Tara Whitten ready for track worlds

This season Tara Whitten became one of the first Canadians to win an overall track cycling World Cup title.

Her win in the omnium standings came at the same time as Zach Bell won the men’s title and shows Canada has legitimate hopes for track medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

But Whitten, 30, a former cross-country skier who switched to cycling four years ago, didn’t start as an omnium racer. Her first track experience was in the individual pursuit and she quickly rose to win the Canadian championship, the Pan Am title and multiple World Cup medals.

When the UCI eliminated the individual pursuit from the Olympic program and replaced it with the omnium — which includes mass-start events — it meant a change of focus for the Edmontonian that has paid off enormously.

Whitten took the time to answer some questions this week from The Netherlands, where she’s preparing for the world championships in Apeldoorn, where racing begins Wednesday.

Q. Congratulations on winning the World Cup this year. You have progressed enormously over the last couple years, starting as a pursuiter and now as a much more all-round rider. How did this come about?

A. I remember the first year I raced pursuits in the World Cups, I would watch the mass start races and think NO WAY! I was pretty new to cycling and seeing that many people on the track, and the aggression and the (occasional) crashes terrified me! But I got over my fear and started racing the points and scratch races the very next year. I still really love the pursuit, but the mass start races provide a completely different type of thrill and I really love them too. So when the omnium came along, I was so excited to have the opportunity to put all of those things together.

Q. Competition will likely be stiffer at the World Championships than at the World Cups. What are you doing to prepare, who do you expect to be on top form in Apeldoorn, and how are you expecting to do?

A. My preparation for these World Championships has gone very well. I missed the last World Cup in order to have two full months of training leading into Worlds. I did a couple road blocks and a lot of specific track training in Los Angeles, and I feel that I have done everything I can to be at my best next week. I expect Sarah [Hammer] to be very strong, and Kristen Wild as well, racing on home turf, and I’m sure many others will have something to prove here. Unlike previous years, the Omnium is now the primary focus for many riders so I expect the competition to be stronger than ever. It should make for some exciting racing!

Q. The Olympic track program has undergone enormous change in the past eight years. What are your impressions of those changes?

A. I am very happy that we finally have the same number of Olympic events for men and women! I was sad to lose the pursuit, as it is one of my favourite events, but I love the Omnium so I was personally very excited about the changes.

Q.You’ve also signed with a new road squad this year — California-based Team TIBCO, which is managed by Canadian Linda Jackson. I spoke to your new teammates Erinne Willock and Joelle Numainville, and they’re both looking forward to racing with you this summer. What are the key road events you’re targeting?

A. I am planning to race the Gatineau Grand Prix, Nature Valley, Canadian Nationals the the Cascade Cycling Classic. I felt that those events would really fit well with my training, and I am very excited about the opportunity to race with TIBCO.

Q. I expect you’ll take a bit of a break after the worlds before the road season. When will preparation for the next track season start?

A. Planning for the next track season has already begun … I will take a couple of weeks off after Worlds and then get back to training for next season! Track is always the #1 focus.