Page 15 - Team TTO PARIS 2024

SW: What have you done differently in the preparation
for Paris 2024?
NP: As I said, the sport has come a long way, with a lot
of new equipment but at the same time you have to
work with what works with you, in cycling. I got a lot of
new equipment to try out, but I’ve opted to stay with the Photo by Innis Francis
LOOK T20 bike from three years ago which is the best
suited bike for me at this time. I think it’s the most
aerodynamic bike for me with my (riding)
position. Physically, training has been adapted I know that the support is there,
to get me stronger and I’ve been watching a and that people are expecting a lot,
lot more races to get me ready mentally to
adapt to race situations much faster. but I just go forward knowing that
I’ve trained well, and I just have
SW: Your style of sprinting uses a lot more of to go out and execute. Its not
the track than the other sprinters, have you really pressure for me.
tried to adapt to more straight-line sprinting
especially since the rules around sprinting
have become so strict? SW: Have you ridden on the Paris Olympic velodrome yet?
NP: I wouldn’t say I’ve adapted my style to any
other type of sprinting because on any day you can NP: Yes, I have. It’s a nice track but it’s different to other
get any one with any type of sprinting, to race against. tracks because it’s a meter wider, so it will be a very fast
But I have been training to adapt to whoever I have to track once you are able to use the extra width to your
race so if I have to do straight line speed, or go up and advantage. I really like the track, so we will just see on the
down on the track, I’ll do whatever it takes by being day!
ready for it.
SW: The Keirin offers the chance of further success. Have
SW: Your rivals have adapted to narrower bars and you given it equal attention as the Sprint in your preparation?
newer shaped frames, as the benefits of use NP: Yes. My focus is not only the Sprint. The main focus
aerodynamics become clearer, yet you still are medals at the Olympic Games. I love sprinting so it’s
standard-sized bars. Is this personal not either Sprint or Keirin, I’m 100 per cent focused on both
preference for better control or any events. I want to be able to put my best foot forward in each
other reason? Have you done wind of them.
tunnel testing? SW: You constantly speak about the pleasure and
NP: Yes, it’s a personal preference importance of ‘reppin’ T&T. How do you cope with the
because I think it gives me better weight of expectation from T&T?
control. I tried the smaller bars, but I
didn’t really like them and it took NP: I know that the support is there, and that people are
away from my performance. So I had expecting a lot, but I just go forward knowing that I’ve
to go back to what is better for me, trained well, and I just have to go out and execute. Its not
which are the wider bars. I haven’t really pressure for me, I just take it as a driving force, that
done any wind tunnel testing but I have it’s racing first and then everything else comes after.
done lots of testing on the track with
different equipment, suits, to see what SW: SW: Speaking of expectation, how do you relax in the
works best. Games Village or between races at the Velodrome?
NP: : I relax by talking with family and friends, my family are
SW: There are other medal favourites such as a big part of me so anytime I need to switch off, I will call my
Harry Lavreysen (Netherlands), Kaiya Ota father and mother, my sisters and cousins. Just chat and
(Japan), Matthew Richardson (Australia) and relax. Family is my most comfortable place. At the track I
your training partner, Suriname’s Jair Tjon En Fa. listen to music, a lot of different genres, there’s a lot of
Do you undertake special preparation to race against fast-paced gospel music that I like.
each of these rivals, to exploit any possible weakness?
NP: I don’t think that you can train for any specific SW: At 25, you are still young, is Los Angeles 2028 part of
person, but you can train yourself to be ready. I watch the long-term plan?
videos to see the type of racing that they do, to know NP: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. LA28 is one of my goals
what could come at me, so that I am ready at any given after Paris. It’s four years away but at the same time it’s
point in the race. I think I am really ready physically and close (laughs).
mentally. It’s not that far way but we still have time before
the Games to continue the hard work with that type of SW: Thank you, Nicholas.
preparation. NP: You’re welcome, Sheldon.

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