Ian Stannard
Friday 1 January 2016 07:26, UK
Rider Profile
Now in his ninth season as a pro, Ian Stannard is rightfully regarded as one of cycling's most versatile and hard-working talents.
Ian is at home when conditions are at their toughest, whether fighting for position at a one-day race or riding on the front at a Grand Tour. Last year he gained universal praise by outwitting three Etixx - Quick-Step riders to defend his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title, and then helped Chris Froome win the Tour de France for the second time in three seasons.
A Tour of Austria stage win and British road race title also sit proudly on his palmares, and Ian will aim to add to that tally before the season is out.
Q&A
Who inspired you to start cycling?
I tried lots of sports when I was younger and cycling came out on top. I kept progressing and here I am.First bike:
A white Peugeot.
First cycling club:
Team Keyne which was part of the Milton Keynes Cycling Club.
Childhood hero:
Johan Museeuw. I remember seeing him suffering on the cobbles on TV and that gave me a real passion for the Classics.
What do you love most about cycling?
It's a simple way to live, going out on your bike and training, and I sometimes forget it's a job. It's a dream come true to be doing it.
What has cycling taught you?
How to hurt and suffer. It also keeps you a big kid at heart.
Previous teams:
2007 T-Mobile (stagiare); 2008 Landbouwkrediet; 2009 ISD-NERI
Favourite race:
Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.
Favourite ride:
The World Championships last season was good. Being part of that race and contributing to it was great.
If you weren't a rider, what would you be?
I have no idea. I couldn't work in an office so I'd probably be a policeman or a fireman.
Interests away from cycling:
Cycling takes up a lot of my time so I don't have time for much else.
Favourite film:
Bond movies
Favourite music:
I'm into dance music and like Tiesto and Mark Knight.
Best friend in the peloton:
Anyone who wants to chat in the gruppetto.
Funniest team-mate:
Bradley's the funniest, but everyone's a good laugh on this team.
Favourite food:
Anything that's unhealthy.
Most famous person you've met:
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins.
Most embarrassing moment:
Crashing whilst signing on for a race once.
Best advice:
Becoming a pro is not easy and takes lots of hard work. You have to put the hours in on the bike but it's great when you get there. Give it everything.
Rider website:
Career Highlights
2006
European Track Championships - gold medal, team pursuit
2008
Tour of Britain - 3rd overall
2010
Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - 3rd
2011
Tour of Austria - 1st stage five
2012
British Road Race Championships - 1st
2013
Milan-San Remo - 6th; British Road Race Championships - 2nd
2014
Tour of Qatar - 4th overall; Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 1st
2015
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 1st; British Road Race Championships - 3rd
