Catherine Hills

Describe yourself in a few words – Determined, stubborn, loyal, supportive

Describe your average day – Live in a small Kent village having recently escaped the rat race. Ride my bike, continue to renovate our house, battle with the garden & allotment, try to keep in touch with everyone I should.

How did you get into cycling / racing? – Entered the Etape du Tour when I was told that just 6 months training from scratch would be nowhere near enough. Enjoyed the challenge & was finally persuaded to road race 2 years ago even though I believed I was way too old to start. You’re never too old!

What type of cyclist / racer are you? – Haven’t yet decided, but probably endurance. Although I just love the indoor velodrome…..

Over your cycling career so far:

Best Race – 3rd place at Seeland Classic race in Bern 2011

Most satisfying moment on the bike – Winning my age cat in the Gruyere sportive 2010

Other achievement – 2nd in my age cat the following year behind an ex pro

Pro you most admire/would like to race like – Marianne Vos is A-Mazing. And in so many disciplines

Next biggest passion after cycling (assuming cycling is your biggest!!) – Winter/mountain sports. In fact just being in the mountains

What are your goals for 2013 – To really enjoy racing with team mates & to get more involved rather than just surviving.

Rachel Przybylski

Describe yourself in a few words – Sociable, Passionate, Bossy, Determined & a team player
 
Describe your average day – Work in London City (finance Industry), ride my bike, talk to my friends/family and spend time with my boyfriend
 
How did you get into cycling / racing? – Entered a local triathlon, did spin classes and got roped into London2Paris 7 years ago… racing was the obvious next step
 
What type of cyclist / racer are you? – Endurance all the way, team rider, like to make stuff happen for others
 
Over your cycling career so far:
 
Best Race – Don’t think I have had it yet
 
Most satisfying moment on the bike – Riding along the Champs Elysee into Paris on closed roads with 450 riders, moto outriders and my fellow HotChillee event riders. In fact my HotChillee experiences to date are just too amazing for words. As a Ride Captain I am privileged to help 1000’s of riders improve bunch riding and enjoy cycling. 

Other achievement – Winning the Crystal Palace Circuit Series in 2011, 56th of over 6000 at the Cape Argus 2013
 
Pro you most admire/would like to race like – Sharon Laws & Stephen Roche…the man is a legend
 
Next biggest passion after cycling (assuming cycling is your biggest!!) – My family & friends
 
What are your goals for 2013 – Race hard but enjoy it. Try to win something & continue great team performances.

Lisa Gunn

Describe yourself in a few words – feisty, dedicated, determined, mother of two, oh and American!

Describe your average day – kids to school, commute to work, 10 hours later, repeat the process. Try to fit in as much cycling before the day starts and in spare moments.

How did you get into cycling / racing? – Peer pressure! I used to mountain bike (and snowboard) a lot in Utah, but when I moved to London there wasn’t anything close that matched the trails I was used to. So I bought my first road bike about 7 years ago (when I had my first daughter) and in between pregnancy and little ones I used it to get back into shape and have ‘me time’. From these snatched moments I progressively became obsessed and it spiralled out of control from commuting, to long weekend rides, to sportive, to cycling to Cannes, then joining a cycling club, to racing. Every year, the goals were bigger and more ambitious and along the way I was asked if I raced and when I said no – they said I should give it a go – so I did! This is now my third season racing.

What type of cyclist / racer are you? – powerful on the flat, but I go backwards on any climb.

Over your cycling career so far:

Best Race – is any race where I can help a team mate to a podium place or try and make something happen.

Most satisfying moment on the bike – Cycling to Cannes from London, every kilometre of it – 1,500 km in 6 days. Longest day on the bike 13 hours and 206 miles. I’ve never been in so much pain and pushed myself so hard, day after day. When I rolled into Cannes and saw the sea, I had tears in my eyes and was filled with a sense of achievement and my own inner strength.

Pro you most admire/would like to race like – Kristin Armstrong, the winner of the women’s individual time trial in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She inspires me to juggle life and train hard – I have an affinity for her as she is also American, born on the same day/same year as me, from the mid-west and is a mother – however she doesn’t have a full-time office job

Next biggest passion after cycling (assuming cycling is your biggest!!) – My girls and family are first (sorry!), but cycling is a close second, followed by an enjoyment and release in cooking and baking.

What are your goals for 2013 – To learn as much as I can about racing tactics, racing in a team and staying on my bike.

Emily Bagnall

Describe yourself in a few words – Graphic designer with too many bicycles.

Describe your average day – Cycle to work in Epsom, Surrey. If the weather is ok, try and go home via Richmond Park.
 
How did you get into cycling / racing? – P Always cycled. Then a few years back I joined the wonderful Kingston Wheelers and Maryka helped me get into racing.

What type of cyclist / racer are you? – Glum if I don’t cycle for a day, no method, just madness.

Over your cycling career so far:

Best Race – I’ve enjoyed so many. Best results would be wins at London Phoenix and Brighton Mitre Surrey league road races.

Most satisfying moment on the bike – Climbing the Col du Tourmalet. Stunning scenery…can’t wait to go back one day.

Other achievement – Rhonde de flan

Pro you most admire/would like to race like – Eddy Merckx. Marianne Vos. Cancellara. Sharon Laws. Alberto Contador.

Next biggest passion after cycling (assuming cycling is your biggest!!) – Design, gardening, camping, walking, sunshine…pubs. (And of course the folks and my buddies)

What are your goals for 2013 – More of a focus on longer distance races.