WORK/LIFE BALANCE
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO START A NEW TEAM? EVERYTHING…
his Australian summer your European winter – has been a walk in the park compared to the one I experienced last year. The Wiggle Honda team is only one year old so back then everything was new to me and I was running full gas on adrenalin and excitement to meet the extreme pressures of such a concentrated time line. I was working around the clock because of the Euro-Oz time difference, hitting the road with the team for training, ploughing through emails without finding the time to eat and then trying to fit in gym sessions before Europe woke up and I got back on the phone. All day, every day.
This summer, though, I’ve found more time to be with family and friends. I’ve made it to a few BBQs, joined the local surf club, hosted some European cyclists and even visited the beautician one time! Yet I remain a huge multi-tasker, trying to fit as much as possible into every day. I’m so determined to use every single minute, that when people ask me “What time should we do that?” I usually reply by saying something like “We’ll met up at 4.33pm.” Exact, to the minute.
At points last year, my mind and body were moving so fast that I felt I didn’t have enough time to do everything I needed to. So I’d be writing emails on the loo or pulling my pants down on the way into the bathroom and up as I was running out. I’d find myself running everywhere, even around the house… Madness.
Looking back on building the Wiggle Honda team, it’s hard to believe I managed it. I remember not sleeping for night after night in order to stay in touch with athletes, staff and sponsors in Europe.
I PROPOSED BUILDING A WORLD-CLASS TEAM WITH THE AMBITION TO WIN THREE RACES IN THE FIRST YEAR. WELL, WE
WON OVER 50
When I did sleep, it was with my phone on the pillow by my head so I could respond to emails immediately without losing another working day until Europe woke up again. I may not have been living healthily but I was loving every minute of one of the most exhilarating times of my life. WITH THE TEAM now established and a year’s experience of running a cycling team, I have more balance now. I have great athletes and staff which allows me to have some ‘me’ time. I’ve not yet retired from riding professionally as I believe it’s important to remain in line with my athletes. Are there any negatives to being both a professional cyclist and a team manager? No, in my opinion, it’s all positive. I’ve been an athlete my entire life and it’s a natural and necessary aspect of my wellbeing – I need some form of exercise to function well as a businesswomen. In addition, it allows me to relate very well to the needs, concerns and feelings of my athletes. I’m 100 per cent sure that if I was purely a businesswomen, at times I’d find it very difficult to side with the needs of the athletes. Now, I need to (and can) consider both the athletes’ and the organisation’s point of view before I make any crucial decisions.
I’m loving the emotional, physical and financial challenges of owning a women’s cycling team. The Wiggle Honda team and athletes have achieved a lot both on and off the bike during our first year. However, I still have a lot more to achieve in order to fulfil my personal ambitions – to create, provide and maintain a truly professional environment for my athletes.
At the end of 2012, I proposed to Wiggle and Honda that I would build a world-class cycling team ahead of 2013 with the ambition to win three races in our first year. Well, we won over 50, of which 22 were UCI races. Now I’m faced with the challenge to better those results this season. How will I do that? I will listen to my athletes and rely on the support of my staff and sponsors to provide what is necessary to give our athletes the best preparation to reach their physical and mental best on race day.
Wiggle have been a dream sponsor for us. Actually, they’re far more than just a sponsor – they’re a supporter of the ambition I share with each of my athletes and staff – to raise the profile and professionalism of women’s cycling. Wiggle have played a very big part in the success of this team and individual performances by listening to what our athletes need in order for them to reach their individual potentials. Together, we have exceeded our own expectations and share the desire to continue raising the bar for our athletes, for our team and for women’s cycling. Rochelle Gilmore is the owner and manager of the Wiggle Honda women’s pro cycling team. She also rides for the team