In this article we hear about the life of emerging cyclist Matthew Trenchard
For those who don't know you, please introduce yourself
I am Matt Trenchard, and I have been cycling seriously for about eight years. I started with track cycling at Denton Park, worked my way into road cycling and now I am pursuing high performance track cycling. I have a great family behind me who have supported me every step of the way in my cycling life and have a brother in year 10 at Burnside High.
What inspired you to start cycling as a sport?
I started cycling through my mum who was road cycling at the time and I stole her bike and caught the bug. A neighbor came over and showed me an advertisement for track cycling at Denton park and I have been racing track ever since.
What international or local athletes have influenced you the most?
Some of the people who have influenced me the most are Alex Frame, Hayden Roulston (which are two local/international riders) and my coach, Andrew Williams. Alex and Hayden have both represented New Zealand in the Olympics and have gained medals, Hayden has ridden in the Tour de France and Andrew rode in Switzerland as a professional rider. They have all inspired me because they are people from similar humble New Zealand origins as me who have gained success on a professional level.
You are widely known as a talented endurance cyclist, how has the sport's necessary values of ambition and will power affected you in other areas of your life?
Being an endurance rider has assisted my learning, supported my concentration and formed a lot of discipline within my day to day life at home and school, because I have this schedule that needs to be navigated and prioritized.
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| (In order from left to right, Matthew Trenchard, Josh Scott, Felix Donnelly, receiving gold medals for Burnside in the 2014 School's national triathlon championships) |
You have participated in multiple professional and amateur events including the UCI Junior Track Championships, Elite and Under 19 track Championships, Under 19 South Island Secondary School track Championships, Cuddon School's cycling tour. ITS Melbourne Grand Prix, Canterbury Track race. CBHS South Island Cycling Championships, as well as being selected for the New Zealand youth team who competed in the four day Oceania Track cycling Championships in December last year and gained a gold medal for Burnside High School in the School's national triathlon championships in Queenstown and the under 16 Litolff and Dawe cups. In your opinion, what has been your favourite event or moment in your impressive cycling experience?
I have two amazing memories. The most recent memory is gaining selection into the NZ Track team to race at the Junior Worlds in August this year, and secondly at the conclusion of the 2015 NZ Age Groups Track National Championship I was named the top under 17 track cyclist in NZ, which set me up to race at the Oceania Championships for NZ.
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(2016 Canterbury Cycling Championships) |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have been informed that you have been selected for the New Zealand track cycling team to compete in the Junior World championships this upcoming August, for those who don't know the details of this prestigious competition, please explain:
I am off to the Junior World Championships in August 2017. This is held yearly and the top junior riders from around the world compete. The New Zealand team is made up of five endurance men and five endurance women, two female sprinters and three male sprinters. Two of the sprinters also ride in the endurance teams which is our team of thirteen riders. The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale, or International Cycling Union) hasn't advertised the venue because the venue in China is no longer available. I will be spending a large part of my time team training and preparing in Cambridge as well as here in Christchurch!
What are the sacrifices or negative impacts of your cycling commitments that most people don't see?
I spend hours on my bike training on my own, totaling around 16-20 hours a week. During the week I train on my own and at the weekend I ride in bunches with other riders. The biggest sacrifice this year is putting my senior year second behind my riding. Rest is so important as is a healthy diet, so there are no late nights and very few takeaways. Family holidays do not exist within my family because my training and international traveling get in the way.
Do you believe cycling is incorrectly perceived as a solitary sport instead of a team dynamic?
People see cycling as an individual and very selfish sport and I believe it is. We do ride as a team and work together and I have awesome memories travelling with other members of the Canterbury Track Cycling, Burnside High Cycling teams, and the NZ Junior Track Cycling Team over the past 18 months.
What is your idea of the perfect bike ride? (Weather, location, equipment, the people you are with etc..)
My ideal ride is a hill ride on a hot summers day with good cycling mates in the middle of nowhere.
What is your ultimate goal within this sport and do you wish to pursue it as a career?
My ultimate goal would be to make it to the Olympic Games in the New Zealand Track Cycling Team, but to get there my next goal is to make it to the Elite World Champs. A dream of mine is to pursue cycling as a career and I am hoping to move on from Track to Road cycling once I have reached my Olympic goal.
If you could leave us with one inspirational nugget of wisdom, what would it be?
Never give up.
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