After a season that saw him take a handful of wins, countless podiums, top the British Cycling 1ST category rankings and culminate in the world championships in the Netherlands, Will Stephenson has signed with Rapha- Condor for the 2013 season. A crash in the last 5km of the world junior road race put paid to any ambitions of a high placed finish but he acquitted himself well, marking the early moves in the 129km race. Stephenson, who lives near Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, started riding with Bournemouth Arrow at the age of 14, after briefly flirting with triathlon and rowing. As with many, the club 10 was the starting point and he soon caught the eye of club coach, Alan McRae. McRae was struck by Wills ability to “absorb information and act on it”. “It was obvious there was some talent there” he says.
Already thinking about riding with Ed Clancy and Kristian House, Will is a few weeks into his winter programme but the World Championships are still fresh in his mind!
“The Worlds was an incredible experience. It was basically living the dream for a few weeks. It felt slightly surreal and I had to pinch and remind myself that I was actually here and we all had a job to do. I was really nervous building up to the race and puncturing a new tub 5 mins before sign on didn't particularly help. I surprised myself a lot during the race. My legs felt really good at the start, and at a number of points I found myself actually on the front, first wheel with 180 odd riders following me. I was surprised I could go with attacks and was top 5 up the Bemmelberg several times. Towards the end of the race the hills seemed to be getting steeper and longer as my legs were paying for their efforts. I had so much determination though, I felt so focused. I can't describe how gutting it was to hit the deck so close to the finish. I know I wouldn't have won but I missed the action and the pride of being there at the end and helping my team mates out. I can remember how patriotic I felt and it will always be an ambition to represent my country again. Being selected felt to me, as a way of thanking everyone who's supported me and believed in me. This has been one of the first times I feel I've actually achieved something 'pretty cool'.
What about Rapha? When did he know they were interested?
“Once I'd got back from the World Championships I sent my rider CV off I didn't hear back from them for a week and I almost assumed that they'd already filled their spaces for 2013, I was pretty surprised. I was not really expecting much. I'd never really considered them as I thought it would be a bit 'out of my league'.” (Team Manager, John Herety had been tracking Will all season)
I ask what his role in the team will be. Does he have any targets?
“Next year the team's aim is to develop riders. I'll be given a taste of racing from Premier Calendars to UCI stage races in Europe. I'd like to give as much as I can in all of the races I do and try not to just sit in at the back. If I have the legs and it fits in with the team tactics, I'd like to get in a few breaks. I want to prove my place on the team as much as I can next year. I don't have any specific races targeted yet, but when the calendar comes out and I know which races I'm doing I'll probably choose a few that suit me best. It would be a pretty big ask to be selected for anything like the Tour of Britain as the riders will be selected only on ability. I'm not expecting much but it’s always good to have something to aim for.”
Not eighteen till December, Stephenson raced for Primera/Specialized in 2012, the small team ruled the roost winning most of the local chippers in Dorset & Hampshire and he speaks highly of the experience.
“Riding for Primera has been amazing the past season. It’s been great racing with the guys and I feel they've helped me move on a lot as a rider. They've improved my tactics and helped me read the races a lot better. The shop has given me a lot of support as well. I can't remember the number of times they've been able to replace a spoke or fix a buckled wheel in time for the next race. Jay Eastwood has helped me out a lot and been a sort of ‘mentor’; I feel a lot of what I've achieved this past year has been down to him and the support of the team. Jay even came out to support me in Holland (the men’s race was on the same day but I like to think he'd have come anyway!) and it was great to have some familiar faces in the crowd of over 100,000.”
We talk about training. Will’s approach to his winter work seems fairly traditional.
“I'll mainly be getting in the base miles this winter. (Watts and heart rate provide the detail). The races are a lot longer and tougher next year and I'm conscious I'll have to improve my engine. I quite enjoy base miles, it’s quite peaceful and it seems so far away from the intervals and hill repeats to come in the season. After a few months of steady rides I start to miss the high intensity stuff, so I guess it works well to mix it up.”
As a youth rider his coach encouraged him to try it all, road, track and time trials, he joined British Cycling’s regional school of racing and was a regular in National Championship events. McRae says, “Will has a great appetite for training, he thrives on 12-14 hours a week, more through the winter. It was this platform that carried him through this last season.”
Through independent feedback from local riders Daniel Lloyd & Roland Tilley, McRae recommended Stephenson to John Barclay, Director of South East Cycling. Barclay frequently takes riders across to Belgium to race. Will easily made the step up, Barclay wanted him for other events and he regularly crossed the channel. His coach understandably thinks highly of his rider but McRae knows cycling “Life as a junior is gone now, not only does Will have a new challenge of riding in a cohesive team but also preparing for the next step up to Premier calendar and beyond to the really big boys playground in a few years”
Talk in November is cheap, Stephenson has not arrived yet but perhaps he is on his way. Offered the chance to say anything else his response was worthy of any post victory interview. Maybe it was just a bit of practice but it never hurts to keep the girlfriend on side!
“I have to thank my biggest supporters who are my family who came out to wave Union Flags at me in Holland. They've put up with a lot this year and if they hadn't driven me to all the races and put in as much time as me, I wouldn't be in the same position. My coach Alan McRae, who I've worked with for several years now, has always been there for advice and guidance. My development over the past few years has been down to his experience and I can't thank him enough. I could write a book about the people I'd like to thank, but no one would buy it and most people would find it quite boring. My girlfriend Ellie does however deserve a medal for putting up with the amount of training I do and she's complained before when I haven't mentioned her so I hope this makes up for it!”
Rapha/Condor Team Roster 2013
Aaron Buggle
Hugh Carthy
Ed Clancy
Mike Cuming
Felix English
Luke Grivell-Mellor
Richard Handley
Kristian House
James McCallum
Elliot Porter
Will Stephenson
An announcement of a second title- sponsor will be made shortly
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