Jul 7th, 09. With a time trial in the Tour de France this week, it seemed a good time to catch up with New Zealand's current time trial champion, Jeremy Vennell.
Vennell is in his second year with America based Bissell Pro Cycling Team. The twenty-eight year old is having a great 2009, he started with early success here in New Zealand winning the national time trial champion title.
Vennell talked to RoadCycling.co.nz's Sarah Christian about his custom NZ Champion Pinarello, his goals for the rest of the season and his quest to also win the NZ Road Champion title next year.
Vennell on his custom Pinarello in the Tour of California
Top ride - FMI Pinarello
"Pinarello are Bissell cycling team's bike sponsor which is awesome!" said Vennell.
Frame - FMI Pinarello Wheels - Easton deep front, Sub 9 zipp disc Groupset - record Seat - fizik tri SeatPost/HandleBars - Most Pedals - speed play zero Power Meter - powertap only for training
What do you like most about the bike? The handling and the smooth ride, also it has a one of a kind paint job so it is priceless. The national colours make me go faster!
How does it handle? I have on more than one occasion gone through a corner on the bars at warp speed and just afterwards said to myself, "HOLY @$#@ that was fast!!!"
How many kms do you do a week on this bike? Not as much as I like but about 3hrs or so.
Anything special you do to your bike to make it yours? It's all special, National Champ special!
View a short video on Vennell's custom TT Pinarello below.
The season to date
Proudly wearing the NZ Champion TT skinsuit
You've had a pretty busy first half of the year, what was the highlight? Was it racing at the Tour of California with the likes or Levi, Lance and Cancellara and earning a top 25 (or 26th to be exact!) finish, or does the TT podium at Joe Martin trump that?
When I started the Tour of California prologue in my National Champs kit I felt awesome! It would have to be my biggest highlight this year.
I have done well at all the races I have done this year. I only regret getting sick at the Tour of California on the longest day.
I had the runs and I was up all night on the toilet and then during the race I was always clenching and never doing any massive efforts .... It was 6hrs on the bike and I was ready to stop after the neutral zone - I still don't know how I made it!
Unfortunately the time I lost in the last 15km that day lost me the time for a top ten spot on General Classification.
What are the goals for the second half of the year?
I am hoping to finish with the Tour of Missouri as my last US race this year in September. I have plenty of races before that to get some more overall podiums and stage wins, like the Tour of Cascade and the Tour of Utah.
I would love to go to the World Championships in Swizerland for the TT. I also have plans with the Bissell team to ride the Sun Tour in Melbourne and then finish the season with the Tour of Southland with Team Bissell.
Finally, have you heard Christchurch has been granted the Elite Nationals for the next three years?
I didn't know that, I hope the course is hard and not flat as this will suit me more. I also would love to be the National Road Champion too - the national kit looks so awesome!
Watch a video of Jeremy Vennell's custom NZ Champion TT bike
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Jul 7th, 09. With a time trial in the Tour de France this week, it seemed a good time to catch up with New Zealand's current time trial champion, Jeremy Vennell.
