An insight into ... Richard Prebble

Full name: Richard Prebble

Height? 1.94m

Weight? 81kg

Place of residence? Farnham, Surrey

Married or single? Married

Current team? CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta

Most memorable moment? No one particular moment stands out but some of the holidays we’ve had in exotic places are very memorable.

Most embarrassing moment? Approx 19 years ago - having a directional misunderstanding with a friend at a roundabout which resulted in him falling off and breaking his pelvis.

Who was your boyhood hero? Bernard Hinault

Favourite musical group or singer? REM, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, John Frusciante

Education? Mechanical Engineering degree

What is the most trouble that you have got into? With my girlfriend (now wife), Jillian, when I neglected to tell my parents that she was moving in with me. They rang to speak to me mid-week and she answered the phone and had to explain why she was there.

Current job? Engineering Consultant with Atkins

Biggest influence on your career? Probably my father who was a key factor in my decision to go into engineering.

Current make & model of car? BMW 5-series

Best ever car owned? TVR Cerbera 4.2 - I owned it for 5 years and still think they look fantastic whenever I see and hear one on the road.

Worst ever car owned? See above - not the worst but sometimes the most frustrating. However, when the niggles were sorted out it was the best car in the world!

Favourite TV show? Top Gear

Favourite Film? Pulp Fiction

Favourite drink? Tea

Favourite food? My homemade muesli or fresh homemade bread.

Pet hates? Lack of attention to detail, spelling mistakes.

When did you start cycling? My interest in bikes and cycling started at about the age of 12. At school there was a strong cycle touring club and we used to go on youth hostelling weekends in North Wales then progressed to a couple of week long tours in France at Easter. I didn’t start competing until my final year at university.

First race? I probably did a couple of club events that I can’t remember but my first open race (and win) was the Severn RC 2-up ’25’ in March 1989 with Dave Redding on the A38.

First race win? See above. We won with 58.27 and won £5 each.

Best race win? My first National TT Championship ‘25’ in 1994, although the Jock Wadley Memorial road race in 2007 was also a very satisfying win.

Most impressive EVER time trial? Ian Cammish’s 3-31-53 ‘100’. ;-)

Aims for 2010? To get back to, or even surpass, my 2007 form which hopefully I will achieve with the help of Helen Carter at PB Science.

Current bike? Pinarello Prince (road), Pinarello Montello (TT), Pinarello Paris (training), Pinarello Sestriere (winter).

Campagnolo or Shimano? On Pinarello frames? - it’s got to be Campagnolo.

Favourite piece of cycling kit you own? All my Assos wardrobe.

Favourite piece of cycling kit you would like to own? The new Pinarello Dogma Carbon.

Is there anything that you would change throughout your cycling career? I sometimes wonder how much better and successful I could have been if I had the knowledge and access to coaching facilities I have now when I was at my best in the mid to late 90s. I never did intervals or any structured training to speak of - training just consisted of riding hard.

What advice would you give upcoming cyclists? Don’t worry about having all the latest kit, just enjoy riding a bike and be dedicated in your training.

What couldn’t you live without? Muesli and a bike.

What other interests do you have? The usual ’bloke’ stuff - cars, music, DIY and having nice, relaxing holidays.

Who would you share a desert island with if marooned & why? My wife, so she can do the cooking (which she is extremely good at!).

10 years from now you will be.........? 52, and hopefully approaching retirement with good health.

1 January 2009