Photo: Thomas Bonne

Wuhuu, back to racing after a 8 month break from the World Cup Circuit.

I’ve been racing in Albstadt three times before, since the city often is the host of one of the rounds of the German Bundesliga Series. The first time I was here was in 2009 and the race was very special to me, since it was the first time, that I ended up on the Podium in a Bundesliga Race. Back then, everything regarding international mountainbike racing was completely new to me, and I just absorbed every race and experience like a desert hungry for water. In the meantime I’ve become more experienced in many ways and have achieved far greater results, and so have become more aware of my capabilities. The biggest disadvantage is, that I know, what my level is, when I’m on topform and the biggest challence is to accept any result less than that. In the days leading up to this year’s first world cup, I had difficulties finding out, if I was nervous or excited. Actually I think, I constantly switched between those to feelings, being a pain in the a… to my surroundings. In this year’s race in Albstadt, I was wearing start number 30, and so tactic was pretty easy, just going forwards.

Photo: Cerveny Specialized Racing

When the gun went off, I did my best to get forward, which wasn’t easy, since finding free space to move ahead was difficult. Luckily the newdesigned course in Albstadt still is loyal to its steep climbs, where I was able to move forward. After the first hectical lap with a lot of crowding, I had moved up to 14th position. I still managed to see the front, since the field was strung out like pearls on a string. During the next few laps, I picked up positions, and moved into the top10. Unfortunately I started to make small mistakes, which bothered me and made me loose positions again. Going into the very last lap, rain started pouring and the course got extremely slippery. In a corner my frontwheel slipped out, and I flew into the bushes hurting my leg. I took a few seconds collecting myself and continuing my race. From here I more focused on getting safely to the finishline, and so I crossed in 14th position, only 3.30 min off the front.

Photo: Cerveny Specialized Racing

First I was dissapointed with my performance, but seen more clearly now, I did a solid job! This first WorldCup race was a great wake up call and an extremely motivation for the next world cup race in Nove Mesto (CZE) on sunday.

Photo: Cerveny Specialized Racing

Did you miss out on the action? Then catch the replay here:

http://live.redbull.tv/events/213/uci-mtb-world-cup-2013-albstadt-crosscountry-women/

On Redbull.tv you’ll also be able to see the live streaming of the worldcup next sunday at 11.30

Wow, that was an intense, interesting and really fun week in California. This trip included my first international XCO race of the season, so I was more excited, than I’ve been for a long time. Thomas and I spend the first part of the week at the Specialized Headquarter in Morgan Hill and then finished the week with racing at the Sea Otter Classic. 

The SeaOtterClassic is a gigantic bicycle festival. The event is every year taking place at Leguna Seca, which is a raceway for cars and motorcycle road racing. The area and clima is hot, dry and sandy.

My races for the week would be a short track race on friday and then the XCO race on saturday. The short track course was winding its way through gravelpits, grass field, hardpacked ground with lots of cornering. I have almost forgot it by now, but I think I was quite nervous before the start. I hadn’t been racing against those girls since last year, so it’s always unknown, what fitness level people show at the first race.

Last season really had its toll on me. Several injuries throughout the season, the Olympic Game wave and the constant feeling of lacking behind left me mentally empty at the end of the year and I really struggled finding joy on the bike. So I felt, that a long winter at home in Denmark was what I needed. Instead of traveling for trainingcamps during the winter constantly living in a suitcase, I somehow adjusted my training to the conditions.

Back to the race at SeaOtter – In the shortrace I rocked! I had a bad start being caught behind crashing girls, leaving me far behind the front af the race. By the end of the first lap, I had already worked my way to the front again. I remember seeing the other girls sitting watching eachother and all the sudden I felt like being hit by lightning, I didn’t think much, just attacked!.. I had a really good feeling in my legs, and just pushed the pace. I got a gap to the bunch and was encouraged by the public all the way round the course. I was later told, that it was Marianne Vos, who then went to the front and started catching my down. When they reached me, Marianne, Katerina Nash and I soon got a gap again, and took turns at the front keeping the pace high. Maybe I did too much work at the front, because with 2 laps to go, Marianne attacked and got away. Nash also put the hammer down and left me in third position. Just before the last corner before the finishline, I was almost in her wheel again, but honestly I was more than satisfied with just going to the podium and being able to race at the front of the field.

The following day it was time for the XCO race. The course was one big loop, instead of the normal shorter lap ( 5-6 laps a race), that an XCO race consist of. The course was very fast, hardpacked and sandy, including fireroads and funny swichback singletracks. Right from the start of the race it was the same girls at the front – this time I didn’t get caugh behind a crash though It was quite windy, so I was careful finding windshades. The speed was high, so soon girls got dropped and then it was just Marianne Vos, Catherine Pendrel and me at the front. The course had very long singletrack climbs and descends and everytime the course got narrow, there was sprints to get into singletrack first, in order to be the one setting the pace, and certainly not to be the one getting dropped behind. Halfway through the race we still rode together. Then on the next climb, Marianne turned up the pace a notch. We followed. I think, we all were uncertain about eachothers level of strength. Then, with maybe 8km to go, Marianne put the hammer down hard on a climb and attacked. At this time I was in third position, and quickly overtook Pendrel to not let Marianne get away. I managed to keep her pace, and all the sudden, the speed went out of her attack!.. The rest of the course consisted of several climbs and descents and I knew, that somewhere on the way, it would all be decided between us. Marianne wasn’t done attacking and made numerous attemps on the climbs. Every time I was able to stay with her or to roll her back in. Then on the very last climb, she got her deciding gap, which she held to the finishline.

Honestly I hadn’t got the last eager to defend her attack. I had already achieved my goals and had done a way better race than I expected. I was absolutely satisfied with my second position, to me it was a personal win.

Since our adventures in California Thomas and I have enjoyed time in Denmark. The weekend we spend time in my hometown Silkeborg, where the first round of the Danish MTB liga was held. Silkeborg has some of the best mountainbike terrain in Denmark – have I mentioned that before? I had struggled with a cold since thursday, but decided to race anyway. Today I feel better than yesterday, but my better half has ordered absolutely rest today, so I better follow Doctor’s order

Thanks to Mikael Bech, for cathcing me in action with his lens

February – Andalucia Calling from Thomas B on Vimeo.

Andalucia Bikerace stage 6 from Thomas B on Vimeo.

Andalucia Bikerace stage 5 from Thomas B on Vimeo.