June 5, 2007 — For our recent Pan Am Road and Track Championships Wrap Up that we posted on Friday, June 1 (click here), we were unable to connect with gold medal road race winner, Martin Gilbert, as he was competing at the CSC Invitational in Arlington, Virginia followed by the Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We caught up with Gilbert after the weekend to get his comments on winning gold at the Pan Am Road and Track Championships in Venezuela, and to find out what it means for him in the future.

At 25-years-old Gilbert has already compiled an impressive set of palmares: top-10 in the scratch race at the Track World Championships, U23 National Road Champion in 2003, he’s won numerous track titles and he won a stage at the Tour de Beauce, and last year he wore the most aggressive rider jersey at the Nature Valley GP. His recent win in the road race at the Pan Am Road and Track Championships is his greatest victory to date.

How big a surprise was winning the road race – was it a goal for you, or was it a surprise win for you as well? And did the team have protected riders going into the event, or did it just play out like that during the race?

Martin Gilbert: Heading to the Games my main goal was the track. I was selected for the road races to help the team. I did the same two years ago at the Pan Ams when I led out Charles (Dionne) and he finished 2nd, and I did the same last year at the Commonwealth Games. So my job this year at the Pan Am road race was to lead out Charles for the sprint, but the race ended up in a situation that meant we had to change the plan. So yes, it was kind of a surprise for me to win because it was not part of the plan. At the same time I am not that surprised because winning races like this is why I compete, and I know I am capable of doing it.

You mentioned you were disappointed with your track riding at the Pan Ams – what were your goals in the Madison? Also, you’re not racing the points race as often, is this so you can focus more on the Madison?

MG: My form was really good in the track events, I finished 4th in the scratch, but I think I had two small gears left for the final sprint. For the Madison I am really disappointed because my form was still really good but we didn’t race well. We made many mistakes and had a really bad race. I wanted to win the Madison and I know we can do it but we had a bad day. For the points race I’ve taken a little break but I want to come back. When I was competing in the points race I was finishing between 8th and 12th at World Cups. I feel that without going to school now, and with real preparation (not simply on a Computrainer), I will be able to improve a lot. I would like to try to do the points race at a Track World Cup with specific training, which I’ve never done in the past.

Does this victory in the road race mean a shift in your focus between road and track? You’ve been national road champ before – would you like the chance to compete in the elite road events at the Worlds or the Olympics?

MG: Road and track are both important for me. But right now the Olympics are really important and that’s why I’m focusing on the track. I’m realistic about the road and I know that the course at the Olympics is not for me. As for the Road Worlds, I don’t like to go into a race when I know that there is no chance to achieve a good result – so if the course is rolling and I have the chance to compete, I will give 100%.

Between commitments with your road team, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast, and the Track World Cups, you have a very long season – and you’re in school as well. How hard is it to balance it all?

MG: Juggling university, road and track was really hard, maybe too much. Right now I have an agreement with the university and I have a year off to give me the chance to focus 100% on cycling and on the Olympics. Switching between road and track, I always need a bit of time to adapt, but it’s going really well. I am looking forward to the next Track World Cup season because I will focus only on track for the winter. It will be the first time that I will be able to do that.

We wish you all the best and congratulations on your Pan Am gold win.

MG: Thank you.