#milward

Me, my team mate Tilly Gurney and Jessie Ansell are all up bright and early for a 7:45 monday morning plane to Malta. This was my third year flying over to malta for the race however, its Tilly’s and Jessies first. We arrived on bright sunshine and beaming heat, making us more excited to get out on our bikes and the tan lines started! 

As now its Thursday, racing starts! We have 4 days of racing starting with stage 1 being a 15mile TT, 2nd, 3rd and 4th stage include a road race with on one of the stages we get a ferry over to Gozo. 

Stage 1;

It was all raining and dull this morning! Me and my team manager, Jon Miles, thinking that if the rain carries on they will call the race off. Luckily, the rain eased and the racing kicked off at 9:45am. I was the 4th girl off meaning, i was pretty sharpish to the start. I got on to the ramp, the board started counting down 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. My breathing going with the beeps and a big explosive start was to follow, but silly me not thinking about the rain and how slippy the starting ramp would be, so i skidded down the ramp and picked it back up off down the hill. It was a downhill start with a punishing headwind, you really needed the power behind the peddles to get down there. This was my time bonus! Just over a mile down the hill to the first dead turn, which was on white paint, FYI isn't very sticky in rain... But getting low in the corner and sprinting out the saddle to get back up that hill, back over the start/finish area which dragged over the top and another little downhill section with a right sweeping bend in following shortly after, another dead turn. Meaning that you have to sprint all the way back out your saddle back up the other side... The only way i describe this course is having a road that joins to double ‘hog hill’ hill’s together. Strange one, i know... But it was a tough one with the head winds powering on to you. It was coming to the last lap off my effort, i was really feeling it in the legs and the chest. Trying to get every little piece of energy out of me up the hill to the finish on top, sprinting out of my saddle powering on. I finished! 

QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY TILLY on her TT.

1) What did you think of the course?

I liked it. It was interesting because we don't do dead turns in a time trail, so it was a different experience on doing that. The downhill sections were good however, but you lost the time on the uphill. 

2) How did the effort feel?

Hard! But you pace yourself, once your into a rythem it is easier to maintain the pace and judge how fast you could push yourself

3) How do you feel going on to the other races, now you have completed the time trail?

Feeling good as now i am in the right frame off mind because i am in my race mode. Im feeling positive about going over to Gozo because i herd it was a good course and my legs are feeling strong. It is going be a good couple of days racing. Im ready for it! 

My time (going off my garmin) was 37.13, that is an unofficial result.  

Hello everyone,

Sorry I haven’t posted anything recent lately, I have been very busy starting out  new investments in my career pathway and getting stuck in with the winter training! This blog is going to be delivering some good and bad news, depending in which way you want to take it… I will also be telling you about my new career pathways I have started in the Outdoor world! 

Firstly, I will start with the bad news… I have to sadly say, ‘Bike Pure-Lemond-Aspire Velo Tech Ladies Team’ will not be racing in the 2015 season. This is due to sponsorship faults and commitments containing lots of different matters, which means the girls in the team have had to split up in our separate ways and will not be racing as a team next year. I was gutted to hear the devastating news about the team, but everything happens for a reason. In addition, being on the team for 2014 has been an eye opening and amazing experience for me being able to work as a team with different girls, team managers and sponsors.

I would never fault the girls one bit, we all got along like sisters and was always there for each other even if one of us was in need of help. We stuck together and worked through the races and events as one big team! However, this couldn’t of happened without our parents being by our sides and supporting us/the team throughout the year, if it wasn’t for them there wouldn’t have been a Bike Pure Team. BIG shoutout to Terry Morgan Slater, who co-operated us together as a team and was our Team Manager throughout the year, making sure all our problems were sourced and equipment situations was delt with. Thank you!

Another shoutout I would like to do is for our sponsors who were there for us throughout the year, even if others weren’t. Massive thank you to Bike Pure, Lemond, Sukkie Hydration, Lazer Helmets, Decca, Sufferfest, Aspire Velotech and Bike Science. Half of these sponsors have been fantastic from setting us up with profession bike fits to sourcing us equipment and training videos, without you I wouldn’t have able to do as well as I did throughout the 2014 season. Thank you!

However good news, Bike Pure have now folded and with new sponsors, team managers and riders they have started a brand new team called ‘Elite Velo Kalas Sportswear Cycling Race Team’. I have already personally met the team manager and done a training weekend with the team, it sounds all fantastic giving the riders an opportunity to continue on their professional cycling career. However, I will not be racing with them next year as i have a various of different opportunities come up for myself. It was a difficult couple of months making my decision on teams, what to do and if it is the best decision for myself to develop as a rider. Afterwards, I came with a final offer and i took the chance to ride again for ‘Squadra Donne Shutt VR’.Personally, I thought this was the best decision for me to make and develop as a young rider, following my ambitions to ride pro continental. My team manager will be Jon Miles, who is a great guy who I have a lot of faith in to help me develop in to my cycling career and gain me more experience racing with the big guns. I am unable to confirm any sponsors yet, as we are still negotiating. 

Secondly, I will carry on racing in the Junior Category for the 2015 season but as a 2nd year as a CAT 2. This means, I will still be doing the same races as i did last year and hopefully, having another chance to race in the Pearl Izumi Televised Tour Series for the 3rd year running. With me still being 17 years old, I am still in college. In September 2014, I started a new college course at Reaseheath studying an Extended Diploma in Adventure Sports. This means I am at college 9-5pm, Mon-Fri every week but I absolutely love it and I am very happy I changed my career path into the Outdoor Adventure area. I am able to take part in different sporting activites such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing, orienteering and much more every weekday! It’s an awesome experience and pathway to take. Still giving me enough time to love the sport I do and carry on with my experience and knowledge in cycling.

Lastly, another area I have started to work on is my coaching qualifications. I am currently waiting for my course to be an Level 2 British Cycling coach, which I will be taking in the new year of 2015 when i am 18. I currently volunteer myself at Lyme RC Club nights on a Friday, helping out the kids to do roller sessions and giving presentations on information about the cycling world, how to get stuck in there! I am also lucky enough to be asked to be an ‘Expert Rider’ at any Track or Road RSR’s/NSR’s with British Cycling, passing on my knowledge of the specific skill, technique or tactic the younger riders are working on. The next RSR I will be attending is the 21st December at Manchester Velodrome, specialising in Team Pursuit.

MASSIVE Thankyou to everyone who has supported and sponsored me for the 2014 racing season, I couldn’t of done it without you and got the results I did. 

Hope you enjoyed my performances and presence.

See you in the 2015 season with more updates on the NEW team!

Hello everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted anything recent lately, I have been very busy starting out  new investments in my career pathway and getting stuck in with the winter training! This blog is going to be delivering some good and bad news, depending in which way you want to take it... I will also be telling you about my new career pathways I have started in the Outdoor world! 

Firstly, I will start with the bad news... I have to sadly say, 'Bike Pure-Lemond-Aspire Velo Tech Ladies Team' will not be racing in the 2015 season. This is due to sponsorship faults and commitments containing lots of different matters, which means the girls in the team have had to split up in our separate ways and will not be racing as a team next year. I was gutted to hear the devastating news about the team, but everything happens for a reason. In addition, being on the team for 2014 has been an eye opening and amazing experience for me being able to work as a team with different girls, team managers and sponsors.

I would never fault the girls one bit, we all got along like sisters and was always there for each other even if one of us was in need of help. We stuck together and worked through the races and events as one big team! However, this couldn't of happened without our parents being by our sides and supporting us/the team throughout the year, if it wasn't for them there wouldn't have been a Bike Pure Team. BIG shoutout to Terry Morgan Slater, who co-operated us together as a team and was our Team Manager throughout the year, making sure all our problems were sourced and equipment situations was delt with. Thank you!

Another shoutout I would like to do is for our sponsors who were there for us throughout the year, even if others weren't. Massive thank you to Bike Pure, Lemond, Sukkie Hydration, Lazer Helmets, Decca, Sufferfest, Aspire Velotech and Bike Science. Half of these sponsors have been fantastic from setting us up with profession bike fits to sourcing us equipment and training videos, without you I wouldn't have able to do as well as I did throughout the 2014 season. Thank you!

However good news, Bike Pure have now folded and with new sponsors, team managers and riders they have started a brand new team called 'Elite Velo Kalas Sportswear Cycling Race Team'. I have already personally met the team manager and done a training weekend with the team, it sounds all fantastic giving the riders an opportunity to continue on their professional cycling career. However, I will not be racing with them next year as i have a various of different opportunities come up for myself. It was a difficult couple of months making my decision on teams, what to do and if it is the best decision for myself to develop as a rider. Afterwards, I came with a final offer and i took the chance to ride again for 'Squadra Donne Shutt VR'.Personally, I thought this was the best decision for me to make and develop as a young rider, following my ambitions to ride pro continental. My team manager will be Jon Miles, who is a great guy who I have a lot of faith in to help me develop in to my cycling career and gain me more experience racing with the big guns. I am unable to confirm any sponsors yet, as we are still negotiating. 

Secondly, I will carry on racing in the Junior Category for the 2015 season but as a 2nd year as a CAT 2. This means, I will still be doing the same races as i did last year and hopefully, having another chance to race in the Pearl Izumi Televised Tour Series for the 3rd year running. With me still being 17 years old, I am still in college. In September 2014, I started a new college course at Reaseheath studying an Extended Diploma in Adventure Sports. This means I am at college 9-5pm, Mon-Fri every week but I absolutely love it and I am very happy I changed my career path into the Outdoor Adventure area. I am able to take part in different sporting activites such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing, orienteering and much more every weekday! It's an awesome experience and pathway to take. Still giving me enough time to love the sport I do and carry on with my experience and knowledge in cycling.

Lastly, another area I have started to work on is my coaching qualifications. I am currently waiting for my course to be an Level 2 British Cycling coach, which I will be taking in the new year of 2015 when i am 18. I currently volunteer myself at Lyme RC Club nights on a Friday, helping out the kids to do roller sessions and giving presentations on information about the cycling world, how to get stuck in there! I am also lucky enough to be asked to be an 'Expert Rider' at any Track or Road RSR's/NSR's with British Cycling, passing on my knowledge of the specific skill, technique or tactic the younger riders are working on. The next RSR I will be attending is the 21st December at Manchester Velodrome, specialising in Team Pursuit.

MASSIVE Thankyou to everyone who has supported and sponsored me for the 2014 racing season, I couldn't of done it without you and got the results I did. 

Hope you enjoyed my performances and presence.

See you in the 2015 season with more updates on the NEW team!

I thought to give a cheeky low down on how the Matrix Grand Prix Tour Series is going and how i am finding them so far…

Firstly, it was round 1 at Stoke-On-Trent Hanley City Centre, which is my home city. It was nice because, i was able to race in my home town and also it was only a 5minute drive from my house to the HQ, which made a BIG difference compared to all the other races i am doing when i have to travel 3-4hours each time! It was a really nice, sunny warm day in Stoke. My race set off at 6pm that evening of the Tuesday 13th May, it was a VERY fast start at that. I don't think one of my races have never set off so quickly! But, when you look at the names who were in it, you wonder why… Plus, for the first round they did not give us a neutralised lap, which advantaged to some of the teams who were placed at the front off the group for the gun, than the others at the back. This is another reason, why it went off so quickly! I tried my hardest, staying with the front few who went from gun, but i just couldn't hack on to it. I lasted about 3-4laps, hanging on the front couple but slowly i could feel myself sliding further back each lap, till i settled down in a little group working together for the rest of the race. The race was that mentally fast, only about 4 riders didn't get lapped by the leader who which was Katie Archibold. She is an animal!! However, the course added to how tough the race was because i personally think Stoke is the hardest course to do, as it has a false flat but spectators don't realise it drags up from the bottom corner all the way to the top past the finish line, just for the downhill. I wouldn't say it was my favourite course… But it is all experience and i really enjoyed it!!

The week after, it came to the second Matrix Grand Prix of the Series on Tuesday 22nd May at Peterborough. This was a totally different race again! Different line up, different course, different weather which calculates to a different kind of race. I clocked on my garmin that this race, average speed was faster to the previous Stoke series. However, this course was pan flat and cornered, so makes it fast and furious. I was happy with my performance throughout this race as i improved the amount of time i actually stayed the main peloton up to the first sprint, then when the first sprint was going on i was just hanging on the back trying to keep it. But i just couldn't! After i dropped, i was on my own till about 5 laps to go that is when some stragglers who dropped before me, caught me and we worked together till the end. However, we still sprinted in our little group to get a good position! I came 3rd in our little group sprint, which hopefully placed me high and mid way. Great racing to be part off, as i can just see how faster the standard is getting and the quality is increasing every time! 

Bring on Edinburgh next Thursday, 29th May which is on my birthday.. WOO!

Hi, I'm back on the blog writing bang wagon! Sorry, i have missed a few blogs but I'm updating you with my latest race at Bank Holiday weekend…

Me and my team, Bike Pure, were honoured to be accepted as a team to ride in the Woman'sBedford 3 Day Tour organised by Jon Miles, which contained off 5 stages. Your probably thinking, how is this possible in 3 days? But it meant that we had to do a couple of races on the same day.  The race started  Saturday 3rd May with Stage 1, as  a 50 km road race which started at 1:30pm giving enough time for all the riders and teams to arrive, getting ready for the first stage of the Bedford 3 Day! I was quite optimistic going into the first stage, as i had never done Bedford before nor done as much racing on the road in the UK. I went into the race with an open mind and staying positive, as when we drove around the course it had 3 good kicks init which as people know, are not my strongest points. However, i proved this all wrong! In Stage 1, i gained a 7th placing out of 90 women who were competing in this race. It was mental! I felt quite strong throughout the race, staying in the middle of the bunch and allowing the rest off the peloton to do all the work, basically pulling me along. When it came to the last lap, i thought I'm still here, even though it is an uphill finish i have a good chance! I positioned myself in the top 5 for the bottom of the climb, this is where the sprint all exploded and started… I just powered my way up, overwhelmed that i could only see the finish line in front of my eyes with no other riders in front of me bar Grace Garner. I will be honest, i actually cried when i crossed the finish line! I was just so overwhelmed with happiness in what i had just done and the people i just beat as a first year junior!! Wow, just WOW!! But with my team as well, we are positioned very highly in this race all 6 of us getting in the top 60!! Myself 7th, Sophie Black 18th, Francesca Morgan-Slader 21st, Anne Marie Hughes 25th, Hester Stembridge 26th and Lucy Harper placing 58th. Which put us all starting off in great contention for GC and the team competition.

The night soon flew by and it was crazily the next day, time for Stage 2 and 3 of the Bedford 3 Day on Sunday 4th May. Stage 2 consisted off the Team Time Trail (TTT) which was 10km long, not very far at all and it flew by! Before hand, we all got together and discussed team tactics in the TTT ensuring we have our order perfect, knowing what changes we are doing and how long we have to stay on the front for. As we really didn't want to try and loose our advantage what we had on overall GC at the time… However, the TTT got under way we were all working efficiently together as a team and ensuring that we stayed together, ensuring any individuals did not get a time disadvantage. As for a change, within the TTT if you got dropped from your team your time would count as when you cross the line not when your team cross the line… As this happened with one of our team mates, she had 10seconds added on to her time! Due to, there was a corner just before the finish off the TTT. It came to that i was on the front and we had nothing too loose, so i took the correct line round the corner and went round at the speed i would normally take it in a race. However, a couple of my team mates aren't that confident in going round the pace i go round as when i went round, one behind me braked as she realised she was cornering which then caused a problem for all our other team mates behind causing them to take a very wide line over the other side of the road. Luckily no car was coming!! But, we got it all back together and the first 4 of us crossed the line, stopping the time at 10:08 placing us 10th , out of 16 teams. We were all pretty chuffed with that, baring in mind we have never done a TTT with each other before… Nice one girlies! Least we learnt the mistakes for next time!! 

After this TTT, Stage 2, in the morning it was time for Stage 3 the road race in the afternoon… It was 80km, setting off at 1:30pm in the afternoon, giving all the riders enough time to refuel and back on the bike for round 2 of the day! It was a toughy today, as it was more off a rolling course and more of a drag up to the finish line allowing the elite riders to kick over the top of the finish line giving all the other riders a sufferfest session. It was a hard one! I just kept watching my garmin, seeing my heart rate increasing and increasing but luckily it recovered very quickly, as it muchly needed too!! We have been very lucky with the weather to, as the sun has been shinning make it very warm and lovely to ride in, with a big bonus off no winds at all. The race started and i settled in very quickly however when the 2nd lap came around, baring in mind it was a 6 lap race, i very much thought this was the end off my race and I'm going to get dropped!! As on the climb i got stuck behind a straggler who was dropping off the main peloton, but i was feeling it myself! However, i dug deep and powered my way past jumping back into the middle of the bunch. But, you could tell riders were tiring as more and more got dropped off the race and pulled, unfortuantly a couple of my team mates did too! I managed to stay with the main bunch and contest in the bunch kick in the end, gaining me 27th. But with a couple off laps to go, there ended up a brake off about 10 riders who managed to stay away for the whole race… I didn't even know they were off the front!! It ended up in a very tiring day at the end off it however, one of our teamys mum's counteracted as a team physio for us giving us massages at the end of the day…

After a very tiring day, we very much deserved a nice hot bath and a film to watch in the Premier Inn. That is just what we did as a team, after food of course… As the day was ending, we highlighted on our successful day and hoping for the best with the last 2 stages the next day!

Monday soon shot round and it was time again to repeat the daily routine of getting out of bed, breakfast, going to the race and getting into race mode. The last 2 stages were the hardest ones by far… Stage 4 consisted off the Individual Time Trail (ITT) where we all powered our hearts out, as it was the same course as the TTT. It was an hard race! The wind was upon us, which made it even harder on the rough service. i would never say ITT are my favourite events, as I'm on my own and can't wheel suck anyone… But they have to be done!! I lost a few places from my ITT as i placed 68th, not the best but i gave it my best and thats all that counts. However, the rest of my team mates gave it a real good shot and did really well. But, how spooky is this? Me, Anne Marie Hughes and Spohie Black… All team mates! GOT THE SAME TIME. Strange… After my ITT, i could defiantly tell my legs were feeling it a lot and i very much thought I'm going to suffer a lot in Stage 5. 

The afternoon came around, which meant it was time for the last stage of Bedford 3 Day, which was a 80km road race again… It was tough! As it contained one big, steep hill in it where the finish line was however, it didn't flatten and go down over the top it carried on at a gradient which wasn't idea for me today, going on how my legs felt!! Everytime i went up that hill and pushing over the top, i could just feel my heart wanting to explode, as my heart rate was getting very very high and by high i mean the max bpm was 226!! CRAZY. It made me feel ever so light headed, but it thought 'paige you got to keep going, don't give in! dig deep..' But i did and which granted me staying with the bunch! On the 3rd lap in, out of 5 there was a crash up the hill which unfortuantly i was in and the rest of my team. This meant that i had dropped from the bunch, as they sprinted off the time i got going again… i was very disappointed and upset, but hey thats racing!!

Overall in GC i managed to place, 53rd.