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Wessex League Winner Adrian Lansley Interview

by Graham Robins 

Successful Season for Adrian

This year has been very successful for Adrian, not only winning the Wessex Cyclo-cross league, but also won the Southern XC MTB Series, the Southern area MTB Champs, finished 4th overall in the National MTB Series and 5th overall in the National 10 mile TT Championships. Reflecting on his season Adrian said “he had achieved all” he set out and then some.

After getting married in September, Adrian had a break from riding his bikes, which has probably kept him fresh right through the season finale. When asked to sum up cyclo-cross Adrian replied “Pure, Precise, Racing" and for those who have followed in his wheel tracks this yearm they would not argue with that.

Adrian fits his training around what he calls a “flexible job”, he has a very understanding boss in Andy Cracknell from Pedalon who is very supportive of his cycling and even allows Adrain to train in the mornings and even happy for him to work from home in the evenings. Adrian works in the Pedalon cycle shop in Tadley North Hampshire; he is in the back rooms of the shop in the marketing and IT department.

The shop has developed from a small family run shop into a very modern, successful and growing business. Although he has just finished his Masters in Engineering at Durham University, he is not yet ready to walk away and start designing gas turbines, and when not working or riding, Adrian loves nothing more than walking his two Springer Spaniels Florrie and Fungus.

After getting into cycling while still at 6th form college, riding with a couple of friends, he entered his first race and in his own words was “well and truly thrashed”. But from that point on he was hooked on racing and the results soon improved. When asked what he likes about cycle racing, Adrian said you need to have all aspects of fitness covered, endurance, power, speed and to be able to execute technical and  tactical  skills at the same time.

Adrian said that both types of cycling are a very honest sport, where the best rider always finishes first. Cyclo-cross is a little more precise and tactical whereas MTB is a bit more varied and more about the terrain; although they both complement each other very well and riding one definitely brings improvements in the other.

Adrian loves the technical type of courses and finds both cyclo-cross and mountain biking ‘a perfect fit’ for him. “I like the technical and physical challenge with someone and then finding that little bit extra”. A few years ago, Adrian desperately wanted to compete at a major championship for GB but once he realised those opportunities weren’t there, he relaxed and enjoys the racing more than ever.

Looking back over the Wessex League, Adrian says this is the first time he has done so many races and loved every one. Part of the challenge has been racing on so many courses and the different conditions. "We started the season in the glorious sunshine at Swindon and finished off in the snow in Reading, and in between there was every combination of terrain and weather you could possibly have wished for."

The other part of the league that he enjoyed was the friendly atmosphere, and says it’s all about the sport where everyone races hard but fair. Most of the races had over 100 riders and Adrain thanks all the volunteers that helped make the races a success, and said “the leagues success is really down to them”.

Adrain enjoyed the race at Prospect Park in Reading and says that was his favourite. He adds the course was tough and technical too, just the way he likes it. Looking forward to 2010, Adrian now turns his attentions to his mountain biking season. This will be his 10th season racing Elite MTB and he would dearly love to win a National level race. He has finished second but would like to take the step up to the top of podium.

Thanks Adrian and good luck