Q. Chris, Cross Country Champion & Short Course Cross Country Champion in one weekend, congratulations! How does it feel? A. I think when the new Championships coloured riding kit arrives it will sink in more,? I am happy to regain the titles, it’s a great stepping stone leading into the season. This Australian titles is one of my favourites all round. Q. The conditions were pretty hot out there, how were you able to cope better than everyone else? A. This lead up was a little different as previous years where I always tried training early in the morning. This year I trained more in the heat of the day knowing 90% chance it was going to be a stinker. Q. This type of racing is so different to road racing, can you explain just how difficult it is to back up the next day to not only ride these two events, but to win two National Championships? A. Backing up from the Friday was difficult with it being so hot and the racing being so tight between myself and Lachlan Norris,?it was going to always be tough to back up after digging so deep. The short track went my way, having a couple of big jumps helped me consolidate my advantage to Paul. Q. Do you think your forced time off the bike gave you a new motivation & perspective on racing?? A. Absolutely. Having put a lot of energy into the Australian Championships I know I have some hard work ahead of me when the racing becomes all that more competitive. I feel this time off allowed me to sort out or to think more about other areas of my life. Q. We?re about to head into winter, what?s coming up for you in the next few months? A. My plans?have not yet been finalised, my immediate goal/race is the Oceania Championships in mid March then hopefully I will be lining up at the Terra Australis a couple of days later. I hope to have the chance to ride a couple of World Cups during this year. Q. And down the track, London 2012 is just around the corner. Does winning these two titles help you believe that you will be there competing with the best? A. It did prove to me that I can still have a genuine chance at lining up inLondon, My feelings are that if all the Australian riders have a great year and finish all their entered races we will build the Nations ranking up and hopefully qualify two spots forLondon. That would be a special feeling. Q. What would it mean to you to pull on the Green & Gold inLondon? A. It would mean a great deal to finally achieve my life long goal. Having been selected for two Olympics it would be hard to explain the emotions I would feel putting the Olympic outfit on. Q. Part of being an elite athlete includes giving back to the community. Are there any initiatives you?re currently involved in, and do you see yourself staying active in cycling whenever it comes time to hang up the bike? A. Absolutely. Having a year back in society, now finding my feet and reclaiming my title I feel it’s time to concentrate more on this. I already have some involvement in helping out with a school here inAdelaide which involves young troubled kids to?also find there feet by taking the group out for mountain bike days riding and talking with them. I have great interest in working with a few more schools and programs aroundAustralia. Will keep you posted on my involvements. And finally… Q. If you could choose between x-ray vision and the power to read minds, what would you choose? And why!!?? A. Reading minds would defiantly make life easier in many ways…
