What does increasing the race from one to two days mean for you, both in terms of:

women’s cycling and its profile and logistically in terms of how you will approach the event?

It's really important for race organisers to increase our race days and give us more opportunities. Our race schedule can be quite sparse at times during the season and we do lack race days so to have two days instead of one is really great for us.

It's a road race in Britain so I will always approach it will excitement and hopefully good form. I'd really like to do well there.

You are now in your third season with Canyon Sram, tell me a little about the team and how you have fitted in, especially being based overseas?

Canyon SRAM is a great team. Everyone really supports one an other and believes in each other. We all have our own homes that we go back to after every race and they are spread all over Europe, but we all stay in contact with each other when not at a race and keep each other motivated for the next races.

Can you tell me a little about your bike, its main components and how you like to have it set up?

My bike is a Canyon Aeoroad CF SLX disc brake bike with SRAM road eTap and I use the 303 Zipp wheels but with the terrain in Yorkshire being lumpy, I may use the Zipp 202s which are lighter so I have a little less to get over the challenging climbs that we will face. We use Schwalbe Pro One tyres which I really love. I use the Ergon Women's SR saddle which is the most comfortable saddle I have ever used. I have Speedplay pedals and cleats that are attached to my Bont cycling shoes. The crankset and powermetre I use is the Quarq DZero.

Would you consider yourself among the favourites for the Tour de Yorkshire and if so is that something you are happy to have on your shoulders?

I'd like to think so. It's a home race which adds a huge amount of excitement but that also comes with extra pressure too. I felt like I had a good race last year and this year we go with a much stronger team so we can be very aggressive. The second stage falls on my birthday and we finish in Barnsley so that's a stage I'd really like to do well in.

Who do you think the other front runners will be and what you do admire or otherwise about them?

The start list hasn't yet been confirmed so I'm not entirely sure who will be lining up, but I do know that our team is going to be very strong. I admire all the women that I race. Everyone is determined and motivated to do their best and we have all had to make a lot of sacrifices throughout our careers to do that.

Do you ever think back to the five months you had off the bike following your ankle break?

I don't think about it much anymore. I have had a few days where it's been stiff but that is mainly due to the very wet and cold races we have had. Cycling is a dangerous sport so you do have to try and focus on what can go right and not at what could go wrong, otherwise you won't get anywhere in the sport. I went through a very tough time when I was recovering and doing rehab which has helped me a lot with my motivation and drive.

What else you are looking forward to this season?

I'm really looking forward to the OVO Women's Tour this year. I really enjoy racing in Britain with all my friends and family being able to watch me from the roadside and be there to greet me at the finish. The OVO Women's Tour organisers are paving the way in regards to supporting the women's peloton and it makes me proud to be a British women's cyclist at this time. There are two other races that I am really looking forward to and that's the European Championships in Glasgow and the World Championships in Innsbruck. Both major competitions where I get to represent Great Britain which makes me very proud.

Where do you think you are in terms of your career?

I hope I'm just at the start of my career. I have seen some progression in my talent and development over the past couple of years and I hope to carry on progressing. The 2019 World Championships is something I'd like to do well in and also leading into Tokyo as well.