Q & A: Gareth Turner (Latchem Sunwise)

Q & A with Gareth Turner of new team Latchem Sunwise that’s been put together for the 2017 season with riders and sponsors from the South region

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Q & A: Gareth Turner (Latchem Sunwise)

Gareth Turner explains that Latchem Sunwise is a new team that has been put together for the 2017 season with an exciting array of riders and sponsors from the South region. “I’m already good friends with a few riders on the team, and after meeting everyone else, I’m confident we will have a great team ethos and have a successful season” says Gareth. “We are all highly motivated to do well but above all, we are determined to enjoy our racing”.

1. How did you get into cycle racing?
Gareth: I started racing nearly four years ago now. Someone from my local club (Stowmarket & District CC) advised that I should give it a go. I wasn’t great to begin with, but it only made me more focused to train and improve.

2. What’s your favourite discipline in cycling?
Gareth: I really enjoy circuit races, especially town centre based events. They can be pretty technical and also encourage a great crowd. However, you can’t really beat racing on the road.

3. What is the best thing about bike racing?
Gareth: Difficult to choose just one! I suppose not knowing my limit. I really like pushing myself. It’s great to see how much further you can go than you first thought.

4. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Gareth: Last year it was great racing for Performance Cycles. As a team, one of our biggest goals was to win the Cotswold Road Race League. So it was great to help my team mate take the overall league win. On a personal level, it was nice to achieve my 1st category race licence from consistent results throughout the year. Winning the overall local winter series last year as well was pretty fun. I managed to achieve a podium in all 6 rounds, taking the sprint in the majority of them.

5. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Gareth: The Cotswold Road Race League as a whole was just fantastic. All the rounds were incredibly well organised. The round organised by my club was by far my favourite. It was pretty cool getting filmed in the race from a motorbike with a television crew. It was also great to come away with 2nd place.

6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Gareth: The Wiltshire GP which was at the start of May. It was a pretty hot day on a tough circuit with an Elite field. However, I’m really looking forward to competing in more of these top quality fields this year.

7. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 to help you go faster/better, what was that?
Gareth: Don’t look back! I managed to get myself in a number of breakaways this year and I would never look back when I went. Head down and go!

8. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Gareth: It has to be the race bike! The team are very lucky to be supported by Specialized this season, so I will be racing the new Venge Vias. It looks like a pretty serious bike.

9. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Gareth: It really depends on the race. Normally there will be a 20-minute roller warm up before road races at the weekend. I’d normally head out on the road for half an hour before a crit race, doing a few easy sprints to wake the legs up.

10. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Gareth: Due to work this year, I will be staying at home in the UK for most of it. Although, I will be heading out to Costa Del Sol in Spain for 8 days at the end of January for the team training camp.

11. When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Gareth: I started training in mid October, after taking a few weeks off. My training involves a mix of intervals and base work. I’m at Bath University and currently doing a year long industrial placement. So during the week it’s just interval work. Every weekend involves heading out to do those longer rides.

12. What are the goals for 2017?
Gareth: It should be a fantastic year for the newly formed Latchem Sunwise team. I really want to enjoy every moment. We’re planning on racing in Belgium early on in the season, so that’ll be great experience I’m sure. It’d also be great to push myself in as many of the elite races as possible, perhaps focusing on those in the Elite circuit series.

13. Does winter training consist only of riding the bike or running/swimming/gym work (cross training)
Gareth: I’m currently training around 15 hours a week on the bike. Normally hitting the gym twice a week on top of that. With a full-time job, there isn’t room for much else!

14. Finally, what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on a bike!
Gareth: ‘No such thing as poor weather, just poor clothing!’ So true! It’s been said a lot I’m sure, but it’s all about the having the right kit for the right weather. I’ve always tried to invest in top quality winter kits as it can make all the difference when out on those harsh winter rides.

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