A SEVERE bout of gastro put an end to any hope Lauren Kitchen had of a strong start to 2019.
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Kitchen was bedridden for two days leading up to the national road series at Ballarat in early January, forcing her to pull out halfway through the race.
The Port Macquarie product then backed up with a satisfactory 11th-place finish at Tour Down Under in Adelaide, but she knows she can improve on that result ahead of the European spring season.
“I was really sick before the nationals which was disappointing because that was the goal and Tour Down Under was an extra race to do,” she said.
“I did start the national road race, but knowing full well I wouldn’t finish, I pulled out halfway through.
“I didn’t go in with any expectation at all (in South Australia) so that was really good so for me to come 11th shows my levels are good.
“But the result isn’t something that I’m really happy with because I’m chasing podium results and winning.”
Kitchen, however, said it was a good starting point and proved her pre-season training had been at the required level.
“It’s a good indicator that I’ve done everything right and I’m on the right track for a good spring season in Europe,” she said.
The 29-year-old has set her sights on continuing to impress throughout the upcoming European season with an eye on the world championships towards the end of the year.
“I want to be the captain for the world championships at Yorkshire; that’s my goal for this year,” Kitchen said.
“If I’m the captain of the team for Yorkshire, then I can be the captain of the team for the Olympics.
“That was the big motivation to go to Down Under – work with the national team and the national coaches so I could perform that role and prove I’m the best in that role.”
While disappointed not to finish on the podium in Adelaide, Kitchen said it was a good opportunity to show national selectors what she was capable of.
“It’s not just down to the best six riders (for the world championships), it’s who fills what role and makes decisions on the road which is what I do so I wanted to prove that I could do that.
“That’s why it was really worth going there.”
The Sprint Classics are the next event that Kitchen has marked in her calendar for March and April.
She knows the season is a long one.
“The world championships are at the end of September so it’s a long season to be winning in January,” she said.
“I’m happy where I started and it’s made me motivated to keep working so I’m at top level for March when all the big races are on.
“They’re the ones ultimately I’d like to perform in.
“It’s a good baseline to see that the training has gone well and I’ve had a good pre-season; now there’s six weeks until the season starts properly and I’m on the right track.”
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