Ella Conolly has had a roller coaster season so far in 2022. Winning the opening round at home, climbing the podium again in the second round and breaking her elbow in the third round, it was a wild ride.
- We bring the watches back to the start of the season. How did you feel before EWS Tweed Valley?
Ella: Before Tweed Valley, I was really enjoying riding my bike, which is always a great sign to me. At the start of the season, it is difficult to know how prepared you are and what pace you are going against your opponents. However, I knew I was driving more confidently than I ever did before.
- Could you put your finger on what contributed to that feeling of trust?
Ella: Before the 2022 season, I found a better balance between training and life than before. I've had moments when I rode and moments when I trained. I think the balance really helped.
-How did race day go for you? Did you know you were on a winning run?
Ella: My second place at the Pro Stage on Saturday was a surprise. My ride was smooth, but not particularly fast, so when I finished second behind Isabeau Courdurier it was a bit of a shock.
On Sunday I didn't check the times at all, but people kept telling me things that made it seem like I was doing well. Despite this, I wanted to stay focused on my driving rather than the result.
- Crossing the finish line in first place, with only Isabeau Courdurier on the way, did you think you did enough to win?
Ella: Well, I heard it was squeezed between me and Bex Baraona, so when I got out and went faster than her, I couldn't believe it. The thought was born: maybe I had just won my first EWS!?!
- Starting the season with a home win, the opening round could not have gone better. How did he get you into Petzen-Jamnica? Was there extra pressure on your shoulders?
Ella: I don't think the victory has changed much. I thought it would put a lot of pressure on me to win again or take all the pressure off me as I had finally won an EWS. To be honest, he didn't do either. I tried to take Petzen-Jamnica as another race and enjoyed cycling.
-Petzen-Jamnica delivered some huge physical stages in scorching heat. Did you think there was a podium up for grabs?
Ella: In short, I didn't expect to get on the podium there, I crashed three times in the first practice phase. Maybe I went in with a little more confidence than usual, but it was so slippery and I kept fading around corners. I also crashed in the first stage of the race, so I was really surprised to finish the day in third place.
I think it is important to remember that everyone is in the same situation. If you find it difficult, everyone else is likely to be too and this has taught me to keep pushing even if you feel it is not going the right way.
- Things took an unexpected turn during free practice for the next round in Val Di Fassa Trentino. What happened?
Ella: There was a corner with an entrance on the waterfront and then another with a step rooted in the exit. You could turn the first corner with some speed because the walkway took you over the roots, but the next corner was really full of roots.
The trail was really wet and I didn't know whether to risk it in practice as it would probably dry out by the day of the race, but I decided to give it a try. I went in and my front wheel slipped at the second corner, throwing me over the bars down a sturdy step. It was a nice dip and I stretched out my arms. I knew immediately that I had broken my elbow.
-You have already had to deal with an elbow injury. Do you think past experience helped or hindered your mental vision during the recovery process?
Ella: Yes, I had broken my other elbow a few years ago and I think that past experience negatively affected my mental outlook. I didn't have much support network at the time and I really struggled to come back from that injury. I guess I don't believe it was possible to get back on a bike that fast because last time it took so long.
- After such a great start to the season, was it difficult to remain patient and take the time to heal properly?
Ella: It was really gutting because I finally felt like I was where I needed to be, at the pointed end of the EWS camp. I went into the recovery process with the goal of getting back on the bike in time for Whistler, but the thought of pushing my elbow too soon and doing more damage was horrible. To be honest, the hardest thing is staying patient now that I'm back in the saddle.
-Have you put yourself under pressure to return to racing? What does it take to make the decision to run?
Ella: First, I'll have to feel strong enough to safely drive all stages. I'll get a pretty good idea of where I am in terms of strength during training. If my strength is okay, it will depend a little on how fast I feel. I am not interested in risking further damage for a mediocre result, so I prefer to give it another week rather than running for a result that I will not be proud of.
- We are here in Whistler for the fourth round of the EWS. What's your goal for the week?
Ella: My ultimate goal is just to try and get back to where I was at the start of the season, feeling happy and confident and having fun on my bike. Whether I get to that point in time to run or not doesn't matter much. If I feel like this for the rest of the season after this round, it's a great place to be.
- Finally, what is the most important learning you have drawn from the season so far?
Ella: I think I understand the importance of having a little self-confidence. I didn't expect to win in the Tweed Valley, I didn't expect to finish third in Petzen-Jamnica and I didn't expect to be back racing so soon after breaking my elbow. Maybe if I believed a little more in myself it would help.
