Jon Mould: Season 2010
The other night I was chatting with my roommate in Italy, Chris Whorrall, and we counted how long we'd been on the Academy, the past 10 months are the fastest of my life and probably his too. It's already well into August and the next stop, the Commonwealth Games!
The year has flown by starting in early November, I rode the UIV Gent 6, with fellow Welshmen Luke Rowe finishing 3rd overall. It was then into the New Year and off to Beijing for the Track World Cup, a real experience tough racing and long haul travel, something which I'm going to have to do again travelling to Delhi. I rode the Scratch and Points Races, getting into the finals of both; it is something I would like to target if I ride the World Cup again this coming winter. In February it was the UIV Copenhagen 6 Day with George Atkins again finishing on the podium in 3rd place, and then finishing off the winter season with the National Madison Champs before moving out to Italy for the road season.
Luke Rowe and Jon Mould at the UIV Ghent 6 day
Dance music is the only thing that seems to be played in this Academy house, I'm not complaining though it's my favourite music and I would probably be the one turning it up! The road season started, we're based in Italy so we race most weekends here. Early April it was time for the U23 Nation's Cups in Northern Europe; the Tour of Flanders, Tour of Picardie and ZLM Tour (which Luke won the previous year). Luke finished 5th in Flanders and was the best result of the trip. It was then back to Italy for the classic Liberazione race around the centre of Rome. A closed circuit in the centre of the capital of Italy, with a great atmosphere and one of my favourite races I've ever ridden.
Cooking, cleaning and generally just looking after yourself is something you soon pick up on the Academy, you have too, you don't want to be the one who's left your knife unwashed when there is only on kitchen you'd probably find it in your bag the next time you went to pack it for a race. After a small break it was the Ras in Ireland with the Welsh Team, great too put a Welsh Jersey on and race in it for 8 days, and then before you knew it, it was the National Road Race champs in Pendle on a tough course.
After 2 weeks at home it was back out to Italy, a 5 day stage race, Giro Valle Cuneessi, where I held the Intermediate sprints jersey for most of the race just narrowly missing out on it which was disappointing. It was then onto the GP Poggiana Luke's first win of the season, a great race to win and the win meant a lot for the whole team.
Giro Valle Cuneessi, Points Jersey
I'm a really big fan of Ice Hockey, as are my brothers as well as Luke and his brother Matt. We all follow the sport and the Cardiff Devils, trying to get to every game we possibly can. It's a great sport, fast, aggressive and entertaining. So being away for so much, when I'm back home before heading off to the Commonwealth's I will have to squeeze as many games in around my training!
Ciao Dopo
Jon
