Welcome to the Test Team - Josh Cunningham
It’s with great pleasure that I’m able to say I’ve become a member of the ‘Morvelo Test Team’. As a long time admirer of the Morvelo clothing; and now that I’ve been educated, an even bigger admirer of the philosophy in the threads, it's great to be on board.
Right now I’m in the midst of final preparations for the 2012 season, which will be spent riding for ‘Viasport-Publiled Cycling Team’, and getting quite excitable in the process. It is always the same feelings of eagerness, positivity, and healthy nervousness at this time of year, with the prospects of new teams, new bikes, new kit, a new calendar, and a new (and hopefully better) season of racing ahead. I’ve always said; my current career path will continue until I either stop progressing and/or stop enjoying it. This will be my third season abroad, and although it’s not a concrete, 45-degree line of development, both are still moving in the right direction, so the dream continues. As a last year under 23, or ‘Belofte’, as they say in Flemish, and with quite a high profile racing calendar, the next year or so will be particularly crucial.
So, barring café’ stop sprints, the last competitive action I had was my final race day of 2011, on 12th September, so after that, and a month off the bike, I started training again mid October, and I’ve gradually been building up since then. This is the first winter for a few years that I have been coached, and as a result I have done quite a lot less miles than what I’d usually prescribe myself. This has meant that it’s taken longer to start to feel ‘fit’, but now that’s happening, I’m hoping it means I’ll come into shape at just the right time, and also remain fresher, for longer into the year.
Later this week is when the ball starts to gather some real momentum, as I’m travelling to Belgium to sort out a few things, like bike set up, Belgian racing licence, and most importantly to shot gun my room in the house. From there I’ll fly with the team to our training camp in Tuscany at the start of February, before returning for the team presentation in Geraardsbergen on the 11th. I’ll come home for a week or two after that, to make the most of the South Coast of England while I can. The 20th has then been pencilled in as d-day; back to the concrete roads, overcast skies, and mundane towns of Belgium, the cycling mad, beer drinking, enthusiastic locals, and the combined Aussie, Kiwi, and ‘Pommie’ charm of our house. Allez het seizoen, met Morvelo.
Josh
- See Josh's rider profile on Morvélo right here.
- And see the fellow riders of the Test Team here.