Carmen Small has left Jumbo-Visma and can be a part of the newly established US-registered Continental group EF Training-Cannondale as lead sports activities director in 2024.
In a group press launch, Small mentioned that she seems ahead to being a part of an American group and dealing alongside the group’s common supervisor, Esra Tromp.
“I feel I’ve discovered a great residence. It’s an American group, and I’m an American. Though the group is European-based and we have now a robust, worldwide roster, that is tremendous good for me as a result of I’ve solely ever been on international groups. It’s very nice to consider going to US nationals. I’ve by no means gotten to do nationals as a director, so I’m tremendous enthusiastic about that,” Small mentioned.
“Working with Esra, I’ve solely had optimistic experiences. I consider in her. She’s an unimaginable supervisor. She actually is aware of learn how to convey out the perfect in folks and learn how to foster the goodness in a group. Attending to work with Esra was primary.”
Small retired from skilled racing in 2017 with a protracted record of achievements that embrace successful the time trial title twice on the US Nationwide Championships, the time trial title on the Pan American Championships, and the bronze medal within the time trial on the World Championships.
She was additionally a part of the Specialised-lululemon groups that received the world titles within the group time trial on the World Championships in 2013 and 2014.
Following her biking profession, Small turned a sports activities director for groups Virtu Biking and Ceratizit-WNT earlier than becoming a member of Jumbo-Visma as a director in 2021, the place she spent three seasons working with Tromp.
“When Esra approached me about this group, it was tremendous attention-grabbing as a result of it’s a first-year program. I had expertise with Group Virtu to construct that group up, so I’m not new to the sport of recent groups, however this was good as a result of whereas, after all, EF Training-Cannondale has the infrastructure arrange from the boys’s aspect, it’s a clean slate,” Small mentioned.
“That offers you the chance to construct and create one thing new and see what you may develop out of it. That was attention-grabbing to me.”
EF Professional Biking introduced in June that they are going to begin a brand new ladies’s group, racing as EF Training-Cannondale and that it’ll start as a Continental ladies’s group in 2024.
Since that announcement, the group has signed 14 riders: Megan Armitage, Letizia Borghesi, Kim Cadzow, Clara Emond, Veronica Ewers, Kristen Faulkner, Lotta Henttala, Alison Jackson, Nina Kessler, Clara Koppenburg, Coryn Labecki, Noemi Rüegg, Elizabeth Stannard and Magdeleine Vallieres.
“I really like the philosophy of the group. The playfulness of it. They’re enjoyable but in addition critical. They’re very skilled, however on the identical time, they will have fun and create one thing that’s just a little bit completely different. You discover this from the skin. It’s not ‘we have now to be critical and never smile and never chuckle in an effort to win races.’ So let’s chuckle a bit, get pleasure from what we’re doing, after which success will come,” Small mentioned.
Small highlighted the significance of fostering good communication, cohesion and a wholesome and useful setting, which she believes is prime to a group’s success.
“One factor I’ve discovered as a basic is that it’s important to have one another’s backs. That’s not simply riders, that’s additionally the employees. You wish to create an setting that’s useful,” she defined.
“Perhaps on paper, it’s not your job to go do a sure activity, however you wish to assist your teammate, and so that you simply do it. I feel Esra and I see eye to eye on that. We each wish to construct an setting the place we’re all serving to one another to achieve success,” Small mentioned.
“Having a great relationship with the riders, with the ability to talk to them what my expectation is, I feel, is a very massive deal. Which means having numerous pre-race talks, after which within the race, I am their motivator. I attempt to get the perfect out of them as riders.”
Small in contrast being a sports activities director together with her earlier occupation as a math instructor.
“Being a DS is, in numerous methods, similar to being a instructor. It’s a must to be organized. You’ve a lesson plan, a race plan. However it’s additionally about holding riders accountable,” she mentioned.
Small mentioned she loves her job as a sports activities director, working with the riders as a result of they offer her motivation and vitality.
“I really like serving to them put together mentally, and I really like motivating them. The principle factor I really feel once I’m at work is pleasure. I all the time obtained nervous as a rider, and now I’m not nervous. The riders need to do the exhausting work whereas I get to remain within the automotive and discuss on the radio. If we’re coming into the finale of a race and I do know we are able to win, I’m nonetheless not nervous, however I’m ready. I’m bracing myself, and I’m prepared for the joy,” Small mentioned.
“That feeling doesn’t change whether or not it’s a camp or a race. It’s the identical feeling for me all through the season. I get that very same motivation each time. Whether or not it’s a growth race or the Tour de France, I do my job precisely the identical, and I like it precisely the identical.”