After a brilliant start to 2015, gaining a top-ten finish in Paris-Roubaix, Luke Rowe was selected in Sky’s Tour de France team for the first time.
JOE caught up with the 25-year-old to hear how his year has gone so far and find out his ambitions for the future…
You’ve enjoyed a great 2015 – was finishing 8th in Paris-Roubaix the highlight?
Yeah, for sure – it was the best moment in my career. I’ve won races in the past and had a good start to the year, but that was the best ride of my career with it being such a monumental race and one that I grew up watching.
You said beforehand that the rear suspension on the Pinarellos was a big advantage, while the manufacturer has boasted an eight per cent increase in speed – just how important are these marginal gains in cycling?
It’s massive. The sport is so competitive and you see the margins that grand tours can be won or lost by – sometimes there are only seconds in it. Over 260km everything adds up, so things like the suspension giving you that little bit more at the back end – especially over the faster sections – can be the difference in winning or losing.
There was an incident during Paris-Roubaix where some of the riders crossed a rail track only narrowly avoiding a high-speed train – does that sum up the competitive nature of cycling?
I think it certainly sums up how big that race is and the risks people are prepared to take to be in the right position at the right time.
If 100 riders go through (the crossing) and you’re 101st, it’s tough. So I get their mentality, but I’m not justifying it. What crossed the line for me was when the motorbike signalled them to stop, but riders were still sneaking through.
That crossed the line from being competitive to downright stupid, and it takes a bit away from the race. The front pages of all the newspapers and magazines were about that when it should have been John Degenkolb with his arms in the air.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAVda6jkl_s
Which would you say is most important in cycling: mentality or fitness?
Mentality. It’s tough, because they are probably equally important, but it’s that never give up, dog-eat-dog mentality that really drives you on.
What do you do for recovery in the short turnaround between classics?
It’s just a case of doing all you can. There’s no real secret – get a good feed and a good night’s sleep and crack on. We have sports physios and therapists on the team – so we can have a massage if we need it. But every now and then you might start a race feeling slightly fatigued.
Do you spend much time in the gym, and do you have to be careful about bulking up?
Going to gym is something I don’t really do. It’s a constant battle against the weight – upper body muscle just does nothing for you. You want an upper body like a pigeon, so 12 months of the year I don’t enter the gym once. I’ll do a very small amount of core support in winter, but that’s about it.
How do you try to avoid injury?
Stay on the bike, stay upright and don’t crash – but there’s only so much you can do. You need the right shoes and cleats – that’s the big one that can cause niggles and aches. But fortunately we have all the right gear at Team Sky to prevent that.
In a sport that glorifies the individual, what’s it like to enter races such as the Tour de France with the main role of being an ultimate team player?
From the outside it’s very much an individual sport, but for me the buzz and excitement out of committing to the team is massive. When you have nine guys really laying it on the line for each other and one makes the podium, it’s like you’ve all won.
There’s a real sense of pride. It’s a strange sport in many ways – there’s only one guy at the top of the podium, but without you they couldn’t achieve that. It’s the only team sport which really has individual success. But I love that do or die mentality for the team, it’s pretty special.
Do you have ambitions to one day be a team leader?
Definitely in the classics, which is something that’s achievable. It’s not going to happen in the stage races, I don’t have the pedigree. But in the classics, why not? Especially after the start to this year. It’s certainly a big ambition.
Name three essential items you take on tour (bike not included)…
I always take my phone, laptop, the usual stuff. I also take a PSP to have a little game of FIFA now and then. Apart from that I’m a bit of a traditionalist. A lot of guys are obsessed with their phones and iPads, but I like to put them down and have a chat and a coffee.
Are you excited about the future of Welsh cyling?
It’s a great time for Wales and there’s no better time for this sportif to come. Me and Geraint have been successful, and there are younger riders like Scott Davies coming through. There’s no point only concentrating on the professionals – it’s a great time for the sport to cater for male and female riders of all abilities and ages.
Luke Rowe is an ambassador for the Wiggle Dragon Ride. Entries for the 2016 event will open in October. Register your interest now at www.wiggledragonride.com
