the team that he is now a firm part of. "I was 19, man four and looking down the line as the countdown started and all the guys I was next to had been at the Olympics." The track is still special for Steve even though doing the road was always his dream. "The reason I got into cycling was by watching the Tour de France and the classics and that is where the glamour is. It looks so good on the TV because its such a big show and I'd love to a part of that. But when you start off as a junior, its miles away and not within your grasp so you need to pick intermediate goals and the track has helped me do that. The best feelings I have had on the bike have been on the track which says it all. The Olympics was just so special and the Worlds as well".
But Steve is sick of being second and I am sure if the team can do what they have failed to do so far, and win that title in the Team Pursuit next Saturday, there will be few prouder of that achievement than Steve and we wish him and all the team a lot of luck. It was so close in 2004 and they learnt so much that fingers crossed, this year everything will go their way. After so many second places in the last five years, no team deserves that title more than the riders that race in the Great Britain colours. Good luck boys!