Q & A: Max Stedman (Canyon DHB)

Six years racing for Tim Elverson of Canyon DHB, Max Stedman is already going full whack in training to get ready for Challenge Majorca and the end of January

Q & A: Max Stedman (Canyon DHB)

Six years racing for Tim Elverson of Canyon DHB, Max Stedman is already going full whack in training to get ready for Challenge Majorca and the end of January. We ask him six quick questions …

– Re-signed for Tim for another season, how long have you ridden for his teams and sum up the best things about riding for the team?
Max: I’ve ridden under Tim’s wing for six years now (Pedal Heaven for 3 years, then three years at Canyon), so a fair while! But every year has been great, and the best thing about it, is that it’s basically a big family. There’s a lot of laughs, but when the time comes, we know when to switch that off and perform. It’s an environment I find it easiest to perform well in.

– What are the goals for 2020 with Tim running a dual programme – the domestic races, abroad or both?
Max: Goals? First off, I really want to start well at Majorca Challenge. I had a slow start to the year in 2019 and was always chasing it a little bit. It would be great for myself and the team to score some results and points there. After that, there’s plenty of hilly stage races to target in the spring and summer but I’ll really narrow down the targets after Majorca.

– What are your 2019 highlights?
Max: For me, that has to include doing the Olympic Test Event in Tokyo, Japan in July. It was a pretty incredible experience. Then I’d also say Tour De Le Mirabelle, although I had a big sh***er on the mountain day, but we still came away with two stage wins, and some really good/ fun team riding. The weather was mint as well and that also helps.

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– Best team moments in 2019?
Max: I think our presence in a lot of the 1.1 and 2s abroad was great to see. I wasn’t part of many of the .1s out there but there was usually always a whatsapp coming through saying well done to so and so for picking up a result which is always good to hear! Then, secondly, the way some of the younger half of the team are starting to gel and using the older guys experience to really take races on when in the past we might’ve not had the confidence to do that.

– Are you fully into winter training at the moment or still preparing to get serious with the season a late starter in the UK?
Max: Yeah, full whack into winter training. I want to sort out a really good run of form as I’ve already mentioned in Majorca, which is the end of January, so need to be fairly on it right now.

– Finally, how does finishing the season so late in China affect your winter programme? Ie, part of the training or delays the winter restart
Max: Racing in China just becomes part of the winter training! It was really good in Fuzhou this year with seven days of racing means you can gain a lot out of it. It was basically a warm weather training/ race camp with a bit of extra travel! You can go there semi fit and still hold your own.

Thanks Max and good luck in 2020!