We’re counting down to Christmas with 12 of our favourite UK pro riders.
Does Manon like sprouts? Does Ratboy love a roast? Does Peaty get presents? Tune in to find out – Scottish Borders pinner Katy Winton is the next out the gate.
Katy Winton has had a pretty good year. The former Commonwealth XC hopeful has adapted to enduro well, securing the Scottish Enduro Series overall, the Queen of Enduro title and numerous top 10 EWS finishes. Here’s her 12 Pros of Christmas!
2015 is almost at an end. Was it a good year for you?
Yes, thanks! The goal for the past couple of years has been to learn and gain experience of Enduro and move up the ranks each year. This year was another step forward and more tools were added to the backpack of life, success.
With off-season in full effect, have you been relaxing or smashing out the intervals?
I had a hell of a 5 weeks chilling, eating loads of yummy food, catching up with the family and going for short rides with pals! Love having that time off, but after a while it gets boring and you want to start working hard and eating well again. I am back into training now though and it is full steam ahead on the gain train!
Favourite ride/race from this season and why?
So many favourite rides from exploring Verbier and Port du Soleil with T-Mo and James, to showing my home trails to Rae Morrison with my pal Emma, to getting out riding with Gary Forrest for the first time after breaking his back, that was really awesome. All the races are brilliant; they challenge me in so many different ways which keeps it fresh, also, racing bikes is allowing me to ride mountains all over the world, that makes them all favourites!
Worst race/ride and why?
The EWS in Spain was my worst race by far! I had hit my head in the French and Canadian rounds of the EWS which lost me a lot of points in the overall. For Spain I wanted to be back in that top ten and reach my goal of top 8 in the rankings at the end of the year. I knew what I needed to do and gave it everything but I was just too damn slow!! There was no crash/mechanical or excuse, just a missing piece to the puzzle. It was tough and I lost more points for the overall, but it clearly showed me what needs worked on which is great for motivation.
What was the last ride/race where you finished running on fumes?
The final Scottish race I was on the very last fumes big time!!! I really wanted to win so I could win the overall series but I just didn’t want to race at all! I was burnt out big time! It was quite a stressful season so once Finale EWS was done so was I, and that was that! I rode practice and the race with a great group of girls though and had a great laugh which made it fun and that got me round :D
3 top tunes of your year?
The new Mumford and Sons album has been on repeat for a good while too! Too many to chose from!!
What are you most looking forward to in 2016?
The whole thing! Chile and Argentina will be a huge highlight but plans are coming together for the whole year and blimmen heck it’s going to be best year by far! The racing, the adventures and seeing more of the world it’s going to be mega.
What’s on your Christmas list?
A lovely day with the family, and sunshine please! No snow.
Will you be eating sprouts with your Christmas dinner?
Not a chance!
What will your New Year’s Resolution be?
I don’t have one, waiting for New Year to make changes is too long! There is no better time than now.
What’s your number one stand out moment from this year?
Watching Greg Callaghan come down into the field of the Emerald Enduro and seeing all the hard work and patience paying off, plus the perfect execution of performance and mental toughness. It was incredible to be a part of that day, I am still brimming with pride and I well up every time I look at photos. That whole day was so inspiring and just absolutely incredible!
Name one rider to keep a keen eye on for 2016.
Joe Nation (Instagram @joenation1) my Kiwi team mate. Lovely guy and determined racer, he has a quiet profile, but the quiet ones are the ones to watch! There is a hell of a lot of hard work going on behind the sense and he is moving up the ranks quickly and was a regular top 20 guy this year. Definitely one to keep your eyes peeled for!
Pinned at home, giving Glentress a good seeing to.
