Quiz Time! Toby Bush (Fensham Howes – MAS Design)

Quiz time with Toby Bush from the Fensham Howes-MAS design team who’s looking forward to having more opportunities to race a bigger and better calendar all over Europe as a 2nd year junior

Quiz Time! Toby Bush (Fensham Howes – MAS Design)
Presented by RedBrickIT

Q: What is the best thing for you being in such a strong ambitious team?
Toby: Being in such a strong and ambitious team gives me more opportunities to race a bigger and better calendar all over Europe than I was able to do as a 1st year Junior before. It also motivates me to help keep the team’s reputation strong moving forward by doing as well as I can in every race, whether that is a good result for me or one of my teammates.

Q: After a long winter, are you hungry for racing or happy to wait until it’s warmer!
Toby: I’ve had a great winter compared to previous years in terms of preparation, riding in the UK and a couple of blocks in Spain. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the first races of the season, as I would like to bring home some good results. However, part of me is looking forward to the warmer weather as it’s nicer to race in the sun than the rain and wind.

Q: Does the success of the team in helping riders move on in the sport to pro teams motivate you during the tough days of winter training?
Toby: Yes, seeing the previous team riders move on to these bigger pro teams is motivating and something I hope to emulate.

Q: Have you had a good winter on the bike and have you had to spend a lot of it indoors?
Toby: I have had a great winters training, although during the week I’ve had to spend lots of time on the turbo fitting around college. I think that is where most of the winter groundwork is done and its easier to control the sessions and power. Outside road miles are obviously very beneficial, but when you have a good hard turbo session you do feel good after it. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Spain for a couple blocks where I could get in a few 24 to 26 hour weeks , lots of hours and lots of effort on the bike which has helped me a lot in preparation for the first races this season.

Q: How was your 2023 season on the bike?
Toby: My 2023 season wasn’t my best. I had a few good results but nothing too major. Last season I spent time learning how to race properly, and now as a 2nd year junior I can put my experience to use to get great results which will hopefully set me up for continuing a career at U23.

Q: What was the best result/performance of yours in 2023.
Toby: I won the GHS National Time Trail, which was a pretty cool thing to do looking at the previous winners of the race.

Q: What race was the most fun to do in 2023.
Toby: I enjoyed most of the races as a first year Junior. I have always enjoyed the racing as it’s always fun to chat and meet up with mates before and after the racing.

Q: Are you looking forward to racing abroad and if so, what makes that racing so exciting?
Toby: I’m looking forward to racing abroad this year. I’m looking forward to racing hard and pushing myself to get the best results I can get.

Q: How do you find all the travel to races with many an hour on the road?
Toby: I don’t find the travel too bad. Prior to Covid and the lockdown, I travelled for five years ski racing at National and European level, which meant we often drove to the French and Italian Alps for racing and training. So, I’m pretty used to it now.

Q: What was the toughest bike race you did in 2023.
Toby: I think this would have to be the Junior Cicle Classic, It was one of my first races as a Junior and I knew the course well living close by, I was in an good position after the first hour and then punctured, it took the team car around 10 minutes to get up to me through the traffic and riders, by which time the race had gone and I was very wet and cold.

Q: What are your goals for 2024.
Toby: My main goals for this year are to get some great results consistently throughout the year.

Q; Have you raced in 2024 yet and if not, when do you expect your first race to be?
Toby: I haven’t raced yet this year, hopefully my first race will be KBK in Belgium, followed by some time trials and smaller races to keep up the fast pace shorter efforts ahead of Guido Reybrouck Juniors.

 

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