Rory Townsend - Journey to Tokyo 2021
“Gareth! Sorry, I’m late.”
“Only 2mins. Coffee?”
“Flat white, please, mate.”
“What do you think about these black shoes with white socks?”
“Yeah, I like it. Reminds me of the Merckx era.”
“Yeah, the white strip kind of makes it.”
“It looks like a toe strap. Perhaps it wouldn’t work without it?”
“Yeah, like wearing P.E. kit and plimsolls.”
“Haha, exactly.”
GW: “After a season of solid training (due to the race calendar disruptions), you're in good form for Tokyo 2021. Let’s catch up on the whole journey, where does the story begin?”
RT: "For a lot of cyclists, it's all about making it to the continent. That's kind of like 'the golden ticket'. With my generation, it's very much been about developing here in the UK, and then you go across when you're ready. I suppose I've got a different path. I was never in the cycling 'system' - since I was never good enough."
GW: "Never good enough in your own eyes, or the eyes of 'the system'?"
RT: “I was nowhere near good enough as a youth. It was so long ago now. The guys that were winning at my age were like Tao (Geoghegan Hart). So it does tend to sort of point in the right direction.
"And I was nowhere. I think the highest I ever finished in a national event was like eighth, and that felt huge - but it's nothing, really."
"My second year as a junior I got glandular fever, which then became a sort of chronic fatigue. I basically took a year off. I felt aware that cycling wasn't going to be the thing for me anymore."
"I carried on racing just because, just because I love it more than anything. And then Tim Elverson (now Team Owner & Sports Director - Canyon dhb Sungod) and Pedal Heaven picked me up. Not because I've got any outstanding quality, just because I was always getting stuck in.”
"Just as slowly as the team grew, I was finally starting to make a few things happen - got a few results here and there. It was a slow graft."
"2017 was good. Yeah, um, a couple of podiums. I won the National Series overall, um and then 2018 would be like 'my big year'. I was going to give it everything."
"And then the first race of the season I hurt my wrist. It was recovering well, all strapped up - but then I was training, out by… do you know Barhatch Lane?” (one of the steepest climbs in S.E. England).
GW: "Yes. Very well."
RT: "Yeah. So I went up Barhatch HOT. I was flying, honestly, like, everything was coming together. I was with Alex Richardson, and I think I made him feel like he should retire."
"I was like, absolutely popping. Then going down the other side, I hit a bump. My bad wrist lost grip. In my head, I'm thinking, 'don't land on the wrist', you know? So I tried to twist my body and land on my shoulder. My collarbone popped out and then I had to have that operated."
"Over that year, I had like four separate infections in my shoulder, um, until November."
"That year was just just a shocker. And then in 2019, I don't really know what my motivation was. I thought it would be a shame to go out, that kind of thing. I had seven weeks off and then came back. I went to training camp with the team, and I was killing the boys. I was like, “Hey, you must have something here.”
"So that was great. But then I broke my arm racing Challenge Mallorca. It was a huge, huge crash."
"Mikel Landa was on the floor. I remember the Movistar mechanics like sitting on the floor crying and stuff like that. And I was just there. Tim Elverson scooped me up and tried to get me back in the race. I'm like, "Tim. Something's definitely broken" - he took care of me. It was just like a complete contrast."
"I was suffering for like a month - all through my arm. Landa had laser surgery on his collarbone the next day. So. Yeah, when you have a big investment like Landa, big money, big team - it's a lot easier."
"And then 2020 hit. Actually, I started the year racing in China. I was absolutely killing it. I won two stages out there and then raced in Turkey in February. Did well there, Max Steadman (teammate) won the overall.”
“At that point, it was like, oh, “why is everybody getting out of this country?” It's only the flu. But how could we know what was going to happen? I was definitely ignorant. Yeah, I didn't expect that really."
"We went into lockdown, and I was like, “Just keep training'. It will be OK - just keep fit.”
"I was training so hard and just doing everything I needed to do for the season that never really started."
GW: "Training indoors on the turbo, outdoors or both?"
RT: “Oh yeah, I always go out on the road. I've done like thirty thousand kilometres this year. I did loads because there's been nothing to taper for."
GW: "When faced with a challenge, you have to look for the opportunity, not dwell on the problem. How have you found opportunities with the constant difficulties 2020 has presented?"
RT: "I look back now and think, “was it just time wasted?” Because I never really had an opportunity to show what I have, what I've been working for all this time."
"I want to use this year of training to go for the Tour de Yorkshire,"
GW: "You are on the shortlist for the 2021 Olympic Road Race in Tokyo. Is that 'front of mind' right now?"
RT: "OK, well, I was shortlisted two years ago now, for what we thought was going to be last year. But then I wasn't supposed to make test event either, but I went there - which was an amazing experience. That was July 2019 in Tokyo. What an amazing place. Just unbelievable.”
GW: "You've always been 'on the back foot', through no lack of talent - but a series of misfortunate situations, injuries, crashes, etc. Do you think this has made you hungrier than some of the other riders on that shortlist, that might take it for granted?"
RT: "Um, I don't think any of them are less hungry than I am. When you ‘dangle a carrot’, like the games in front of anyone - they'll do whatever it takes. Resilience is the thing that I've maybe gained. There's a lot of times I probably should have given up cycling."
GW: "Why didn't you give up?"
RT: "When I was younger, like youth and junior, and never getting results. I think it was probably the pressure of feeling like I had to achieve something for my parents, who'd obviously like any parent, invested a lot in me. I felt like I owed it to them."
"And then when I joined Pedal Heaven, I was sort of relinquished, from that pressure. Since then, it's just been like a feeling of there's still more to come. I'm just trying to find out how far can go."
GW: "That is the secret to success."
RT: "I have a good idea of who's going to be on that shortlist: Nico Roche, Dan Martin, Eddie Dunbar, Sam Bennett."
GW: "Do you think you have more opportunities racing for Ireland than you would Great Britain?"
RT: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I consider myself an Irishman because of my upbringing and the time I've spent there. One of the best things I never really mentioned, the big names like Nico and Martin, there's like common ground."
"Being Irish keeps you grounded. You are never any bigger than the place you from."
"Yeah, whereas for one reason or another, in England it seems to get away from people. There isn't maybe the same level of national identity."
"Like, Ireland is such a small place. Sam Bennett is obviously, you know, a superstar now. But he's so grounded."
GW: "Did you think racing for Ireland at the Olympics could put your name forward for racing at a World Tour level?"
RT: "Uh, racing to a World Tour level? I haven't considered it. I'm not thinking about it like that. So long as I focus on getting the results, the two things will take care of themselves. And I feel like if the Olympics comes off, I have probably done enough."
GW: "How are your Canyon DHB Sungod teammates?"
RT: "Yeah, everyone is great."
GW: "Andy Tennant is a hero of mine. He never quits and just keeps moving forward."
RT: "Yeah, Andy has had an incredible but tough career. He's just so affable, and he's quite good at compartmentalising. He's just kind of 'keep calm and carry on' sort of thing."
"He just loves his sport. I think that's the main thing. And he can appreciate what cycling has given him in life. And yeah, I look at him for motivation/inspiration."
GW: "Yeah, same."
"Let's talk about next year. We’re off on a little getaway to the Isle of Wight in April - for LeBlanq 01. Are you looking forward to a weekend of Michelin-standard cuisine and sharing the road with cycling legends?
RT: "Um, yeah. It's just going to be, like, another level. I think it will be a different insight into what cycling can and should be."
GW: "How about the food? We’re going to have Raymond Blanc and Ashley Plamer-Watts in the kitchen.
RT: "I do love my food. I mean, I like basic food, like pizza. I don't get that kind of luxury experience very often. So I think I'll enjoy myself. Yeah."
GW: "Yeah, me too. Pizza and pasta, you know, proper Italian home food is my favourite. This level of cooking is going to be a cut above.”
“What about a weekend away from numbers and training? Just going out and riding your bike for pure joy and escapism."
RT: "Yeah. I mean, I love that. I spend a lot of time training. At some point, it becomes quite intense and repetitive. We talk about the same things, do the same things, and it's nice to break out and like mix with people from different backgrounds."
GW: "That's exactly how I feel. I'm a fucking robot who lives my life on repeat: wake, train, eat, work, sleep, repeat. I am looking forward to breaking the spell and creating some lasting memories."
RT: "Yeah. It will be unforgettable."
GW: "Good coffee? Shall we hit the road?"
RT: "The coffee is always good at Nest. Have you tried their brownies? Best ever."
GW: "No, not yet. Let’s fill our pockets."
RT: “Let's go and hit Staple Lane.”
