2010 season roundup - Jason Allen

Aug 27th, 10. Jason Allen shares his US season round-up upon arriving back in New Zealand after racing with Rubicon Orbea for close to four  months.

Allen at Joe Martin Stage Race ©Tom Ewart/NWA Photography

In April he headed over to the US to join other Kiwis in Rubicon Orbea where he mixed a few track races into a very busy road schedule.

"A big season away is exactly what I need to continue heading upwards.  You can make training hard, but you just can't simulate the intensity you get out of racing, especially for me if it's hilly.  When racing you find yourself digging for that extra few percent," Allen told RoadCycling.co.nz before he left NZ.

The 6'5" rider battled tough tours like the Tour of the Gila, Nature Valley Grand Prix, Tour of America's Dairyland, Mt Hood Classic and Joe Margin Stage Race.

Allen previously said he would consider the season  a success if he got wins on the board for the team, whether through leadouts or victories himself.  

He achieved wins both ways.

2010 Season round up

Next races / goals before the end of the international season, if any?
I leave today for the Tour of Murray River in Aussie.  Peter Pan (Gordy McCauley) text me the other day and asked if I would like to head over and do it and I jumped at the chance.  I might follow it up with the Tour of Tassie as well, but playing that one by ear at the moment.

Then the big NZ goal is Southland, where I am on the Share the Road team, which has a fantastic line up. Obviously I'll be looking to everyone on the team to work for me for the Bluff hill climb, where I'll need approximately 8 min at the bottom to have a chance at winning the stage.  Then from there the big goal is the Oceania Games on the track in Adelaide at the end of November.

Best experience (on or off the bike)?
Just being part of a really good team this year.  We all gelled really well, and our performances at races like Dairyland etc when we were up against a lot bigger budget teams was cool.

Did you achieve your goals for the international season?
Yeah I think so. I went over wanting to get a couple of wins, and I got those. My form on the track was really pleasing throughout the season too and it's given me a good platform to step into it back here.

When are you back in NZ, and where will you be?
Just arrived home a week ago, and am based in the Garden City.

 
What's the thing you like most about coming home after a season on the road?
Catching up with everyone again! While I was away I had a couple of nieces born, so it was awesome to go home and meet them and catch up with the family and mates again.

It was my birthday the day after I landed, so a big group of us went out for dinner for Indian. I took down a suicide curry and got my name up on the wall at Two Fat Indians, that was mega. I think I single handedly stripped all the wall paper off the walls at the flat the next morning though.

What's the first major Kiwi food addiction you have to quell upon landing?
Apart from the forementioned curry, which we couldn't find at all in the States, I was really missing flat whites/long black coffees, the stuff in America is crud.

What gift did you bring your Mum back?
Myself in one piece!!!

What are your goals for the NZ summer season of racing?
Just to step it up again from where I was in the States, so far everything looks pretty good!!

Related articles

• Emotional criterium win for Jason Allen
• Jason Allen on track for future success
• Allen makes a stand on the US track

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.