2010 season roundup - Emma Crum

Sep 14th, 10. Emma Crum is back from her international season in Holland and shares her season round-up and her excitement after being named in the NZ team for the World Champs. 

Crum in a breakaway with Cervelo's Kirsten Wild (photo provided)

Alongside her Kiwi Cyclosport teammate Jessica Jolly, she raced in Holland, France, the Czech Reublic and Germany.

Also racing in many of the same races in Europe were her other NZ teammates, Emily Collins, Tracy Best and Serena Sheridan.  Seeing familiar faces at events made the experience all the more enjoyable.

She might be back home, and back at University, but one of the season's most important races is still to come.

Crum is in the New Zealand team for the road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Geelong in a few weeks time (as is Sheridan).

Crum has been in New Zealand teams as a junior, and competed in the Oceania Championships once as a senior (she won bronze), but this is her first time racing at an event of this level.  Understandably, she is looking forward to the opportunity to pull on the NZ colours and ride for her country.

"I am really excited to be selected for the World Champs team because it will be a great experience racing with all the top riders in the most important race of the year. It is also really cool that it is so close by, so there will be lots of Kiwi supporters!" Crum told RoadCycling.co.nz

Her last race before leaving Europe last week was the tough six day Holland Ladies Tour where many of Europe's top riders were preparing for the Worlds.  Crum believes the period of fast racing was great preparation for her too.

Crum hasn't had a chance to review the 127.2km Geelong circuit course in detail, but was pleased to hear there was climbing involved.

"I haven't really looked at it yet, but I am happy anytime the road goes uphill!! I think its a really good team, and it is really cool that we are able to have six riders," she said.

2010 International season round-up

Was your time in Europe work out how you expected?
It was really good, much better than I expected because the team ended up being really good and so I got to do quite a few UCI tours.

Best ride or result of the season?
My best placing was 3rd in a criterium in Borken, Germany, but my best results were 17th in the Holland Hills Classic, 24th in the Tour of Krasna Lipa and 27th in the Tour of Limousin as these were all UCI races.

My best ride was the Holland Hills classic, because I was able to get into a breakaway with all the best climbers over the hills and even though it didn't end up staying away until the finish, I was really pleased that I was able to stay with them up the climbs. 

Best experience (on or off the bike)?
Stopping in Paris on the way back from the Tour of Limousin for a few days with Jess. On the bike, racing in the Tour of Krasna Lipa in the Czech Republic. It was my favourite race because it was somewhere completely different from where I had been before, and because every stage had lots of hills!

What are your goals for the NZ summer season of racing?
My plan for after the World Champs is to have a rest and then start my build up for the nationals, which is my main focus for the summer. I am not sure what races I will do to prepare for this yet, except for definately the K1 as that is my favourite race in NZ.

Related articles

• NZ World's team finalised
• Crum opens European season with a podium

All season round-ups to date: Emma Crum, Ruaraidh McLeod, Michael Torckler, Tom David,  Daniel Barry, Patrick Bevin,  Wade Mangham, Taylor Gunman,  George Bennett, Jason Allen.