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Home > TeamTalk > Kiwi TeamTalk > Season roundup - Matt Sillars
Season roundup - Matt Sillars
sillars_ronde_du_queyranthumbSep 30th, 09. Kiwi international Matt Sillars shares his 2009 season with RoadCycling.co.nz and talks of a balancing act for his NZ summer goals.

 

 

 

Matt Sillars, winner of Stage 6 Tour of New Caledonia
Matt Sillars, winner of Stage 6 Tour of New Caledonia
Sillars is back home in New Zealand after finishing his international season where he spent most of his time with French team CA Castelsarrasin.

Best ride/result of the season?

Winning Stage 6 at of the Tour of New Caledonia. I was part of a 12 rider break with 2 teammates and we were the only team there with 3 riders so it would have been a real balls-up if we didn't win.

I jumped early at about 500m to go through a dodgy corner and held off in the sprint which finished on a velodrome.

It was great to be able to throw my hands in the air as it had been a while since my last win.

Best experience (on or off the bike)?

Riding the U23 version of the Tour of Flanders with the NZ team. I found a whole new world of hurt that day just trying to hang on to some of the best U23's in the world, many who are riding for Protour teams next year.

I was unfortunately taken down in a crash with 10km to go, but still finished 33rd only 4min down. With a little bit more luck I may have been able to finish a little higher up, but I felt so totally spanked after it was all over that I had to be satisfied I gave it my best effort.

Matt Sillars leads the Ronde du Queyran
Matt Sillars leads the Ronde du Queyran
Were you happy with your 2009 International season?

I have some mixed feelings about the season. I had a few problems with my team over-promising and under-delivering which made for some difficult times, but it was still great to be racing overseas and missing out the New Zealand winter.

Are you planning on riding: Tour of Southland, Taupo Classic, Festival of Cycling, Elite Nationals?

I'm riding the Tour of Southland and Elite Nationals, I don't know about the others just yet.

Main goal for the NZ season?

To try and balance my racing and training with work so that I can earn some sweet moola with uncle Rico.


Photos provided by Matt Sillars



Read the season round-ups of all the kiwi internationals..

Greg Henderson, Peter Latham, Alex Meenhorst, Tim Gudsell, OEX Team Enterprise, Matt Sillars, Roman Van Uden, Alex McGregor, Heath Blackgrove, Wade Mangham, Glen Chadwick, Genevieve Whitson, George Bennett, Logan Hutchings, Michael Torckler, Josie Giddens, Jesse Sergent, Tom David, Jack Bauer, Sam Bewley, Rushlee Buchanan, Clinton Avery, Ryan Wills, Cath Cheatley plus recent interviews with Alison Shanks, Hayden Roulston and Jo Kiesanowski. More to come...