After four seasons with Trinity Racing, Ollie Rees made a surprise move to Portuguese Continental Team Sabgal-Anicolor over the winter. The British Continental had a quick catch-up with the Yorkshireman at the National Track Championships, where he was supporting partner Kate Richardson, to ask about a tough 2023, racing with the superstars at the Volta ao Algarve, and his goals post 2024.
You’re now riding for Sabgal-Anicolor, a Portuguese Continental Team. How did that move come about?
The move came about quite late last year when I didn’t have the best of seasons; it hadn’t panned out how I’d hoped. This year’s looking pretty different to how I imagined, but I’ve got a pretty cool opportunity in Portugal, and it’s all about making the most of it.
You raced at the Volta ao Algarve last weekend. What was that like?
I got to do Algarve last week, which was definitely the highest level race I’ve done before. The start list was pretty immense and the racing was hard, but it was a great experience. I had good legs and I’m starting to feel like the rider I know I’m capable of being, and hopefully that was a good stepping stone in the right direction.
I had Epstein-Barr virus at the start of the year and, unfortunately, it was recurring, so it came back towards the end of the year at the Tour of Britain. All season was a bit of a struggle
I had Epstein-Barr virus at the start of the year and, unfortunately, it was recurring, so it came back towards the end of the year at the Tour of Britain. All season was a bit of a struggle
What issues did you face in 2023, your final year with Trinity Racing and as an under-23?
I had Epstein-Barr virus at the start of the year and, unfortunately, it was recurring, so it came back towards the end of the year at the Tour of Britain. All season was a bit of a struggle. There were days I felt good, but mostly I wasn’t feeling quite like myself. I had a long period off the bike completely, 7 or 8 weeks at the end of last year, and I’ve been feeling good since.
What does this year’s calendar look like?
Obviously there’s a lot in Portugal, and Spain as well. And there’s a nice mix of .2 races, which I’ll hopefully be competitive in and try and win, and also .Pro races, where I can try and get in the break animate, show myself, hopefully with the goal of trying to move up to one of the big teams.
The races that suit me the most are hilly races without ever being too hard. In a sprint of 20-30 guys I’m quite fast.
What sort of rider are you?
The races that suit me the most are hilly races without ever being too hard. When I was an under-23 I really like the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs for example, always up and down and maybe it comes down to a select group at the end. In a sprint of 20-30 guys I’m quite fast.
You’re still riding at UCI Continental level. Is moving to a ProTeam or WorldTour team the paramount goal in the next few years?
It’s definitely the goal. It’s not the be all and end all, there’s more to life, there’s lots of things I can do. But it’s definitely the goal.
