The inaugural Women's Tour of Scotland is fast approaching. It's time to get to know the riders who will make up the Scotland Team as they prepare to race around the county across three stages from the 9 - 11th August. Here's Jenny Holl...

How did you get into bike racing? Can you describe your first racing experience?

JH: I got into cycling through the local club, Stirling Bike Club and the Wallace Warriors when I was about 9, and started out racing cyclocross and mountain bike when I was about 10. I wasn’t very good, I remember my teammate Rhona lapping me at pretty much everything we did!

You’re currently part of the Great British Cycling Team Senior Academy in Manchester. What is it like training and racing with the team down there?

JH: It’s an incredible set up with unbelievable support. Being able to train in the same sessions as the Podium squad is great, I t really shows us the standard we need to be aiming for and getting to.
With the Women’s Tour of Scotland fast approaching, what are you doing to prepare for this race?

JH: I’ve just had a big track block including the European Games in Minsk, and the U23 European Championship in Ghent, so I’ve been getting back on the road and putting in some hours. The sun has been making it very enjoyable!

Which stage of the race are you most looking forward to and why?

JH: Definitely the second stage. I grew up training on the Dukes Pass and these roads, so I know them well and know they’ll certainly make for some really exciting racing, and probably some very hard racing!

With the race going over three days, how will you recover after each stage and prepare for the next?

JH: We train every day, so I’m pretty used to backing up my efforts day in, day out. I’ll be focusing on fuelling properly, the biggest mistake would be not eating enough after stage 1, it would really hit on the final day.

How does it feel to be part of the Scotland Team at the first ever Women’s Tour of Scotland?

JH: It’s pretty amazing. I haven’t raced in Scotland kit since I was a Youth, so I’m really excited about that, and it’s even better to be able to race in Scotland kit on home roads in a Scottish race.
Finally, what advice would you offer other women who are interested in getting into bike racing?

JH: There’s so many races out there, and every kind of cycling you could want. The new closed circuit at Lochgelly is an amazing way to get into road without having to worry about open roads and cars. My key thing would be don’t think too much about how you do, just enjoy riding your bike fast with other people who love doing the same thing.

Good luck to Jenny as she takes on the Women's Tour of Scotland.

The inaugural Women's Tour of Scotland will take place across three stages from the 9th to the 11th August 2019. Find out more information HERE.