Bond happy with ride
Multi World and Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond returns home safe with the knowledge he now has put an accurate stake in the ground on his global status as a time trial cyclist.
The 32-year-old Vantage-sponsored rider finished 25th from 53 starters in the 52kms individual time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck,
Austria.
Bond turned from rowing to cycling just two years ago, but a puncture on his world championship debut thwartedsome advancement. Since then he finished third at the Commonwealth Games and now 25th in a stacked world championship field, where he finished ahead of former world one-hour record-holder Alex Dowset (GBR) and team time trial world champion Tejay van Garderen (USA).
“I am pleased that I put together a good ride. My power numbers where above target throughout the ride, in fact better than we had hoped,” Bond said. “That was good enough for 25th which I should be proud of. At the same time it is tinged with a reality-check of where I am at in this sport.
“I know it was a very tall order to turn from one sport to a completely different one in a short time. But I have dedicated myself completely to this project. What I have done has not been done before so there was no blueprint, and I’ve done it basically on my own with the help of friends, some good cycling people and some fantastic sponsors.
“I am completely in awe of just how fast these guys can pedal a bicycle. Paddy was quite brilliant to be eighth and hats off to Rohan Dennis for his win. It was incredible. “
Bond said the nature of the courses used last year in Norway and this week in Austria — considerably longer, at altitude and with significant climbs — posed an additional obstacle for him.
“I am a big guy at 6ft 3ins. I’ve stripped away a lot of weight from my rowing days but I am still a big guy compared with these riders here.
“I can now see the gap ahead of me, and while it is less than it was, it is a significant amount to bridge if I am going to reach near the top.
“I did a good job and I’ve put a line in the sand. It is just quite a leap to go.”
Bond, who has spent time in specialist time trial races in UK and training at altitude in the USA, returns home immediately to take some time out with his family before plotting his next steps.