1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: I think everybody knows that I absolutely love my sport, 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: so I do often catch up with the young Territorians 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: that are involved in sport doing great things. I caught 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: up with Emma Stark a little bit earlier, well last week, 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: that was about her umpiring. I'd also caught up with 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: the Wallow Girls who'd gone away for the Nationals for 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: swimming just a couple of weeks ago. So if you 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: do know an incredible young Territorian who's doing some great stuff, 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: whether it's sport or whether it's something else, I'd love 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: to hear from them, you can send me an email 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: three sixty at Mix one oh four nine dot com 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: dot au. But joining me in the studio this morning 13 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: is cyclist Poppy Ghost. Good morning to you, Poppy Morning. Now, Poppy, 14 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,959 Speaker 1: I'd told our audience a few minutes ago that you're sixteen. 15 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: You're actually only fourteen, aren't you. Yeah, so fourteen years old. 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: Now you have just traveled back from Europe. You arrived 17 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: back last week and you were there to take part 18 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: in the International Pathway to Pro Development Road Cycling pro 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: Now you raced with the x Speed Australian well the 20 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: x Speed Junior team, which is a team based. 21 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: Out of Perth. 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: Tell me about what this Pathway to program is. 23 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 3: Well, basically, it's we get a few juniors together and 24 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 3: we all come together and we go away to race 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 3: just to kind of get an idea of what it's 26 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 3: like to race as a professional athlete. 27 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what being a professional athlete, Well, I 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't know what it's like because I haven't been one obviously, 29 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,639 Speaker 1: but it would be very difficult, especially in a sport 30 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: like cycling. I mean, cycling is tough going and it 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: it can be dangerous at times too. What was it 32 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: like sort of riding in those other countries and part 33 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: of this team. 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: Well, it was definitely very enjoyable being able to ride 35 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 3: with big groups of people, but obviously very intimidating as 36 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: we don't get people up here to ride with. But 37 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 3: it was definitely it was such an amazing experience. 38 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: So you actually, you know, you did this race or 39 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: you trained as well, but you did this experience in 40 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: Belgium and Holland, including a six days stay race in Holland. 41 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: What's it like writing for you know, for six days 42 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: and being part of such a big team. 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, so over the six days it was actually nine stages, 44 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 3: so there was nine races and six days, so for 45 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 3: three of those days there. 46 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: Was a race in the morning and in the afternoon, 47 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: so it was. 48 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 3: The whole thing of getting up early, then going back home, 49 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: chilling out, and then having to get ready again and 50 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 3: going racing. So that was definitely hard, but it was 51 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 3: good having people around you or doing the same thing. 52 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 3: So we would all organize when we were eating, when 53 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 3: we were sleeping, so that was. 54 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: Good and poppy. 55 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: Obviously, there was a couple of chaperones that traveled with you, 56 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: including your mom. Now, but you guys, basically like you 57 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: did everything for yourselfs, didn't you. You you had to 58 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: organize your food. You've got to organize your diet. You 59 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: literally treated this like you're on a pro tour. 60 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, So basically, especially our race food, we would all 61 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: do that individually because everyone's worked with different things before, 62 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 3: so everyone has their different nutrition that they like to have. 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 3: So some people prefer to have bars or gels, but 64 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: with meals, we were luckily enough to during the tour 65 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: to actually be hosted, so we got cooked for during 66 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 3: that week, but the week before and after that, Yeah, 67 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 3: we would be put into groups and we would cook 68 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 3: for ourselves and figure out when we would eat all together. 69 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: Now I know there's going to be people listening this 70 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: morning thinking what an incredible experience and how did you 71 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: you know, how did you get selected to actually do this? 72 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: Well? I do track cycling as well. Yep. 73 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: So last year there was the Tasmanian Track Carnivals which 74 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 3: we ended up not being able to go to because 75 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 3: of COVID, but Amanda O'Connor from Wa got in contact 76 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: with us asked I was cycling anti if there was 77 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 3: any athletes that would like to go with her so, 78 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: and because I'm pretty by myself, it was easy, Yeah, Popy, 79 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 3: you can come with us. 80 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: So that's how we got involved. 81 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: Really tell me how much training you know you do 82 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: for cycling to be getting experiences like and competing at 83 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: this level, it must be pretty tough and lots of training. Yeah. 84 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 3: So on the lead up to Europe, I was riding 85 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 3: pretty much every day, and then some mornings before school 86 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: I would have to do gym work and then. 87 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: That afternoon I would ride. 88 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 3: So luckily I've got a few weeks just chilled out 89 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: riding for now rather than really intense. But then over 90 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 3: the next few weeks I start to get back into 91 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 3: it to get ready for the track season. 92 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: And so what's coming up as part of the track 93 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: season if you got a losh. 94 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, there's heaps of races obviously, but the main 95 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 3: one would be Nationals in March, which I'm aiming for. 96 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 3: So it's just the whole process of qualifying for that 97 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 3: and then hopefully heading over there. 98 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 99 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: And when will you find out if you've qualified for 100 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: the Nationals? 101 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: Oh? 102 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 3: Well, last year I found out maybe four weeks before yep, 103 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 3: So it was just making sure I was. 104 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: Ready just in case I was going, and it ended 105 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: up going, so that was. 106 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: Yeah. It was really good, and it would be tough, 107 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: you know, being in a place like the Northern Territory. 108 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: I know that in the likes of Wa for example, 109 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: and some of those other states, they've got lots of 110 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: other people to train with. It's a little bit more 111 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: difficult for you here in the territory, isn't ash. 112 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's definitely can get pretty lonely, especially the lead 113 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 3: up the last few weeks. 114 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: Of training before Europe. 115 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 3: I was getting pretty disheartened because it was very much 116 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 3: by myself. 117 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: But it was all worth it. When we all came 118 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: together and we all ended up being able to race together. 119 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: What was that experience like for you then as well? 120 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: Going away on this trip traveling overseas, you know, being 121 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: selected to travel overseas at fourteen years old, it must 122 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: have been incredible. 123 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was pretty amazing. 124 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 3: We were all very very appreciative that we were able 125 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 3: to do this. So we met with a Canadian team 126 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: which we had never met before, which was really cool. 127 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 3: It was very hard saying goodbye to everyone after you 128 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 3: we've lived together for three weeks, but. 129 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was just amazing. Yeah, how wonderful. 130 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: I just think it's incredible what you've done, and incredible 131 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: you know that you are aiming for things like the Nationals, 132 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: and like you've said, you know, it can get a 133 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: bit lonely when you're doing that training on your own, 134 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: but you know the highlights I'm sure far out way 135 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: that hard training, don't they. 136 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 2: Yes, definitely. 137 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: Did you push yourself to the point where you're like, wow, 138 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: I didn't realize I could do that. 139 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, especially because I haven't been exposed to big group 140 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:10,679 Speaker 3: racing before. 141 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: So the first few races were very. 142 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 3: Scary, but then eventually you're able to get closer to 143 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 3: them and end up getting really next to all the 144 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 3: big guys, which was really cool. 145 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: Now, obviously it was all about sort of you know, 146 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: what it would be like to be a pro cyclist. 147 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: What do you reckon? Poppy? 148 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 1: Is that in your future? 149 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: Hopefully? Yeah? I love it. 150 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: I think it's incredible what you've done, and like I 151 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: said earlier, I love seeing young Territorians do great things. 152 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: So it's wonderful to see how well you're going with 153 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: your cycling. Please keep me up to date, let me 154 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: know how you go with your qualifiers for the Nationals 155 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: and that kind of stuff. We'd love to have you 156 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: back on the show to hear more. 157 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 2: About what you're up to. Awesome. 158 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you so much for joining us in 159 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: the studio this morning.