Anton Cooper
1) How do you feel when you are racing(intense or joyful)?
It's not often a joyful experience when I'm racing, the joy I get from racing comes from achieving a good result. Mostly it's just trying to manage the pain and judge my effort, trying to push as hard as I can each lap but not too hard so that I blow up before the finish. So yes it is very intense and you have to concentrate a lot, especially racing with so many other riders at the World Cups and on technical tracks.
2) Are you ever afraid when doing any hard tracks, if so how do you deal with it?
Not normally but sometimes if it rains or is super muddy then the technical sections can change a lot in a race and become extremely hard. But I try to always challenge myself in training so that when that time comes I'm physically and mentally prepared to ride those sections well. The best way to deal with it is to prepare well beforehand and have trust in my own ability.
3) How do you deal with equipment failure - do you ever get angry or is there a better way of coping?
3) How do you deal with equipment failure - do you ever get angry or is there a better way of coping?
It's really frustrating when it happens but I just tell myself to embrace the challenge and fight hard for the best possible result. It's not over until the finish line! I had one race 2 years ago at the Oceania Champs where I crashed on lap 2 and lost my chain. By the time I could get riding again I was 7th and almost 2 mins back. I was really angry at myself but I was able to use that anger and aggression to give me energy to chase as hard as I could. I passed the leader on the last lap and won and when something goes wrong in a race I often think back to that race and tell myself to never give up!