Name: Amy Young
Hometown: A small village in Northamptonshire, England.
How did you get into cycling? I was a golf widow and wanted something I could go and do by myself. Inspired by the 2012 Olympics, I bought a bike on the bike-to-work scheme. Fast forward 10 years, and several bikes later, cycling has taken over my life.
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I’ve always been a fan of turbo training but didn’t think I needed Zwift. I reluctantly did a free trial at the end of 2020 and have been an addict since.
Are you part of a Virtual team? I race for The Coalition. I joined the team after spotting them on Instagram. At the time, I had no idea about Zwift teams and the world of racing and making friends that it would open up.
What do you love most about racing? All racing on Zwift is fantastic. I love that it’s so accessible whether it’s hopping on the turbo and selecting an upcoming race from the Companion app on the spur of the moment, or whether it’s a race series with teammates where you recon the course and plan tactics. You can really push your limits without having to think about the external environment such as weather, cornering, potholes, cars and all the other things you need to think about when you’re on the road.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I enjoy all of the different race formats on Zwift. I don’t really think too much about what sort of race it is until the day of the race when I’m doing last-minute research of the course and finding out the best bike choice. But for true teamwork, it’s got to be a TTT – it’s all about communication and working together.
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Not exclusively a women-only series, but ZRL (Zwift Racing League). I love that it’s a team event which plays to different riders’ strengths and weaknesses.
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? That is so tough, every day on the bike (even the ones in rain) are memorable. Let’s go with The Marmotte Granfondo, my first big ride in The Alps back in 2017. I had never ridden abroad and I had no idea if I’d even be able to complete it. But I did it and loved it. I’m looking forward to going back this year to give it another attempt.
What is your favourite food to eat post race? After Zwift racing I find it can be hard to eat, however I know it’s really important to get that protein in so I often reach for a protein shake as I’m heading to the shower and as I generally race in the evenings, I always force some dinner down post-ride which might be something like a bowl of pesto pasta.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen? You get dropped but it’s virtual so really doesn’t matter. The best that can happen is you love it and get so hooked that your legs will be pleading with you for a rest day.
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? I’m going to be racing in the DRS DIRT series. I’ve never raced in it before and this time I will be in a mixed team so I’m looking forward to racing with some Coalition male teammates and seeing if the race tactics are different.
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