Sunday Lazy Afternoon Reading

We are pleased to have Alex Jones writing to us about his latest experience. This prominent and emerging young guy has an amazing spirit and extraordinary power in his legs.

Alex first from the right wearing Sigma Sport Colours

GB Track Training camp

Last month I prepared for my first International para track meeting, hosted by British Cycling at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. I had been really excited to be invited up a couple of weeks before by the Great Britain Cycling Team coaches to work on the 4k Pursuit (as an endurance rider) for a couple of days.  Spending each day on the track one to one was amazing as I learned so much in a short time.  I was able to record all my time splits and practice technique with world class coaching and having a specific target race gave me real focus for the event. I was also able to have my regular check in with the GB physiotherapist to catch up on how my physio programme was going and to see the effects of my exercises on my flexibility, which was really noticable.  

On my second afternoon of training I went back into the velodrome after lunch to see two other riders and their coach getting ready to share the track -  it was none other than Mark Cavendish and Ed Clancy, both really relaxed and friendly. We chatted in between our efforts and the three of us rode the boards for the rest of the afternoon whilst I tried to decide if I was hallucinating or not through the tiredness!  Great experiences happen when you are least expecting them.

First International Medal!

Soon I was back up in Manchester for the Track International and warming up alongside experienced riders from all over the world from as far as the USA, Japan and South Africa to Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands; and of course the GB team. Being the youngest I knew I had some big challenges in front of me but I tried to remain calm and remember what I had practiced.  In the pursuit qualifying round I managed to make the top 4 into the finals later in the day. I wondered if I could put in that performance again but was determined to do everything I could to beat my opponent, a South African top 10 ranked rider.  I had my GB coach walking the line and as the race started I had to resist the temptation to push on too fast as the other guy pulled away by a couple of seconds and then widened the gap.  I remembered what my target lap times were and as the race went on I was feeling good but the other rider started to tire. His pace slowed and as we got to the last kilometre I was well up and nearly caught him at the finish for the bronze medal.  Performing in competition I had knocked over 9 seconds off my pb in training and felt on top of the world standing on the podium having won my first International medal, and very grateful for all the support I had getting me there.  I also reached the finals in the team sprint, and raced the Kilo and scratch race over the weekend, it was a fantastic and brilliantly organised event, and thank you BC and my coach Andy for getting me race ready. Next up, my long awaited rest period and a chance to look at the race calendar for 2016!

Thank you Alex,Merry Xmas to your and your family from SD TEAM.

Alex Jones and the National Para TT Championships

Our guest writer/rider Alex Jones talk to us about his last experience at the National Para TT Championships.

National Para TT Championships

 As soon as I returned from Manchester it was time to start preparations for the National Para Time Trial Championships. Time Trialling is not an area where I have had a lot of experience but I had not done badly in the World Cup so I was motivated to keep training hard.  The course was a rolling 36kms in the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside. We travelled up the day before so I could at least drive the course a few times and get familiar with the tricky bits and try to make a plan.  We were lucky with the weather on the day, with bright sunshine and next to no wind.  I was slightly nervous to see that the current National Champion was setting off a minute behind me so I knew that I would have to be strong mentally as he sailed past me and resist the temptation to chase him down at a speed that would be unsustainable and make my legs die on me before the end of the race.   I put everything into my performance, with GB coaches there watching our every move once more,  and at the end of the race I had no idea if I had medalled or not as the times seemed very close for 2nd and 3rd places. 

Checking the results board I was genuinely over the moon to see that I had come second, earning a silver medal, proving that every second of effort counts.  I went away inspired by the other riders and whilst I continue my physio exercises I know that I can continue to overcome my muscle stiffness to improve my position on the bike for next year.

It has been a very long and exciting season for me but it is not quite over as my first ever Track International competition is coming up in November so I have been training every week at the London Velodrome so I can attempt more pbs and improve my racing technique.

The SD Team thanks Alex for sharing his cycling experiences with us and all our followers. We wish well and we look forward to hear more interesting stories.Good Luck for the rest of the season.

SD TEAM.

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Alex Jones & National Track Championship

After yesterday blog, today Alex tells us about his National Championship. 

National Mens, Womens and Para Track Championships

Three weeks later I was back at the National Cycling Centre this time to compete in my first Para National Track Champs– a daunting but exciting prospect as I would be sharing the track with the Paralympic and World Champion multi gold medallists Jody Cundy, Rik Waddon and Jon Allan Butterworth, who were all really encouraging and friendly. I knew that I would need to treat this as an experience to learn from and do my best in front of the GB coaches who were videoing my races for later analysis .

My events were the Kilo,the flying 200 and the 4k Pursuit, a race I had never done before as youths do not do those distances. I was very lucky to have my coach there to pace me and although it was an agonizing effort I got my time splits right and put in controlled first attempt. It was amazing watching the pros smash their times in the flying 200 and I was inspired by them to put down another PB. As youth rider I have been on strict gear restrictions but now I will be able to gradually increase my strength and gearing so that I will be able to compete on a more equal footing in the future. Again the results were factored but in the mens category I came away with 3rd,3rd,4th but more importantly with an improvement in all my times and another great experience to learn from. 

Thank you Alex and great effort.

Very well done from the SD Team.

Supporting the New Para National Road Champion

SaddleDrunk Team is pleased to announce the start of an amazing relationship with Alex Jones the New Para National Road Champion.

We have asked Alex and his mother few question about Alex's cycling career.

Introduction

What an amazing trajectory it has been for 17 year old Alex Jones, since he started cycling competitively only 3 years ago! Having been spotted by British Cycling's Talent Coaches winning gold at the London Youth Games TT in 2012, he has been on the Olympic Talent programme Regional schools of Racing,  learning the trade on track and road - and the levels of hard work, sacrifice and discipline that it takes to succeed.  Born with mild cerebral palsy, last year he caught the eye of the Great Britain Cycling Team para coaches and after a successful first Road World Cup in Italy in June he has gone on to become 2015 National Mens para Circuit series winner and National Mens para Road Champion, a remarkable acheivement for a Junior rider. He has also medalled in each of 5 track events at the UK Games and is looking forward to competing with Paralypmic greats at the National Track Championships at the end of this month.  

History

Alex always enjoyed sports as a child but developed an interest in cycling at the age of 14, joining the Kingston Junior Cycling Club. The coaches there advised him to trial for the London Youth Games, (where he won Gold for the following 3 years) and he was spotted by revered British Cycling Talent and Regional Development coach Graham Macnamee who remains an influential mentor and voice of experience.

Mac nominated Alex for BC’s prestigious Regional Schools of Racing, part of the Olympic Talent Programme where over the next 2 years Alex learned the foundations of competitive road and track cycling and the high standards and hard work expected not only on the bike but off the bike too including nutrition, organization, preparation, discipline and the dedication required to be a top rider. Along the way he was supported and encouraged by his clubs (Twickenham CC, HIllingdon and Prestige), family and school, particularly by his PE Teacher and International Triathlete Mark Yeoman, who showed unwavering belief in  Alex’s potential.

Alex’s passion for riding grew, fuelled by fantastic experiences such as meeting the Team Sky riders and Shane Sutton on a training camp in Majorca where he rode up Mount Lluc with them and being taken behind the scenes at the Tour de France with Chris Boardman, Ned Boulting and Gary Imlach.  Off the bike, Alex is a BC level 1 coach and regularly helps teach young riders at Hillingdon CC.  His other interests are cars and music.

Alex did well in regional events but due to his mild cerebral palsy affecting his performance at an elite National level, he missed out on a place on the Olympic Apprentice programme. However, in a stroke of luck for Alex, he had caught the eye of his current coach, Andy Pitt who offered to take him on a one to one basis in July 2014, starting a fantastically motivating working relationship.   BC’s para cycling programmeidentified his potential and  nominated him for his first para Road World Cup in Italy in June this year where he was classified by an International panel as a C5 rider.

Following an impressive performance at his first World Cup, Alex went on, under the effective guidance of Andy Pitt, to win the National Men’s Para Circuit Series and after an amazing season has become National Men’s Para Road Champion in his category.  He has just returned from the UK School Games having medalled in each of his 5 events and is looking forward to the National Track Championships in Manchester later this month where he will be competing with Paralympic multi-medallists such as Jody Cundy and Jon Allan Butterworth.

After an exciting first year competing as a para cyclist alongside his regular racing commitments, Alex is now undergoing assessments  and training with the Great Britain Cycling Teamand his fierce ambition is to continue to learn and improve and earn the opportunity to ride for GBCT at the 2016 World Cups and World Championships and start BC’s four year preparation cycle for Tokyo 2020. Alex is also a Level One BC coach and spends his spare time teaching young riders at his old club.

From next month Alex will be wearing the national champion colour cycling kit made by SaddleDrunk after being approved by British Cycling. 

Good Luck Alex.

SD Team.

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