by Bonnie Friend
You had a bit of a rollercoaster at the Commonwealth Games, how are you feeling?
To start with it was really disappointing. Of course you set your heart on winning when you go to an event and of all the times to get ill it had to be that morning. Everyone was telling me not to ride but I had been in the athlete’s village for a week and a half so I wasn’t going to do that. I thought that all my hard work was going to go to waste – it was awful! So to win points at the last minute was amazing, I was over the moon!
What makes the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling Experience different to other events?
When I am on the track I am with the same girls doing the same things all the time. Wiggle is with different girls from all over the world – you have different stories and experiences, it’s a total breath of fresh air.
Laura racing ahead in the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling Experience. Photo by Michael S Marks
Do you find that road events have a positive impact on your performance on the track?
When I am on the road for a while and then transfer back to the track it really helps, particularly with strength and endurance. My track event is only four minutes, but to do that again and again you have to have endurance underneath it all. Road events also help with tactical awareness – there are 120 girls in those events, and a maximum of 25 on a track.
Do you think it’s important to have events specifically for women in sport?
I do, especially at a young age. Men are physically stronger than women, it shows from senior school, and so it’s probable that they will be winning everything because of that, which puts girls off. You get a feel-good factor from winning. I got into cycling quite young and if I had constantly been beaten I probably wouldn’t have carried on, so it’s important to have our own events.
We have some awesome female role models in UK sport (yourself included), do you think it’s important to inspire more women of all ages to take up sport?
Yes, it’s important for me because I like to see our sport carry on and keep going. I got into it with my Mum which was a nice way to do it, and if girls and women can see is looking and feeling good and be inspired to get involved, that’s great!
Road events help to improve Laura’s endurance on the track. Photo by Bart-Hazen
Who do you admire?
Sir Bradley Wiggins. I got to wear his Olympic medal when I was little and it made me realize he wasn’t an alien. I started to think that he was touchable and it really spurred me on.
Do you ever cycle for fun?
No! I love my sport but I don’t think I would cycle for fun now. I get a day off and I lie on the sofa all day.
What is the strangest experience of your cycling career so far?
After I won a race in London once a man came up to me and gave me a raw chicken. It was by Smithfield market and he brought it along after they had all packed up. Someone also named a chicken after me once… a live one.
What has been the most difficult experience?
Trying to come back after the Olympics. It’s such a high and before that I hadn’t lost an event. Afterwards you have no form and everyone wants to beat you. My event is such a long one, and at the next one I did I started off appallingly. I won in the end though.
Do you have an ultimate goal?
Rio is next so it’s to do the same again! As a kid I wanted to be an Olympian and after 2012 my Dad said ‘you’ve set yourself up for failure now’ because there aren’t many big events for women in cycling.
If you hadn’t been an ultra successful sportswoman what would you be?
That’s such a difficult question because I have done this since I was eight and have never done anything else. I think it would be something to do with animals – not a vet, but perhaps working with the Dogs Trust or something. I love animals. I wasn’t allowed them as a child so now my boyfriend and I have two dogs and I am always pestering him for a rabbit. When I retire I want to get a horse. My friends are always telling me I am like Dr Dolittle.
