Rachel Neylan is an Australian professional road cyclist. She won a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships in the women’s road cycle race event.
She has always been a passionate athlete, starting out at Ryde little Athletics Club in Sydney at the age of eight. From a young age she was always determined to make her opportunities flourish. She was immediately in love with sport and the quest for optimal physical performance. She trained through every setback, opting for alternative methods of training. She learned how to cope with the adversity. She never won races but persisted, She quickly discovered that dedication and hard work yields the most.
After applying the same diligence to her high school study that she had toward my sport, She gained a UAI score of 97.5 and immediately commenced a for four year Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at Sydney University. She graduated at the ripe age of 21 and went to work in one of Sydney’s premier sports medicine clinics.
Learning and growing with a balanced formula in life, work, study and sport – hence executing through passion and true happiness has always been a fundamental value of her’s.
She took the long or ‘alternative’ way round to find cycling. On the hunt to find a sport that would provide a better return for investment than her hurdling pursuits. She used her professional networks in elite sport and knowledge of sport science to underpin her research and investigation into a potential new ‘pathway’.
She took up rowing for 12 months, and excelled in the endurance aspects but time and skill refinement were against her. She returned back to running – this time middle distance. She immersed herself in her prosperous sports physio career in Sydney enjoying contracts with the AIS, NSWIS, Australian Rowing Team, Australian Polo, and the Sydney Swans AFL Club.
In August 2007 following a work trip she found herself in Lausanne Switzerland at the Olympic Museum reading quotes ancient Greek quotes and those from greats like Muhammad Ali. This was the ignition. She came to the realisation that wearing green and gold as a support staff member, She was simply on the wrong side of the fence.
She had a burning desire to become a world class athlete and Olympian she decided to do something about it. That moment she turned her focus to actively search for an opportunity.
Within one month, she had discovered an Adelaide based women’s road cycling ‘National Talent Identification (NTID) / Talent Transfer’ program commencing that month. She performed required testing and was subsequently selected to join.
She downed her physiotherapy tools, left behind my family, friends and career in a bold leap of faith and relocated from Sydney to Adelaide to begin cycling training under the NTID / SASI cycling program.
Through passion, dedication and sheer hard work she has proven her potential in the sport. She was recently placed second in the 2012 UCI World Championships.
The self-driven and self-funded foundation years have made her appreciate every progression she made. She now know she have what it takes to be the best, however this is only the start of the journey to the top!
She has a professional contract for the 2013 season with Hitec a Norwegian based UCI Women’s Professional Cycling Team and am excited to further progress my cycling career in Europe. She believes “the harder you work the luckier you get…”
She is excited with her clarity of vision and motivation to execute exactly what it takes, embracing every challenge along the way. She has a drive and focus resonating strongly with a consolidated strategic plan and framework for the next five years.
Her mission is the pursuit of excellence in cycling performance. Her vision to become World champion and Olympic medalist. Her large focus is toward selection for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Just five years ago she was drew upon courage driven with passion, made a change, and embarked on a cycling career. In September 2012 she stood proud on the World Championships Podium with a silver medal. She has a strong will to succeed further in becoming a World Champion and Olympic cyclist.
Aside from being a professional athlete, She is proud of her attributes off the bike – focused, ambitious, driven, hard working, spirited, and passionate. The motivation, energy and enthusiasm she has to engage and share her experiences along the way gives her the greatest reward.
She train and race fueled with the philosophy of Latin proverb ‘Gutta Cavat Lapidem’ constant dripping wears away the stone / persistence prevails. She has proven this to herself and enjoy sharing her story with others – there is simply nothing that can replace grabbing an opportunity with both hands and investing pure hard work.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
Rachel Neylan is an Australian professional road cyclist. She won a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships in the women’s road race event is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started at a very young age of eight years at Ryde little Athletics Club in Sydney and reached the pinnacle of success by winning second position at the Union Cycliste Internationale World Championships in September 2012. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
Yes, indeed I started athletic life at a young age but in a completely different sport. The one key ingredient that rises above all else is a sincere passion and deep desire to succeed in sport and represent Australia.
I have always been a persistent and hard worker, even when I did not win a running race I was always passionate about my application to try and improve my performances and never gave up – this is what led me on the path to searching for the ‘optimal’ sport where I could channel this desire, passion and work ethic..
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your life changing work trip in August 2007 when in Lausanne Switzerland at the Olympic Museum reading ancient Greek quotes and also from greats like Muhammad Ali. You was ignited and made competitive professional cycling as your career ?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
Yes! This was a culmination of a two year journey being restless in my work and ultimate realisation that I was on the wrong side of the fence being the physiotherapist. I was purely envious of the world class athletes I was working with and knew I had inside me something similar. I told myself they were no different, they had just committed and had a plan. This trip prompted me to ask the hard question ‘what do I really want’. The experience at the Olympic museum confirmed this – a feeling I cannot explain, it was a deep gut instinct something I knew then and there I had to act on. I didn’t know at that point what sport I would direct my energy towards I just knew I was ready to search, find and commit.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
I train on the bike 6-7 times per week from 2-6 hours per day depending on the time of year, intensity of the workloads and racing schedule. A recovery ride is 1-2h and a tough session is a 6h ride with hill climbing intervals, an average day is 4hours with varying intervals of power work in the hills. I also do gym sessions, stability training, yoga and flexibility sessions. I am a big advocate for doing what exercise you love. If it is a chore then it is less likely to sync in to your routine. Small pockets of time for some floor core / balance / body weight exercises are a great way to keen all round body strength and balance which don’t require any equipment and ideal for on the road.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
Generally I eat according to my energy requirements, more on a heavy training day and less on lighter training days. It is imperative in my sport to remain lean but strong with good healthy muscle to generate power. A balanced diet of fresh quality local meat, dairy, vegetables and fruit is my staple. I limit any packaged foods as a general rule. The timing of food is imperative, I eat within 1h of finishing training and make sure I have at least 20 grams of protein in this window.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding competitive cycling girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of competitive professional cycling sports?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
Without a doubt my mantra and ethos which has been reinforced time and time again in my journey “gutta cavit lapedim” constant dripping of water wears away the stone – persistence prevails so never give up.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after your memorable win at securing second position at Union Cycliste Internationale World Championships in Sep 2012 ?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
This was an amazing feeling, truly indescribable – pride and elation sum it up nicely. I was so incredibly proud of my teammates what we achieved together and to wear the Australian colors on that podium was a dream come true. It was a great message I could send to any people who don’t succeed early in their career reinforcing that hard work pays off.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What kind of training you are having for your preparation for Cycling at Olympic Games Rio 2016 events ?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
During the European season the training is focused around increasing power and endurance. Also I am working on my racing efficiency, technical and tactical ability. Toward Rio the goal is to be a consistent performer in hilly one day races and tours.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive professional cycling ?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
I have a very supportive and loving family who give me great moral support, this is essential! I grew up in my early teen years with a poster of Debbie Flintoff King wonning gold in the 400m hurdles at the Olympics – this was a victory nobody anticipated one which came from humble beginnings. I also have enjoyed mirroring my career off a few other key female riders who have gone before me. Tracey Gaudry (now current UCI vice president) Sara Carrigan 2004 Olympic Gold medalist, Katharine and Natalie Bates have also been great friends, mentors and role models. The legacy of Amy Gillett has also been a huge inspiration in my career.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How has your education of Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy from Sydney University and work experience at Sydney’s premier sports medicine clinic helped you and has been a catalyst in your preparation and success in competitive professional cycling ?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
My physiotherapy study and career shaped the platform for me to be financially stable enough to fund the first few years of my cycling career. I always know I had a job to fall back on no matter what so the risk was low. I also learned and was able to understand better the capacity of the human body and training physiology. This was an advantage in rapidly changing my body from athletics to cycling.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Rachel Neylan:
In an increasingly sedentary world your body needs to be given the time and love it deserves. Find an activity you enjoy that involves moving your body in various ways – with or without other people or equipment. Always consult professionals for advice to help guide you to optimal health. Don’t over complicate the job – simply exercise every day, eat fresh natural foods and limit sedentary time. Most of all honor and respect your body as an amazing intricate machine full of millions of tiny processes, keep it functioning at its best and you wont have to spend so much time and money backpedaling to fix it!
To know more about Rachel Neylan: Check out at: http://www.rachelneylan.com/. Or check her on twitter at @rachneylan
Women Fitness Team thanks Rachel Neylan for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.