Katie Archibald column
National cyclo-cross champion Ian Field hopes that a diet of traditional long miles and altitude training in his season build-up will help him achieve his goal of climbing the world rankings in the coming months.
The 31-year-old Hargroves Cycles rider, who was 24th at the opening World Cup round at the weekend — the Jingle CX in Iowa City — completed two high-altitude training blocks in Andorra this summer, interspersed with 300-mile-plus training weeks.
“I went back to more of a traditional ‘getting in the work’ kind of thing,” explained Field. “A lot of long miles and getting the overload in before the season, and a couple of altitude camps in Andorra with my coach. Before I flew out to the States my numbers were really good.”
A bad start from a second-row rider in front of him in Iowa meant he ended up as far down as 40th place early on, but the Briton was able to claw his way back through the field and finish the race satisfied with his performance, if not the placing itself.
“I think I rode as well as I could and got everything out on the day; it was just a bit of a hampered start really,” said Field. “The lights went green and the guys in front of me just didn’t go, basically, which is a bit frustrating. But I managed to claw my way up, and eventually began to challenge for the top 20, which is always the goal.”
Field’s aim this season is more for consistency and gradual improvement at an international level rather than any particular individual targets: “I just want to have consistent results at the World Cups. If I could always be in the top 25 and nudging into the top 20 that would be this season’s goal — to be consistent and gradually up my world ranking. It would help at the starts — if you’re second row instead of third the chances of a bad start are greatly reduced.”
However, Field doesn’t intend to neglect his domestic duties. “Back in the UK I want to try and win as many races as I can, basically,” he said.
The next World Cup cross race is at Waterloo, Winsconsin, USA on Sunday. The National Trophy Series starts on October 7 in Derby.