BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Experienced Australian cyclist Chloe Hosking has arrived in Doha knowing battling strong crosswinds would be key at this week’s Ladies Tour of Qatar.
The 24-year-old Wiggle-Honda rider finished third at last year’s event but the Bendigo-born is ‘well prepared’ for today’s first stage that is likely to be hit by extremely windy conditions.
“The preparations have been really good. I have been in training since November and there have been a lot of races in between as well,” Hosking said yesterday.
For the new season, Hosking has joined Giorgia Bronzini, the two-time world champion from Italy, at Wiggle-Honda cycling team.
“I actually raced on Saturday and jumped on a plane to reach Doha. So that was a strange feelings for the legs (laughs) but it was a windy race. So it was perfect preparation for Qatar,” Hosking added.
Excerpts from a chat with Hosking:
Question: Can you tell us about your preparation?
Answer: The preparations have been really good. I have been in training since November and there have been a lot of races in between as well. I actually raced on Saturday and jumped on a plane to reach Doha. So that was a strange feelings for the legs (laughs) but it was a windy race. So it was perfect preparation for Qatar. I am obviously here with a new team this year. It exciting to be racing with Giorgia Bronzini, a double world champion. Then we have Jolien D’Hoore who is also very strong. We have a very strong team. I love Qatar. Now I am so happy to be back. I can’t wait to start racing. I am a little nervous.
Question: What are you looking at from this week?
Answer: We want wins (laughs). I mean we are going in with a clear objective of winning the Tour overall. It doesn’t necessarily have to be me. I mean as I said we have a very strong team of Giorgia and Emilia Fahlin who is so fast. We have a few different cards to play. And then when we get that, we will be looking at stage wins as well. So maybe I am a little greedy (laughs) but it can be managed.
Question: Will there be competition within the team because there are tough riders?
Answer: (There is) not so much competition within the team. Whoever is in the best shape will lead. We are really committed to that. I think this year the field is a lot stronger. There are so many competitive teams like Bigla Cycling Team and then Boels Dolmans Cycling Team and then Rabobank or Velocio Sram. There are five teams that are so strong, particularly strong in the wind. I think it will be really hard, aggressive racing. I am nervous. It will be harder than before. There are more stronger teams and they want to dominate. It will be hard racing.
Question: Do you think Kirsten Wild’s absence makes racing any different?
Answer: I don’t think it (her absence) makes it any easier (laughs). I mean she is focusing on the tracks but there are so many good girls here, so many strong teams and the racing is going to be hard and just as tough. I think you will see some fantastic racing.
Question: Are you a hundred percent fitness-wise?
Answer: Yeah, I do feel a hundred percent. I am not at the weight I was last year. Maybe I ate too much over Christmas (laughs). But you know it is flat racing and I need to be powerful. You know I picked up some good results in Australia where I won a few stages. So I know my form is there. I just need to focus on making the echelon every day.
Question: We know your plans this week. What are your long-term plans?
Answer: I mean this year it is about helping my new team win races. So I have a heavy spring programme. I do pretty much every race in spring. If I can pick up a few races, that would be great. I wanna help girls win a few races. So I guess I would be playing a bit of a backseat role to help the girls. And then I am going to have a break in the middle of the year and then build up hopefully for the World Championships in Richmond but I have to see if I get selected.
Question: Do you think experience helps in races like the Tour of Qatar since you have raced here before?
Answer: Definitely. I know a lot of the stages, I know the finishes so that definitely helps. Also, the experience of racing in the crosswinds - it is such a unique form of racing. If you win and you are already at a huge advantage. The Australian national team is here with a lot of young girls. You might see them struggle a bit in the strong winds in the first stage but in the second they would get a bit better. They might not win but they are Australians and I will help them. You do see girls with experience at the front in windy races.
Question: Who do you think will win the 2015 cricket World Cup?
Answer: (Laughs) Australia, of course. Come on!
THE PENINSULA
DOHA: With defending champion Kirsten Wild not featuring this year, the seventh edition of the Ladies Tour of Qatar is set to have a new champion when the race concludes on Friday.
Wild, who has won four of the previous six editions of the race, has apparently decided to skip the four-day race to focus on track racing in 2015.
However, double world champion Giorgia Bronzini of Italy and Chloe Hosking of Australia have teamed up at Wiggle-Honda to launch the season in Doha.
John Lelangue, the former BMC sports director who now works for the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), said the Doha field is strong
“It is still a strong field,” Lelangue said. “A lot of riders who have won stages in Doha are here. People who did well at the Commonwealth Games are here. The field is high.
“It (the Ladies Tour of Qatar) is becoming a reference in the beginning of the season mostly for sprinters so that they can be here and win at the start of the season,” he added.
THE PENINSULA
