Interview Georgie Howe

She represented her counntry in rowing before and is ready to do the same in a brand new sport for her. Georgie Howe made the switch from rowing to cycling this year and not without a result. She already finished 4th in the second stage race that she took part in. The 28 years old Oceanian time trial champion is having an excellent summer right before the Worldchampionships on home soil. It's still unkown if she will be rewarded by a ticket for the worlds but she can already tell you about her carreer till now. Get to know the rider who might deliver one of the nicest background stories at the upcoming worlds. 

You used to be a rower, discovered cycling through Zwift and now became a competitive cyclist in less then a year. Can you explain how it all went so fast for you?

I guess I could blame 13 years of physical condition and my aerobic strenght capacity from rowing but I won't blame that. Cycling was and continues to be really fun for me. So that combined with amazing people in my corner, being my coach, agent, team, friends, family. Anything is possible. My rise doesn't stop here.

You were in the break with Ellen van Dijk, how did it feel to compete directly against the biggest champions in the world?

I could not quite believe the company of that breakaway. It felt surreal. I had to quickly remind myself that it was a bike race. Ellen is such an inspiration for me, and not only with how she rides a bike but how she caries herself of it. I hope to one day just hold a candle of her professionalism. She's just simply amazing.

You're staying as an Australian in Belgium for racing for a while, how does it feel to be on the other side of the world for a quite long time?

I moved overseas when I was 19 to study my graduate degree and campaiged for my univeristy in the United States, wich was Princeton university and my country Australia in rowing. I wasn't home over that period very much given I was competing for Australia in the university breakup in the Summer. So this 3 months spent in Europe isn't new for me. Off course I miss my family but after not able to travel for so long due to Covid, I really enjoy my time here and if Europe becomes a full time things for me, being overseas won't be an issue.

 

What are your ambtions in the sport now?

In the intermediate future I hope to represent my country in the upcoming Worldchampionships in Wollongong, but in addition to that I have definetly ambitions to be signed by a Women's World Tour level team for 2023. So hopefully be ful time in Europe next year.

You finished 5th in the Baloise Ladies Tour for the small Keukens Redant team. It must have been a big result for the team. How was this week for the team?

The Keukens Redant team have been simply amazing. They have such a great attitude. Faboulus to race for them across June/July. They were very happy with the result. But the result was definitly a team effort. No one person is going to achieve that alone. They did enjoy however being quite far in the car convoy, they could see more of the racing that way

How did it feel to ride in a peloton for the first time?

I knew the racing and the dynamics in the peloton was going to be different to Australia. Particulary the racing in Belgium. This was my expectation so I came in with an open mnd to what to expect. I just kept it really simple. My single goal for each race was to ride in a good position which meant I had to learn very quickly how to move up and around the front of t he bunch. Try to introduce myself to people, learn from good wills and just absorb as much as possible because I'm so late in the sport and I do learned from every race that I do so I hope to continue to get better as I go on. 

 

 

Do you have a tip for other Australian cyclists who come racing in Europe? 

Just give it a shot, go with an open mind and have fun. You're riding your bike in Europe in the Summer. That's pretty bloody special. Then the stroopwafels, the people you meet, the places you see. It's pretty amazing but the raod or the racing will be feel like the most hectic thing you ever done but that's what it meant to feel like at first. It will get better

What are the next races on your scheldule? Where can people come cheer for you? 

I don't have anything opted in for the immediate future as I'm in Girona, Spain for pre-worlds selection activity, however I hope to get back to Belgium for some one day races ad kermesse racing in August before flying home. So I hope people come & cheer me on, the crazy Aussie.