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AMBASSADOR FOCUS: How Emily Watts got back on the podium after a horrific crash

By 5 May 2020July 21st, 20202020 News

There are few stories more inspirational than Bowral Classic Ambassador Emily Watts. 

The up and coming cyclist was making her mark on the national road stage before a major accident landed her in a brace for three months. Now, a year on, the 21-year old is back racing and determined to make her mark. 

We sat down with Emily to chat about her career, her comeback and learn how to seriously prep for a Gran Fondo.

Bowral Classic: Thanks for joining us today Emily. We might start by asking how you got into cycling?

Emily Watts: So I got into official racing when I was in Under 15s. I came from a triathlon background, I had run from when I was little, ran triathlons and then made my first state team. My coach then encouraged me to join my local club so I did that and then they sucked me in to doing racing and in my third race I managed to qualify for Nationals. 

During that I managed to get a medal in the time trial so from then on I was pretty much hooked onto cycling. I then went to track cycling, went to Nationals for that as well and I’ve just been riding bikes for about four years now.  

BC: Wow, talk about a meteoric rise. What does your cycling schedule consist of these days?

EW: My year has a lot of National Road Series races so that’s all over the country, without Coronavirus I was going to go to Belgium which was going to be exciting but the possibility of maybe going to New Zealand at the end of the year is still on the cards.  

Emily Watts has wasted no time in establishing herself on the National Road Series circuit.

BC: Last year you had a horrific crash. How did you handle that? 

EW: Everyone has their cycling crashes. I fractured six vertebrae and my collarbone which left me in a body brace and a neck brace for three months. So I overcame that and I’m actually at a better fitness level than before. I spoke to a lot of people about it and I wouldn’t say it was the best thing that ever happened to me but I’m grateful for the person that has come out of it, who appreciates everything so much more. 

BC: What was rehab like? 

EW: It was very steady in a way but my dad was crucial in my rehab. He was really keen to find any way possible for me to exercise so I was walking 5km twice a day with my mum and dad and they used that as a competition to see who could walk faster with me. I then went back on the stationary trainer with something my dad made that meant I could hold on and be able to stay upright while I was on the bike and that was about a month after the accident. 

I managed to get a third place in my first race back in January in Ballarat so it has all been worth it. 

Sporting a brace made by her father after a horrific crash. Emily credits her supportive parents for her comeback.

BC: Moving onto something a little more light-hearted. Do you have any prep tips for our Bowral Classic riders, especially those doing their first Gran Fondo? 

EW: My advice would be to gradually step up from where you are [fitness-wise] to long-distance rides. Practice different speeds as well as elevations and within those rides trying out different nutritional strategies, when to eat and when to drink. I think that the most important thing in a Gran Fondo is not to eat when you get hungry, you should have already eaten. 

BC: Lastly. What’s your go-to snack? 

EW: I have recently found a recipe for pumpkin waffles and I love them with nut butter! 

BC: Thanks so much for your time Emily, we can’t wait to see you in Bowral on 18 October. 

EW: Thanks, I can’t wait to explore the Southern Highlands.