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Issue 20 - Post Girobio Interview: Peter Kennaugh

20/08/2009

by Mick Tarrant

After his successful grilling of Robbie McEwen after the Vattenfall Cyclassics, Mick turns his attention to one of the UK's hottest prospects Peter Kennaugh. A Prendas Supported rider, young Mr Kennaugh recently took podium positions at the Baby Giro (Girobio) and the UK National Championships.

Mick: You had a pretty intense winter on the track, lot of travelling too, how long did it take to rediscover your "road legs" after returning to Tuscany?

Peter: To be honest it took me a while, just getting use to riding my road bike properly again regain my confidence on the bike and also find my form, i first started to feel good after my first stage race early may fruli after that i just carried on progressing right through to the giro.

Mick: How bad were the after effects from what looked like a brutal crash in the Madison at the Worlds?

Peter: The crash didn’t effect me to much just the usual cuts and bruises which are all part of bike racing, i would say i got away with it really

Mick: Going into the GiroBio/Baby Giro, were you initially looking for stage victories or was the GC a target?

Peter: Initially i was looking for stage victories as i thought the climbs were to long and hard for me to get over them in the front group also 10 days is a long way for a second year amateur, however i surprised my self with the way i was recovering and how i could just about climb with the best day in day out.


Peter Kennaugh winning a stage in the 2009 Girobio.

Mick: At what point did you realise that the overall was a possibility, after your stage win?

Peter: After my stage win i was on a massive high But i still had doubts that i could last 10 days and the hardest stages were still to come. Me and max talked before the giro and decided we were goin to take it day by day and even after my stage win that was still what we did we just stuck to the plan .

Mick: You had the misfortune to puncture twice at very inopportune moments. From what we've heard both of these cost you a lot of time, is it realistic to think that the win could have been yours had it not been for this?

Peter: It was defiantly realistic. I would have took the jersey on the 5 day if i hadn’t have puctured for sure!!, however the last day where i puctured i would say i was more hangin on for 2nd towards the end rather than racing for 1st.

Mick: To finish 3rd (and by a very slender margin) was a great achievement, even your teammates were impressed! Does this result affect the way you'll approach stage races in the future. Do you now see yourself as a GC rider?

Peter: I defiantly see my self as more of a gc rider, i use to go better in the 1 day events and enjoy them more, maybe because it was because i was a bit younger and not stronger enuf for the stage races i don’t know. I think i will approach stage races now with more confidence.

Mick: Obviously the Giro drained you physically as well as mentally, how well had you recovered by the time you got on the start line at the National Champs in Abergavenny?

Peter: I hadn’t really recovered full stop it was less than a week since the giro finished i was still pretty tired and needed a break. However it was the nationals and you cant not be excited by the chance of winning the jersey, my hed was a bit gone most of the time for the week after the giro but by the time i was on the start line i was focused and ready to go


Peter Kennaugh in action during the National Championships.

Mick: Congratulations on winning the U23 title again and 3rd place in the race, how disappointed were you at narrowly missing out for the 2nd consecutive year?

Peter: I was very very disappointed, i felt i was the the strongest in the break maybe just not the wisest, i was very pissed of but soon got over it. And focused towards the euro road.

Mick: Were you surprised at how quickly the race fragmented?

Peter: No not really there was almost 200 starters and about 20 people capable of winning if that so it was always going to fragment quickly especially as we had to up the tumble after only 60 km as well.

Mick: What is your programme for the rest of the season, any more targets for you?

Peter: Yes i have a few targets we have all the big one days mid august then valley d’ aosta and l’avenier which are big amateur stage races then the worlds to finish off the season so i will be targeting l’avenier and the worlds mostly but there is still alot of racing to be done.

Mick: How will your winter programme differ this year will there be such a big emphasis on the track?

Peter: I am not sure exactly how much track i will be doing this winter defiantly not as much as last year anyway, i also have to make the decision weather i want to do the track worlds next march, that decision will then dictate how much time i will spend on the track.

Mick: How many of the current crop of Academy riders do you think will make it on to the Sky team?

Peter: I don’t think i am the right person to ask, we are all good team mates and all aiming for the same thing, however only a few of us may succeed in getting onto the sky team. I think most of the academy riders will still progress onto other teams and hopefully most of us will have a bright future in the sport.


Jonny Bellis (Saxo Bank), Peter and Mark Cavendish (Columbia-High Road) in the typical British Village Hall post training ride.

Mick: You obviously get asked this a lot but how big an inspiration has Mark Cavendish's success had on you?

Peter: Yer hes a great inspiration. Hes a great person to train with when you want to go hard thats for sure!! Doing the Madison worlds with him this year was great experience, u can almost feel his confidence, and that has such a positive affect on the way i approached thing and the way i rode.

Mick: Are you looking forward to an Isle of Man winter?

Peter: I am defiantly looking forward to some time at home, however maybe not all of the winter will be spent at home i haven’t decided exactly what i am doing this winter yet but at the moment i am thinking of spending some of November and most of December in Italy.