Our Rider - Scott Lyttle

People often ask me, what it takes to be a part of Pure Black

To be part of any professional level cycling team an athlete must obviously have natural ability, strength and the fitness to be able to compete at the highest level on the international stage. It also helps if you have specific strengths as a cyclist such as; climbing, sprinting, time trialling, or being a classification rider. To be a part of Pure Black however, it is important to have more than just the physical ability. One needs to be able to work well as a team, communicate, lead, sacrifice, take initiative, be driven, and be positive. When I mention these kind of attributes I am talking both on and off the bike.

Success comes from working as a team

Working well as a team starts well before the gun goes off on race day. Team camps, training and meetings are where it begins. Pre-race it is important to come together as one and formulate a plan for the event that is to come. By doing this we can set out what we would like to achieve and define each rider's role. This way we can work together towards a common goal. For example; the team may decide to use several riders to do all the hard work during the day whilst looking after a selected rider who is capable of winning, such as a sprinter on a flat stage. By keeping the sprinter fed, hydrated and out of the wind all day, they should arrive at the finish feeling fresh and with good legs ready to launch towards success.

It is all about the mind-set

By simply coming together as a group before the race we begin to get into race mode. Being together, in the same uniform, as one is the important first step. Doing research, asking others who have previous experience, and doing course reconnaissance is also very important. Finally, we have a team meeting where we define and discuss what is coming up, what we want to achieve and how we are going to go about achieving our goals. To be mentally prepared we need to know what it is we are doing, what to expect, and what we are wanting to do out there on course to reach our target.

What motivates me?

On a personal level there is; success, the drive to improve, the want to be the best, not wanting to fail, competitiveness, enjoyment, and goals. There is also the motivation that comes from others, such as; teammates, supporters, staff, and of course sponsors. These are the people that make it all possible, and certainly are a driving force in staying motivated.

Achieving a goal

Achieving a goal is always a fantastic feeling, but achieving a goal together as a team is something very special. The joy and raw emotion in winning a big race is incredible, it is hard to describe. That feeling alone certainly makes up for the countless hours of training and hard work. It is truly gratifying.

On behalf of the Pure Black team, we are stoked to have Fronde on board as a sponsor. To get behind us and follow our progress jump on www.pureblackracing.com.

Cheers guys

Scott