where cross-country was the strong discipline .
I also think we need some new venues and new tracks on the circuit . It was nice to go to Lenzerheide in Switzerland this year for a different track , but in 2017 that ’ s just going to be a cross-country round .
You ’ ve been racing professionally since the 90s . Do you ever find things getting stale and you get over bikes ?
No , and that ’ s what ’ s so great about bicycles . If I find I get tired of mountain biking , I can go dirt-jumping , go for a scenic road ride , or ride cross-country or enduro . There are just so many different ways we can use bikes . The racing side is so unique and tough in its own way that building up to that race run is one of the hardest things you can do . It ’ s not like other sports where you can see your competitors , so the pressure is really on . Even if you hit all the right lines , you ’ ve still got to make sure you ’ re hitting them as fast as you possibly can .
Racing will never get stale for me , but the travelling definitely does . There ’ s something about airports that just wind me up . I can ’ t handle them .
So how do you maintain that passion and drive for racing , especially after such an illustrious career that includes three World Cups and three World Championships ?
To be honest , after winning my third World Championship it was kind of hard to figure out what my next goal was . I think now it ’ s to try and race and be competitive until I eventually finish my career up . I think that ’ s why I try and set my bike up the best I can . The older I get the more particular I am about how my bike feels ; the more comfortable I am the faster I can ride .
I try and progress and try and work on my weaknesses in the off-season ; where I felt like I didn ’ t really perform to my expectations , I ’ ll work on refining those areas .
If you can ’ t look at yourself and judge yourself as to where you can improve you won ’ t get better . Even if I had a perfect season I ’ d still go back and try and figure out ways to find extra speed . You ’ ve got to keep progressing . If you get comfortable or stagnant you ’ ll just get left behind .
Looking at the new kids coming through the ranks , who do you think has the makings of the next-bigthing in the sport ?
There ’ re quite a few , really . Laurie Greenland had a killer world champs and has a lot of potential to go far in the sport .
Luca Shaw is another rider who ’ ll be up there . I ’ ve been friends with Luca for a couple of years and watched his progression . He didn ’ t really have a great junior career as far as results go , but his determination and willingness to improve himself is a key trait if you want to be successful . He had a great year and finished seventh in the world cup .
Another is Connor Fearon – he ’ s only young but he had an incredible year . He ’ s come from being a gutsy rider who ’ d just push things a little too hard to now just being consistent and finishing on the podium at two World Cups this year . He matured so much in just one season and could be a real title threat in the future .
As much as I ’ m sure you ’ d love to keep racing , there ’ s going to be a day when you finally call it quits on your professional career . Do you have any idea when that time will be ?
I don ’ t know , really . I think I probably have at least two years or so left in me . At the same time , I ’ ve got businesses I ’ m involved in now , which - while it adds to my travel commitments - will set me up for a life after racing . I ’ ll always be involved in the bike industry somehow though … it ’ d be rude not to be involved !
Awesome . So what are your plans for next year ?
I ’ ll still be on the Santa Cruz Syndicate team , and with Peaty backing down we ’ ll have some younger riders coming in and that ’ s going to be exciting to bring some fresh blood into the team . The Syndicate will have some changes next year and it ’ ll be up to me to take these guys along on the next step and move them forward .
So you ’ ll take on a mentoring role as well as racing ?
Yeah , there ’ ll be a mentoring side to it , where I share my knowledge and experience with others who can learn and grow from that information . At the same time , you know we ’ ll have a good time as well . T
/ GregMinnaar @ GregMinnaar @ GregMinnaar
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