In The Saddle: Tom Mazzone, pro cyclist with Saint Piran
Welcome to the latest instalment of our In The Saddle series.
In this series, we speak to a range of current and ex-professional cyclists, from mountain bikers to road cyclists, putting you ‘in the saddle’ to find out about their careers, experiences, and top tips.
In this next instalment, we sit down with Tom Mazzone, a pro road racing cyclist from the Isle of Man.
Tom currently rides for Cornwall-based UCI Continental team Saint Piran after joining from Vitus Pro Cycling at the beginning of 2021.
His cycling career has taken him all over the world, and in 2018, Tom also represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s famous Gold Coast.
As well as cycling himself, Tom also teaches the sport through his consulting and training business, RIDE Cycling, which he founded in 2019.
Read on to find out what he’s learnt along the way.
How did you first get into cycling, and what’s your journey been like?
I first jumped on a bike when I was about three years old, and from then on, I don’t think my parents could get me off it. From a young age, I remember cycling being my escape and a way of channelling my energy into something I loved.
When I was five, I started racing at my local BMX track back home on the Isle of Man every Sunday morning, purely for enjoyment.
Then, as I got older, it naturally became more competitive. I discovered my natural talent and progressed quickly through the ranks and age categories, achieving success in national and regional championships and in road and BMX events.
My first major international event was the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011, where I finished in seventh place. This was a real turning point in my life, as I realised then that I wanted to pursue a career as a professional cyclist.
The following year, I moved to France and then Belgium for three seasons, riding with semi-professional teams, before returning to the UK in 2016.
I later turned professional and have since raced across the world, competing in a variety of events from the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China to the Tour de Yorkshire and Tour of Britain.
You rode the Tour of Britain this year (2021) – how was that?
The Tour of Britain was incredible.
Not only was I able to compete against some of the best riders in the world like Wout van Aert, Julian Alaphilippe, and Mark Cavendish, but the support and atmosphere out on the roadside were amazing. From Cornwall to Aberdeen, everyone played their part in spurring me on.
I think the support was largely down to the fact it’s now been almost two years since there was a cycling event of this scale in the UK.
In terms of the ride itself, Stage 5 was probably one of the highlights for me. For most of the year, I’ve been based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, so these are my ‘home from home’ roads these days.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my performance, achieving a 14th place finish on Stage 8 among a super high calibre of sprinters.
You also represented the Isle of Man at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – what was that like?
I always love representing the Isle of Man at any level of competition, but the Commonwealth Games was the pinnacle, both for me personally and the nation.
We went into the Games with high expectations. I believed we could achieve something special out there, even despite the absence of Mark Cavendish through injury.
Unfortunately, the race didn’t quite pan out as we’d hoped on the day, but there were many positives to take from the experience – especially as we look ahead to Birmingham in 2022.
The experience was made that little more special, too, by the fact I got to share it alongside my younger brother, Leon (also a cyclist).
How do you warm up and down before and after a race – do you have any recommendations?
When I’m warming up for any race, I always like to have a good music playlist on to get me ready.
Of course, the intensity of the riding depends on the type of race.
For example – for a town centre criterium, it’s important to get your heart rate up and your legs going, so I usually do a progressive 30-minute ride with some short sprints weaved in.
However, I’d normally only do a ten-to-15-minute low-intensity spin for longer road events to get the blood flowing.
Related: Warm Ups And Cool Downs For Cyclists
What essentials do you take with you on a ride?
On my training rides, I always take a puncture repair kit and pump, my phone, some cash in case of an emergency, food, drink, and an extra layer of clothing.
Tell us about RIDE Cycling – how did that come about, and what are you most proud of?
I launched RIDE Cycling in 2019, offering cycling experiences, consulting, and training to cyclists of all ages and abilities. I wanted to use my passion and knowledge of the sport to enhance other people’s experiences when riding a bike.
One of my most popular services is corporate rides, whether this is a networking event, charity ride, or a challenge of some sort.
I’m always on hand to make ride arrangements and join cyclists out on the road to offer tips, tricks, and assistance.
As well as this, I offer mentoring for things such as event preparation, nutritional advice, and training plans.
How can you tell if the bike you’re riding is right for you – what things do you need to consider?
You need to consider several things, whether you’re buying a new bike or making changes to your current one.
You want to attain the best fit for you to eliminate any aches and pains when riding, for injury prevention, and of course, for efficiency.
If you’re looking into buying a new bike, I’d highly recommend investing in a professional one.
I’m actually a professional bike-fit technician for Crimson Performance based out of Rapha Manchester, so I’m always happy to help anyone nearby.
What are the best and worst routes you’ve cycled in the UK, and why?
I may be slightly biased, but my favourite routes have got to be the ones back home on the Isle of Man.
There are some stunning views along the coast and beautiful, rolling green landscapes. I honestly believe that on a summer’s day, there’s nowhere better to ride a bike.
Bad routes are usually discovered when you’re staying at race hotels in perhaps undesirable riding locations. There have been a few over the years, but I always try to make the best of any ride – so I won’t single anywhere out in particular.
Are there any routes you’ve not yet cycled but would like to?
I’ve raced in some stunning places, but you don’t always have time to appreciate your surroundings in a race situation.
However, somewhere I have never ridden but would love to is Switzerland. It looks absolutely stunning and has some epic alpine climbs.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a cyclist?
There are so many things I love about cycling.
Firstly, it gives you so much freedom to get out and enjoy the outdoors, which can be shared with friends and family – but it also has a heap of health benefits.
From a professional perspective, the best piece of advice I would give to any cyclist, is to simply enjoy the process.
Many thanks to Tom for his insights!
You can follow him on Instagram at @tommazzone, on Twitter at @TomMazzone, and visit his YouTube channel here.
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