Daniel Saba Athlete Ambassador
Daniel is a young cyclist who can see life as a pro. He talks to Sundried about life in the saddle.
Have you always been in sport?
Yes, I've been into cycling since I was little and when I was 8 I took part in my first race. I've been involved in sport my whole life, both watching and taking part.
How did you get into cycling?
My cousins in Italy (where my parents are from) have been cyclists at continental level. My dad always liked watching cycling as my uncle (dad's brother) was a cyclist from a young age. I watched it before I was a cyclist so I decided to give it a go and loved it.
What’s been your favourite race and why?
My favourite race was my first ever road race. I did no training at all. I was racing against 12 year-olds when I was 8. I had a heavy bike, but I really enjoyed it. My family were there to cheer me on and the atmosphere was great, so I decided to keep going and see where the path takes me.
What's your proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement was back in 2013 when I won the regional championships.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
Yes, I've had a few crashes but never broken a bone (touch wood) in cycling.
The toughest race was actually my first one as I went as hard as I could and didn’t really know what I was doing!
How do you overcome set backs?
In September 2019, I changed coach, and he's helped me a lot. He motivates me to keep going even during tough times and after bad training sessions. To overcome setbacks, l calm down and have time to myself to think about what I did right or wrong and then discuss with my parents and coach to work on it.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
It's not all about winning; I'm too competitive.
What are your goals?
My long term goal is to compete at world level. My short term goal is to just keep going, day by day, and see where the road takes me.
Who do you take inspiration from?
Mark Cavendish has always been my cycling hero; I like how he plays the “game” and uses tactics. I also like Cameron Jeffers. He's not as famous, but he inspires me to ride more and I can see myself leading the life of a pro cyclist.
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
I like a lot of things. I like the Sundried Stealth jersey and shorts because they are plain black with “Sundried” on; plain and simple and looks very good. I also love the Sundried Cadence cycle collection; love the blue.
