A TEAM of top cyclists will be stepping off their bikes and running up and down a hill as they hope to break world record times at the Woolsack Races this Monday.
Competitive cyclists, and now runners, Katie Thilthorpe, Abi Hamesse, Liza Gozzer and Claire Hart are members of the Tetbury Velos cycling team and will be representing the town’s Royal Oak pub at the races.
It is the first time any of the women have competed in the races, and they have already set their sights on beating the women’s team record time held by Charlie’s Angels in 2005 (4.08mins).
Katie and Abi, who will also be competing in the individual races, will be vying to beat the record time for individual women held by Zoe Dixon in 2009 (1.03mins).
(Abi Hamesse training for the Woolsack Races)
The squad, which also includes Nicola Jotcham and Natasha Pack, have been training for the Woolsack Races for the past six weeks.
Coached by Martin Holloway, fellow cyclist and member of last year’s champion team, the women have been training several times a week with uphill runs hauling woolsacks and weight training.
Martin said: “In all of the practice runs, their time suggests they are going to smash the world record.”
According to him, the team are capable of completing the race with a time of 3.48mins, 20 seconds faster than the record time for women’s teams.
He was also optimistic that Katie and Abi would be able to surpass the record time for individual female competitors by five to ten seconds.
Alongside the physical training, the women have trained in techniques to pick-up and carry the woolsacks, and to sprint downhill.
However, much of the team’s training remains cycling specific, with the team recently completing the 85-miles Velothon race in Cardiff.
According to Martin, much of the physical work and technique needed for cycling was similar to that for running or uphill sprinting.
When asked why he chose undertake the task of preparing the team, he said: “I love the Woolsack Races, it’s a big part of Tetbury.
“I don’t think we tried to put a team of cyclists for this event before and it turns out these girls are built for it.”
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