Anna Turvey is now firmly established in the Cycling Ireland track and road programme and is aiming high for 2017 with some ambitious targets. The British and Irish 25 mile TT record holder put in a commendable display to finish 28th at her debut World Championships this year.
By Brian Canty
Anna Turvey made quite an impact in 2016, winning the national time-trial title by well over three minutes, taking a bronze in the individual pursuit at the European Track Championships and breaking both the Irish 10 and 25-mile TT records.
She previously competed for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games but when she discovered she was eligible to ride for Ireland thanks to her Donegal grandmother she wasted no time.
“Lauren (Creamer) was telling me about the Irish track team and how they were trying to qualify to do team pursuit in the Rio Olympics.
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“I made an off-the-cuff comment of 'oh I think I can ride for Ireland' and before I knew it Brian (Nugent, Cycling Ireland technical director) got in touch and was very encouraging about me cycling.
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Turvey on the podium at the Europeans where she won a pursuit bronze medal.
“So I decided to get fit and to try and earn a place on the Irish team and at the end of last year I got my passport and switched my UCI code.”
She represented Ireland at the European and World championships but reckoned she didn’t ride as well as she could.
“It just made me more determined to improve," she said of her rides on the track and road in the green jersey.
"The medal at the European Track Championships was a brilliant and unexpected bonus to the season, but I know I need to improve to be really competitive at the World Champs.
“I'd like to try and ride in the next UCI Track World Cup (in Los Angeles) at the end of February and then the UCI Track World Championships in April. I'd like to do individual pursuit and the team pursuit.
“After that I'd like to do some road and time trials. But I think for now, I'd just like to gain as much experience as possible on the road and the track.”
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