Friday, March 29, 2024

Henrietta Colborne – Looking forward to racing in the Spanish hills

-

HomeInterviewsHenrietta Colborne - Looking forward to racing in the Spanish hills

It’s not just the boys which the Rayner Fund supports, the young ladies get their opportunities. Here’s what 19 year-old Miss Henrietta Colborne from the north of England had to tell us:

The Rayner Fund, how long have you been supported and how important is it to you?

“I was supported by Dave Rayner in 2017 and it was key to being able to ride abroad for a Dutch team, Swabo Ladies.

“The fund provide a great support mechanism funding me living with a Dutch family.

“Joscelin Ryan (a board member of the Dave Rayner Fund) is a great support at races with a smile on her face wanting to know how it was going.”

Henrietta Colborne
Henrietta winning in Swabo colours. Photo©supplied

Tell us about your time on the Ford-Ecoboost team in the UK in 2016.

“I was a last year Junior and on the British Cycling Junior National Team.

“Ford was one of the strongest UK teams at that time with ‘classy’ riders in who helped me develop in National races.

“Nicki Juniper helped me balance BC and team commitments; it was tough I had to supply my own bikes, fund travel etc. – very different to a boys team at the same level.”

How did you get the ride in the Netherlands last year with Swabo Ladies?

“Having raced in the same peloton as Swabo Ladies in July at the BeNe Ladies Tour I approached about joining for 2017.

“I had realised that the UK women’s scene, although improving, was far behind the Continental one.

“I needed to experience UCI racing and this was a career move forward.

“You just do not get 200 riders heading down three metre wide pave at breakneck speeds in the UK.”

What was the experience like?

“Racecraft was the big learning curve, the UCI races are about looking for opportunities to make moves, racing against the world’s strongest female riders so I had to use my ‘gas’ wisely and be aggressive.

“I learned a lot by following and watching the pros; I still have more to learn but year one saw me podium on a number of occasions.

“Holland is a great place for cycling. There’s a really good cycling community, a lot of teams, the local bike shops gets involved, downside; could do with more hills!”

Henrietta Colborne
Henrietta has been very proactive in securing contracts. Photo©supplied

Where were you based and what was the routine?

“I was based in Breda (South Holland) which is a vibrant town.

“The team was one hour away based just outside Rotterdam. I took my car out (a very old Berlingo) which allowed me to vary my training.

“A typical week was two races one midweek one at the weekend. As the scene is so big I was able to train with many local riders.

“I would head towards Belgium occasionally for the hills and stay with a teammate.”

How does Dutch ladies’ cycling compare to the UK ladies’ scene?

“It’s aggressive, fast and windy.

“The races are generally longer with a higher class of riders compared to the UK, as you get riders from UCI and World Tour teams.

“The flat, exposed roads means being able to ‘ride the wind’ is essential.”

How were your results?

“I would say I am content with my first year as an Elite Woman, three podiums including a win in a kermis in Belgium.

“Several top 20 UCI finishes including dixth in a stage at the Tour of L’Ardeche.

“My season started off with classic, brutal races where anything can happen (and it did) and the racing can be defined by the weather.

“I then had several UCI races and National races which allowed the team to compete as a unit. As a team we were not strong enough in UCI races so I was solo; I soon learnt who my friends were. As it progressed into late July and August the post tour crits came.

“These were my ‘fun’ races but extremely fast. These races were great, ‘free’ races without any expectation, a chance to have fun and try new things.

“I then finished off my season at the Tour of L’Ardeche with five mountain days of over 100km each day – proper women’s racing.”

Henrietta Colborne
Henrietta is looking forward to more hills in her racing. Photo©supplied

How did the Spanish ride come about?

“I contacted the DS about 2018 and things went from there! I went over to see them in the late season and things went well.”

The Netherlands to Spain, that’s a bit of a cultural leap surely?

“Yes, a very big one!

“Certainly the cultures are very different but the team is international and are all focused on the same goals so the dedication and commitment to training will be just as tough if not harder.”

Where will you be based and what’s the setup like?

“I will be living in Durango in the Basque region of Spain, staying in the team house.

“The roads are spectacular with their views. I am going to need to be able to climb hills!”

Have you met management or teammates yet?

“Yes we had a team weekend in November, doing team bonding activities.

“The staff and riders are devoted to cycling and to the team. We have a team week coming up for training so it will be good to learn off each other and get stuck into training together as a team.”

You’ve had some nice TT results in Herbiers and the Nations – is that an arena you’ve ever considered specializing in?

“Yes, but you cannot make a living from Time Trials!

“I started Time Trailing when I was 12 and quickly realised it was something I was good at.

“In 2016 I broke the Junior Women’s 10 Mile National Competition record by over 50 seconds. I also came 7th in the European Championships.

“Time Trailing is a passion of mine and very useful if you get yourself into a breakaway away in a road race or an attack.”

Henrietta Colborne
“It’s all about winning bike races”, says Henrietta. Photo©supplied

Have you ever considered trying to get selected for one of the British Cycling programmes?

“BC are based on the minority sport of Track Cycling, this is their funding stream, all else is secondary. I want to make a career out of cycling so I have chosen to ride the road.

“BC programs are excellent for track riders, the results show that.

“If the opportunity arises to ride for GB road of course I will, but the best chance for me to get the skills and craft I need is to race at UCI and World Tour level.”

What changes would you like the UCI to make to ladies’ cycling?

“Some more hilly ones!

“A lot of women’s racing ends in bunch sprints, there are a few races out there which are ‘hilly and hard’ e.g. Giro, Tour de Yorkshire. But I would like to see more!

“If the above happened just maybe the racing would be more interesting and therefore attract sponsors.

“The whole women’s scene is woefully underfunded – this is the first year I will not be riding my own road bike.”

What are your goals for 2018?

“I would love to get a top five in a UCI race, it’s a high ambition and would require a very good ride.

“I am looking forward to getting stuck into a different style of racing in the hills, being based in Spain.

“I also want to be an effective team mate on and off the bike, working as a team to achieve goals as we win bike races – I mean who doesn’t?”

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Mara Abbott – “I’ve always been very determined to forge my own path”

Mara Abbott is twice a winner of the overall GC in the Giro Rosa, picking up seven stages along the way not to mention two second places, a fourth, a fifth and 10th on GC. Abbott retired from the sport after finishing fourth in the Olympic Road Race in Rio, 2016. She took time to speak to us not long after her retirement; here’s what she had to say.

John Dewey – the 3rd Fastest 25 Mile TT, ever; whilst working full time!

If you’re a sad old tester like me you’ll remember that wonderful day back in 1978 when ‘King’ Alf Engers discovered the Holy Grail – it took 49 minutes and 24 seconds. The first 30 mph 25 mile time trial. Hard to imagine that Alf’s time would only have given him joint 21st position in the Lea Valley CC ‘25’ on the E2/25 a couple of weeks ago – some four minutes behind the winner, John Dewey of Team Bottrill/HSS Hire.

Radomir Simunek – Top ‘Cross Performer for a Decade

The Czech Republic's Radomir Simunek junior shares his name with his father who remains the only man ever to be a world champion at junior, amateur and professional cyclocross levels. Radomir senior died tragically early at just 48 years-of-age in 2010. Young Radomir has been a runner up in the Worlds at both Junior and U23 levels but has had the misfortune to be a round at the same time as his countryman Zdenek Stybar – one of the most gifted cyclocross performers in the sport’s history.

Dan Bigham – British Hour Record Breaker!

Ribble Weldtite track and chrono man, multiple British Champion and aero guru, Dan Bigham [Ribble Weldtite] produced a stunning 54.723 kilometre ride on the boards of Switzerland’s Grenchen Velodrome on October 1st, breaking the British Hour Record and recording the fourth fastest World Hour ride. 

At Random

Duncan MacGregor Memorial Road Race

Raymond Wilson (Dunfermline CC) at last had Lady Luck on his side as he scored a well-deserved win in Sunday's Duncan MacGregor Memorial Road Race over 75 hilly and airy miles around the 'rigging' of Fife.

E.V. Ernie Mitchell – R.I.P.

We learnt recently that Ernie Mitchell, or 'E.V.' as he was known, Scottish star of the 1950's has passed away. As a tribute to him we thought we would re-run the interview he gave us last year where he told us about being the first man in the country to break the two-hour mark for 50 miles, virtually owning the pursuit crown and motor pacing behind his brother's bus ...

Le Tour de France 2012 – Second Rest Day

I hate to start with our Formule 1, again - but to emphasis the true glamour of being on le Tour, we're sharing lodgings with the race's cherry picker truck. I had to get up early to do a phone interview with Cameron Wurf, this morning. He's from Tassie; like the Sulzbergers and Richie Porte - did I ever tell you I had a Tasmanian Devil for a fiancée? No, some other time, then? Le Tour de France 2012 - Second Rest Day.

The Tour of Hellas and some Greek Economics

On Wednesday I shall be riding the UCI 2.2 Tour of Hellas which so far as I can tell is basically the Tour of Greece. There are five stages in all and they are all fairly hilly but not too steep, which is good for me (if I am riding well).