Lisa Jacobs

Riding Discipline (or lack of): Road (and lapsed mtb-er but will make amends!)

Favourite Riding spot: Bright, VIC

Short and long term goals: National team selection in 2010 and a strong showing in national series races in 2009. Longer-term though, I'd like to try some different disciplines and work on some of the bike stuff I haven't tried yet... endurance mtb stage racing springs to mind but that could be just a phase I'm going through.

Favourite Bike: My S-Works Ruby - climbs like a mountain goat, descends like the devil. (Thanks DC!)

Years Racing: Road racing since Nov 2007. Prior to that I raced duathlon and multisport (2004-2007)

When did you begin cycling and why?: I was picked up by a national talent identification program in late 2007. At the time I was battling running injuries and getting disenchanted with the lack of support for duathlon in Australia. I'd just had the worst race of my career in my first outing as a pro in the US and I was overtrained and mentally fatigued. It was time to try something different.

Have you suffered any serious injuries cycling? Describe what and how: Yep. Since switching to full-time cycling, I've had 3 crashes, 3 trips to hospital, one round of plastic surgery, 20 stitches in my knee and a titanium bolt inserted in my collarbone. No one told me it would be like this!!! I've also been hit by cars 4 times but hopefully no more.

Describe your greatest cycling achievement to date: On the final stage of the Tour of Bright in Dec 2008 (Bright to top of Mt Hotham), I made a solo break early on Mt Hotham and stayed away to win by over 1min15. There were some top riders racing including half the national team, which made it a pretty special win for me.

Describe your worst race or cycling experience: Nationals in Jan 2009. I was in the form of my life and hoping for the race of my life. I think I just got too wound up about it and when it came to the road race I choked and finished 23rd. It was immensely disappointing but a valuable lesson in dealing with pre-race anxiety and mental prep! Since then I've put some mental strategies in place to guard against it happening again.

Describe your favourite race: Something with lots of mountains, sunshine and some quality apres-bike at the end with mates. Tour of Bright or one of the Italian granfondo events springs to mind.