Hannah Walker, Team Matrix Fitness/ Prendas / Paolo Martelli (c)

Hannah Walker: Full time cyclist im Team Matrix Fitness Prendas

Interview about cycling and the adidas journey 2013

We met Hannah at the adidas journeys 2013 in South Triol by cycling with adidas one week from Bozen to Venice. Hannah is a british full time cyclist have raced through out Britain in National level races, as well as European races such as Tour of Brittany. She lived in Belgium for a short while in 2012, racing in UCI level races as well as Kermesses. Hannah is a three times National Champion in Great Britain. After cycling to the Mendelpass nearby Bozen, we had a quick chat with her about cycling and the adidas journeys.

You started biking five years ago and you are now a quite successfull Road Biker in England. What was the reason you choose biking as your favorite sports?

From the age of around 7 I was competing in athletics and cross country running, until when I was 14 I got injured. After a year out of running it turned out that I had Arthritis in my knee, which forced me to have to quit. My mum decided to take me to Manchester Velodrome and I really enjoyed it, so I went back again and again. My grandad was a racing cyclist so he used to come with me to all my races and training sessions. I started racing on the track first then I started road racing when I was a first year junior in 2009.

You are three times national champion in the UK and only 21 years old. What are your plans and goals for the near future?

For the near future I have the Senior National Track Championships coming up at Manchester at the end of September so I hope to do well there where I am hoping for a top 5 or better. I am racing in the Scratch Race, Points Race and Madison.

adidas has choosen you as a testimonial for their brand and you are one of the „my girls“ face for adidas. How and when did this relationship start?

It happened when I saw there was a casting in London for ‘a big sports brand’ in November 2012 so I went along then I didn’t hear back from them for a while. I got a phone call just before Christmas saying they wanted to re-cast me, so I went to Manchester for the re-casting, then the next day I had a phone call saying they wanted to come to my house to see my location and where I do most of my training. A day later I had a phone call saying I am the main girl for #mygirls and filming would start in a week. I did the filming for #mygirls in January 2013, and ever since Adidas have been really supportive especially with the #adidasjourneys trip to the Dolomites, Italy.

adidas has invited you to be part of the adidas journeys. Eight days of pain or eight days of fun?

It was definitely 8 days of fun, the pain was a good pain, everyone helped motivate each other up the mountain passes, it was a sense of achievement and pleasure. There was never a dull moment, I arrived in Munich before we headed to Bolzano, and I didn’t know anyone, but when I left we’re now all really good friends, and we’re already planning to meet up in October time! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in one week!

After cycling one week in the dolomites with a team of eight bikers from all over Europe. How did you expierence the week in the team?

My experience in the team was great, I was the only girl in the team and the youngest by around 10 years, so at first it felt a little daunting, however by the first day of bike riding everything was great, and I got to know everyone really well. The moral in the team was fabulous, if someone was struggling up the mountain pass someone was always there to help and motivate you and get you to the top.

Hannah, cycling outdoor season is nearly over. What are your plans for next year?

Over the winter months I will be training hard for 2014, hopefully I will be invited back to Bremen and Berlin 6days in January as well. I will mostly be riding on the road during the summer months domestically in the UK and also abroad in Europe.