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Photo courtesy of Cowman family / CycleSportNews.com
Interview
with Sally Cowman -
Sally
Wraps Up Two State Titles
This interview
was first published on www.CycleSportnews.com
in July - it comes to WomensCycling.net courtesy of Peter Ford.
Last weekend, Sally Cowman was crowned Queensland State
Senior Women’s Time Trial Champion and Senior Women’s Road Champion at
Kingsthorpe.
In
the Time Trial, Sally won by a mere second from long time rivals Liz Young
and Emma Mackie, and followed this up with an outstanding victory in the
Road Race title, sustaining a powerful surge to draw away from Emma Mackie
and Uni Cycle Club rider Nicole Magner.
To
win both senior female titles was an outstanding feat in itself, but to
achieve this milestone in the face of adversity and against increasing
odds, made these two wins very special, not only to Sally, but also to her
legion of loyal fans and supporters, who have watched over recent months
as the young Victor Cycle Club rider has agonizingly managed to get beaten
in some of her lead up races.
The
courage and determination shown by Sally Cowman at Kingsthorpe is the sort
of “true grit” that one has come to expect from our elite women’s
cyclists, and it will be these qualities which will help Sally to
negotiate the next steps towards National selection.
Here's the Interview >>>>
CSN:
How does it feel to be Queensland's Womens Road Champion
and Champion Time Trialist?
 | SC:
It feels really great! I wanted to win both, and breakaway in
the road race, and its good when you can do exactly what you
want to. |
CSN:
What was your training schedule leading up the
championships?
|
SC: Not that great! We had that week where it rained, then the
week before the States, I came down with a cold. So I didn’t
really get to do much but just easy riding. |
CSN:
What was going through your mind?
| SC:
Well, I knew it was just State Titles, and they don’t feel
like much of a race, cos I’ve done so many, but I thought if I
want to achieve what I want to with my cycling (career), I have
to be beating these gals in the road race by a fair way. |
CSN:
How positive or determined were you?
| SC:
I always do my best to be positive, and I’m always determined
when I set my mind on something. |
CSN:
I believe you weren't feeling 100%??
| SC:
No! I got bad sinus just after the ITT, and was up most of the
night because of it. It was horrible! I didn’t think I could
start the road race, but lucky I did! |
CSN:
What was your strategy going into the Time Trial?
| SC:
Just to focus on a few key words, and to do the best time trial
I ever had. |
|
|
CSN:
How did you feel out on the road?
| SC:
Fine, I found my rhythm easily. On the way back it was a big
head wind so I just tried to keep on top of the biggest gear I
could push. |
CSN:
When and where was the Road race held?
| SC:
On Sunday morning at 9:15am a little past Toowoomba at
Kingsthorpe. |
CSN:
What was the course like?
| SC:
It had a couple of hills in it- one was about 1.5kms, but they
weren’t very hard at all. The thing that really effected the
race was the wind. We did four laps and the race ended up being
107kms. |
CSN:
Did the weather conditions suit you?
| SC:
I think so, I handle well in the strong winds. |
CSN:
How many women were lined up for the road race?
| SC:
I think there were about 17, maybe a few more? |
CSN:
Who were the main opposition?
| SC:
Well there were the QAS talent squad, Liz young with her
Marcelets team, and Emma Mackie from Melbourne. |
CSN:
What sort of form did they have coming into the event?
| SC:
I knew they had all been training very hard for this. I knew
what Liz Hepple had the QAS riders doing. Emma lives with Liz
Young and said she had done a lot of TT efforts. |
CSN:
How confident were you after the TT?
| SC:
Its different to the road race, I just knew I wanted to win by a
fair way |
CSN:
Can you lead us through the race. What were the major turning
points?
| SC:
I got a gap from the bunch with Emma after I went on the 2nd lap
up the climb, but it didn’t work out. I knew it would when I
went again on the third lap. Emma and I were working well
together. |
| |
| We
then turned the corner to the 7km finishing straight that was
just a block headwind. We were only coming up to the bell lap,I
could see Emma was really tired, so I thought I had to go now or
we would be caught. I made Emma go through for a turn and backed
off a couple lengths and then hit it. I kept a good pace and
that was it to the finish. |
CSN:
Describe the closing stages.
| SC:
I was holding 1min 25 on Emma when I turned for the 7kms head
wind home. When I had 2.5kms to go, a different car came up and
said 'You have 30secs and they are gaining fast!' I thought,
what!? I haven’t cracked! But I put more in! More that I
didn’t have! I crossed the line stuffed! Only to find out it
was the guys coming in for there bell lap, Not Emma! |
CSN:
How did you feel when you crossed the line?
| SC:
Just wrecked! |
CSN:
What does this victory mean to you?
| SC:
Well it’s always good to win a State Title, and to win it
convincingly. It was great for the TT training! And it proves a
point. |
CSN:
Where to from here?
| SC:
Well, now I will start getting some quality training in!
Everything from now is leading up to the Club Nats for me. |
CSN:
Have your future plans or ambitions altered because of the wins?
| SC:
I think it just makes me feel like I’m heading in the right
direction. I’m just starting to get back on track now. |
CSN:
How are you feeling right now? Has it done a lot or your self
esteem?
| SC:
I’m feeling good. It was a little step, and now I will make
another one at the Club Nats. |
CSN:
Are you one step closer to getting picked up by the AIS after a win
like this?
| SC:
It is mainly at the Open Nationals in January that they look at
the riders for that. But its good that I could win by a fair
way. I’m sure some people notice. |
CSN:
Can you see yourself riding overseas within the next year or so?
| SC:
Definitely! That’s the plan! |
CSN: Was
it a good weekend for women's cycling in general?
| SC:
Yes it was great for us women! We all finished the race just
spent, and that’s how it should be. |
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