Q&A: Lydia Boylan (Team WNT)

Irish champion for the second year in a row, Lydia Boylan of Team WNT Pro Cycling takes the VeloUK quiz …

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Q&A: Lydia Boylan (Team WNT)

“The guys have really pulled a strong team together” Lydia says of a strengthened team for 2017. “It’s all very exciting and after our first team camp a few weeks ago, the team atmosphere was great and I think everyone is very keen to see what we can do together on the road.

1. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Lydia: The highlight has to be defending my national road championship (Ireland). I don’t get to race very often in front of my family so it’s always extra special to race at home with their support. And to celebrate winning with them is just amazing.

2. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Lydia: Ras na mBan probably. The team worked so well together and it was great to be apart of that. Coming away with best team and 2nd on GC was testament to how well we worked together.

3. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Lydia: Thuringen. Definitely! Each day was a battle to stay with the front group and then when finally dropped, it was a battle to finish with some long stages and some crazy weather (from heatwave to torrential rain) over the week.

4. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 to help you go faster/better, what was that?
Lydia: Recovery is key. Listening to your body and knowing when it’s time to take some time off! Going from track to road for two seasons has been tough. You have to know when to stop fighting the fatigue and let your body rest.

5. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Lydia: We are very spoilt with WNT with the best equipment out there… S-Works, Di2, I could go on… but the most important for me is a good bike fit. Making sure I’m comfortable on the bike is the key to a good performance in my opinion.

6. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Lydia: Usually rollers for track (mostly because they are the easiest to travel with!) I pretty much do the BC 20 min warm up. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, right? I usually have music but it’s not something I’m really paying attention to. I’m usually focusing on doing the warm up right and what my plan is for the race.

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7. What’s your favourite discipline on the road; road racing/crits/time trials and why!
Lydia: I would probably say crits. They’re always different and they reward a smart racer. Someone who knows when to attack or when to sit in and sprint. I’m still working on this! Ha! I like the unpredictability and the fact they’re usually pretty physically tough too!

8. What comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts for the early season training?
Lydia: This year has been the first winter in a while that I’ve had time to do ‘normal’ winter training. Started out with some long steady miles but track is looming again now so I’m already into efforts. Well…struggling through some efforts!

9. Wearing the Irish Champions jersey – what are your best memories of doing that?
Lydia: Every time I get to put it on for a race is special. But it was pretty cool being called to start at the front at Thuringen. I was very proud to represent Ireland at such a prestigious race.

10. What are the goals for 2017?
Lydia: First up will be Track Worlds in April. This year my focus will shift from the Team Pursuit to the Omnium. And also hoping to feature in the Madison too. After that, it’s a full on road season and with the line up WNT have put together I think we’ll be able to pull off some pretty good results together. Oh, and hopefully do well at the end of June again!

11. Finally, what will your first race of 2017 be?
Lydia: First up will be the Omnium at the Cali World Cup in February. And on the road, in March with a stage race in Spain.

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