Travelling life

Laura Trott, Olympic cyclist

Laura Trott likes to relax by the pool of the Vanity Hotel in Majorca, above; the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, top right

Do you travel often?

Because of training, I’m lucky if I get one holiday a year. Last year I went away with my mum and dad to Costa Adeje in Tenerife – Jason [Kenny, her fiancé and also an Olympic cyclist] and I were training so much that there wasn’t a single week where we could both get away for a break. I knew it was going to be my last proper break before the Olympics. It was a hotel where I’d stayed before as a kid: Tenerife was much more built up, but the hotel itself hadn’t changed much, even down to the buffet.

Your earliest memory of travelling abroad?

When I was six, I flew with my older sister, Emma, and our parents to a resort in

Portugal. I vividly remember the great pool and visiting a nearby historic market town where we painted pottery for my nan and grandad back home.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

Because my life is so busy and chaotic, it’s lovely just to be able to lie by a pool and do nothing. Six weeks after the London Olympics, Jason and I went to Dubai. I find it hard to switch off and do nothing. I find it hard not being on my bike, so after 10 days I cracked and had to get back on.

Where do you train most frequently?

Recently it has been Majorca and Valencia. Majorca feels like a home

from home for me as we’ve been so often to train – we get to see a different side to it because we’re not in the thick of the tourist centre. I love it – the weather and the food are great. We’re allowed to eat some of the healthier Spanish food, such as paella.

Most memorable spot you’ve competed in?

Definitely Colombia. I’ve been four times now, near Cali. The culture is just so different. It’s a shame I didn’t get to explore it a bit more. We were very heavily guarded with police escorts when we were there: that was pretty scary because you don’t know if the organisers are just being overly cautious because we’re foreigners or if there’s a genuine threat.

Most exotic place you’ve been?

After participating in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi I had some time off, so decided to stay and explore the city. Until then we’d just been holed up in the athletes’ village, eating our own food, so getting out into the city was a real eyeopener. It was just so busy and the roads, they just don’t follow them. It’s every man, woman, child and animal for themselves.

Your most relaxing destination?

In 2014, after the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Jason and I went to the couples-only Ochos Rios resort in Jamaica. We wanted to go somewhere neither of us had been

Your worst travel experience?

On my first trip to Colombia when I was 18 for the World Track Championships with Team GB, half of our bags didn’t turn up for three days. We had nothing, apart from what we’d flown in. So our coach had to go and buy us all clean underwear and the basics. Our bikes did turn up, though, so they expected us to train. We looked like a bunch of comedians. Some of the sprinters, like Victoria Pendleton, had flown out ahead of us, so she lent me some of her kit.

Favourite airline?

Emirates, without a doubt. Business class is amazing – you get so much space and the customer service is amazing. And no, they’ve never lost my bags.

Best travel advice?

Take the biggest wheelie bag you’re allowed as hand

Best beauty tip for travelling?

I never wear make-up when I’m travelling because it really clogs up your skin, but I also carry mini moisturisers in my bag as I get so dry, especially if I’m flying back from somewhere hot.

What do you hate about holidays?

Flying – I don’t like take-off and landing especially.

Where next?

I’d love to go on a road trip in a camper van if I had the time. I’d also love to go to Monaco – I’ve never been. I’m off to Rio at the start of August and we’re back just two weeks later – we’re not spending any more time than we have to out there. The team doesn’t want us hanging around. DFS, the official homeware partner for Team GB, has created a limited-edition Britannia sofa range for British House, the Team GB headquarters at the Rio 2016 Olympics. See dfs.co.uk