​Abby-Mae Parkinson

Trek-Drops rider on Flanders, snotty glasses and a mother’s wisdom

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On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your last race?

My last race was Flèche Wallonne. It’s a race that I don’t like so much, it’s super-hilly, so I would probably give it a four, rated on the crowds going up the Mur de Huy. Everything else isn’t my cup of tea. The roads are narrow and the road surfaces horrific; I got a front wheel puncture going down one of the descents and my bars slipped. It took a long time tightening my bars and changing a wheel — I was in the cars for ages to get back on.

What’s been the highlight of the year so far?

Valencia [Setmana Ciclista Valenciana], getting the young rider’s jersey and being able to stand up on the podium with these heroines of mine, these incredible riders. I’ve not stood on a podium since I won the junior National Champs, so it was so nice to get a reward for the hard work I have put in, and to ride in the young rider’s jersey, that was so good.