{"id":46846,"date":"2024-12-04T12:20:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T12:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=46846"},"modified":"2024-12-04T12:20:02","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T12:20:02","slug":"grab-a-coffee-5-minutes-with-uci-champions-league-track-cyclist-jair-tjon-en-fa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/grab-a-coffee-5-minutes-with-uci-champions-league-track-cyclist-jair-tjon-en-fa\/","title":{"rendered":"Grab a Coffee – 5 Minutes with UCI Champions League Track Cyclist – Jair Tjon En Fa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fresh from the UCI Track Champions League<\/a> round in Apeldoorn, and ahead of the London round this weekend (6th and 7th December) at Lee Valley Velopark, we catch up for a chat with Merlin<\/a> sponsored rider Jair. A 31 year old track cyclist from Suriname and is currently 9th in the League standings<\/a> ahead of the London event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jair, great to meet you. Tell us a bit about yourself – where you are from and your riding background?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well I am from Suriname and I started cycling when I was 13.\u00a0\u00a0I did my first track race that year as well which was in Trinidad and I loved it ever since. But we don\u2019t have a track in Suriname so I had to ride on the road until I got the oopurtunity to move to miami at 17 which is when I switched to the track<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Did you always want to be a cyclist?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did a lot sports before I started cycling. Cycling wasn\u2019t a very popular sport in Suriname so I didn\u2019t know it actually existed. But I always loved being on the bike even when I was a child.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Track Champions League – whats this? Whats involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Track champions league is just a \u201cnormal\u201d track competition with a way more showman ship attached to it. Which makes a bit more exciting and more interesting to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What are your aims for the Champions League?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve had long and hard season behind me with the Olympics and World Championships so for this I really just want to enjoy the rides and do my best.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Once Track season is over, what do you do? Do you cycle in any other disciplines?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is track ever over though? Haha. Well but when I do have off I\u2019m not on the bike or I try not to be. Usually go for hikes, camping or just go explore and take pictures<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What cyclist do you see as your hero?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think I have a cycling hero actually. I do look up to a lot of athletes not in cycling necessarily\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Favourite race to watch?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favorite race to watch would be the sprint and keirin. I also like the madison a lot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Favourite meal to eat on race day?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t really eat when I race. Just doesn\u2019t really go down my stomach but I\u2019d say oatmeal with walnuts, pecan, raisins and some honey. That always hits the spot for breakfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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How do you relax when not racing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I mostly just go around and explore. I love outdoors<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What does a race day look like for you – what are your routines?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My race day routines. I love taking my time in the morning ( have a coffee, chill etc) so I usually wake up quite early. I get to the race venue around 2 hours before the race. I start my warm up 1:30hrs before with a 25 min roller session, with music obviously. Mostly Afrobeats, dancehall and reggae. Then do a track and or Lemond effort, depends on the day. And then that\u2019s it. And have another coffee possibly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Jair, it has been fantastic to get an insight into your life, and everyone at Merlin Cycles wishes you the best for the London rounds and for the future!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All pictures courtesy of SWpix<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Jair Tjon En Fa (@jairtef)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>