Back in business ( photo: Kolding MTB )

I did a Danish race this sunday at the same time, the World Cup in Czech Republic was running. The race was a stress-free and easy test of my ribs, only three weeks after the accident. And what a relief and joy! I was able to race, with no pain or breathing troubles!.. This means I’m ready for the last World Cup in France before the end date of the Olympic Qualification.

Thanks to some solid training during the winter, my form has not vanished during my break from being in the game. Actually I felt fresher than normally and my heart race was easily hitting higher levels (which unfortunately doesn’t mean, that my poweroutput equally is higher. Then I’m sure, I would take three weeks off before every World CUp ) On the downside, the fatigue was setting in sooner in the race, but that didn’t make any influence on the result!

Enjoying the sweet trails ( photo: Kolding MTB)

The race was exiting in the way, that my / our goal was to collect as many UCI-points as possible. The ideal outcome being Rikke, Helle and me taking the three top positions and therefore score maximal points. The only obstacle was our yellow-blue neighbors (Sweden), who had send one of their female riders to mess up our plan. At this very moment, exactly Denmark, Sweden and Hungary are the countries fighting for the very last of the few spots at the Olympic Games!

Helle setting the pace ( Photo: Kolding MTB)

We had talked some tactics before the race, since swedish Åsa Erlandsson is a rider not to count out. Well, it was quite simple: my job would be letting my fellow countrymen, Helle and Rikke, get the greatest possible lead, before I would drop Åsa to claim the last spot on the podium.

One thing is planning, another thing is executing The start went absolutely perfect! We hit the narrow singletrack ( where overtaking was difficult ) with Rikke and Helle in first and second position, me in third with Åsa on my rearwheel. The 29′er-girls in front of me was working hard, doing their best, leaving me with a very grateful feeling. While the plan ran smoothly, all the sudden, Rikke dropped her chain and had to stop to put it back on! Oh no! Hit by bad luck. Åsa found her way around all of us and all the sudden the scenary had changed. Helle had got away in front, but now Åsa was chasing hard. I was able to overtake Åsa, doing my best to control the race. Helle had to see herself overtaken by Åsa, and from here, I realized, that there was nothing else to do, than making victory difficult for the eagerly fighting Åsa.

From here, the distance between us spread. I saw glimses of Åsa behind me and from my supporters I got information about how the race turned out. Rikke fighting hard after her accident with the chain, was the racer of the day, since she was able to absolutely bite her teeth to come back and overtake Åsa in the very last round to claim second position. What a race! Åsa took third, with Helle in fourth position!

Rikke crossing the finishline ( Photo: Michael Bech Knudsen)

All the sudden, the chances for a spot at the Olympic Games is closer than ever. In a week, I’ll let you know

When I broke my ribs during the Bundesliga race in Münsingen, I returned to Denmark to start recovering. What I’ve learned from last year is, that it makes absolutely no sense to push on full gas training and racing, when my body is not capable of it. Thanks to great support and treatments from doctors and physiotherapists from Team Danmark, my healing has run very well. For the first time, I’ve even got acupuncture treatments, which I can highly recommend. The the very best part of this process is, that I have made all the decisions myself, and have stuck to the strategy to prioritize the healing process and cutting everything else out. Especially cutting out the Heubach Bundesliga and events around the start of the Giro d’Italia in Denmark was pretty hard. On the upside, I’ve had more time with family, friends. At the end, it’s all about healing with love

My team have been completely supportive in my every decision, which I’m grateful for. A relaxed, confident and stress free environment means the world to me.

The last few days I’ve been on my mountainbike shredding some trails in the forest. Although feeling a bit rusty and less strong, it has been awesome. I think my companion made me forget all about possible rib pain.

Photo: Andreas Gilgen

If only I could turn back time, I would do anything to change the last 5 minutes of the Bundesliga race in Münsingen..

.. since bad luck struck me, causing a crash where I hit a tree full speed with my ribs first. Now I’m left with a couple of broken ribs, intramuscular bleedings and lots of pain. Prospects saying rest and recovery for now! I don’t know when I’ll be able to train properly or race again!

Not the way, the I wished for things to turn out!

Well, here’s the whole story:

Flying at the start (photo: Andreas Gilgen)

I had a stellar race until the crash. The conditions were quite difficult, since the course constantly changed due to a slippery ground and rainshowers during the race. I managed to make a good start riding up the first steep uphill, where most riders had to run. All the sudden I was in the front with a small gap. Since the course now had a long strech in headwind, I knew it would cost too much energy to maintain the gap to the pack, who would have me in sight easy chasing me down. I let myself merge with the rest and decided to wait and sense the strength of the others. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and Elisabeth Brandau flew by, definitely not hesitating. I went with them, feeling strong. On a climb I went into second position after Gunn-Rita. From here the field spread and I didn’t see the chasers, only Gunn-Rita in front of me, who managed to pull a gap on me. I had her in sight all the time, but wasn’t able to close the gap. On the very last round, I knew my second position was home safe, but then!.. I might have lost concentration a little bit. On a seemingly harmless part of the course, my frontwheel slipped and highspeed I flew into a tree!

It was like a traumatic dejavue from last year in august, where I also broke my ribs. The pain shoot through my body and blew the air out of my lungs. High on adrenaline and not reflecting consciously I was back on my bike in few seconds denying the pain. Katrin Leumann had now passed me and I was in third position. I pushed on, managed to overtake her. Then I felt, that my body was not really able to race any more and Katrin passed me once again. Luckily there was only 1 km to the finishline, which I was able to roll. Crossing the finishline in third position in black despair! I knew, that things were really bad!

As my adrenaline level decreased, the pain level raised. We went to the hospital, where many x-rays and ultrasound examinations left me with the conclusion, that nothing was broken! I told the doctor, that I was no new to broken ribs and I had the experience fresh in memory and found it unbelievable, that nothing was broken.

Today I had an appointment with a sports doctor at Team Denmark (the Danish Olympic Institution), where my suspicions were confirmed. One broken rib, one severely bend and a huge hematoma in the intracostal muscles. Well, I at least have learned a lot from last year’s broken ribs, and now know, that the only thing for now is recovery instead of pacing on.

What an emptiness

The biggest challenge is definately the accept of change of plans. It should not be any secret, that for the olympic qualification, this is pretty shitty.

On the upside: The season is long, and there are plenty of great things to come. I’ll return fully motivated, when I’m recovered!

Climbing ( photo: Danny Zelck)

“Baby I’m Back!..” I felt like yelling, while crossing the finishline sunday in Belgian Houffalize. I felt very good in the race, it was awesome!

I ended up in 13th position, which I’m happy about. Of course, there’s potential to advance, bit I’m only starting to feel glimses of good shape, so luckily the season has just begun.

Grabbing a gel ( photo: Danny Zelck)

Since the first world cup in South Africa I was feeling worn out and had trouble recovering. I then enjoyed doing things, that would refuel me, like visiting family and enjoying other parts of Denmark. In Houffalize, I got to know the new course very well, with a few tips and advices from Danish rider Klaus Nielsen. The course was first of all extremely physically demanding. No other World Cup course takes you climbing like in Houffalize. I think, they want the climbing to be their trademark. Well, they succeeded!..

Putting in Watt for the hill ( Photo: Danny Zelck)

The startloop was taking us down an asphalt road before entering into a loose gravel climb steep as a wall. It ended up in chaos and I was forced to run my bike, since we all got tangled up in arms, legs and bikes. Phew! What a start! From my position, I could see the front girls, maybe the first 10 or so beeing able to ride their bikes with no obstacles. A good start is just of major significance if you want to battle for the podium. Well, my race turned out to be all about catching up! I think on the first lap, I came around in almost 30th position. From there, I put the hammer down, feeling almost better and better each round. In the last few laps I caught a big group, passing all riders and entered the switchback downhill into the finish as the first and finally ended up as number 13. Just thrilled about that race!

Descending ( photo: Danny Zelck)

The conditions were perfect, but extremely cold! I think about 2 degrees Celcius! During the race, I felt the cold air forcing my bronchi to contract, so I almost got strangled in coughing. My body is just not used to so high intensity work at that temperature level. The last World Cup was in humid South Africa with around 30 degrees. Yes, World Cup racing really means racing in different parts of the World. Next World Cup will be in Czech Republic ( 13. May) on a course that I missed out on last year. This year I just can’t wait to go, since the course should be just absolutely one of the best.

Now I’m in Denmark and will head off for 2 x Bundesliga Races the upcoming weekends. If you missed the Race in Houffalize, you still have the chance to catch the replay here:

Redbull TV

Say my name, say my name

So, check this out. FUJI made me my very own framedesign with the rainbowstripes on it. Pretty sweet, I think  This season I’ll be reacing on the rainbow into space. Who knows, I might end up hitting the stars!

Postrace pictures. I was too tired to drag the bike into more inspiring surroundings. You’ll have to cope with the parking lot.

Frontal

Cockpit

Fully equipped with Shimano XTR for gearshifting and breaking. Easy pedalling thanks to Rotor crank with oval chainblades

Since the race in Aarhus, I’ve spend some time in Jutland including a few days in wonderful Slettestrand

The Kronborg Family invited me to join them and showed me, why mountainbiking in Slettestrand is boosting riding motivation. Fast, smooth, dry trails. 20 km of wellprepared joy. Take a look yourself – I GoPro’ed some of the sections..

I caught the opportunity to put in some quality training time, which included some sharpening of cornering technique and polishing my race speed due to a small race. Many Norwegian mountainbikers also stayed at Slettestrand, so for sure the race was no “walk in the park”. My power only lasted for the first couple of rounds and I knew, time was ready for recovery  Now my eyes are set on the World Cup in Houffalize in a week’s time.

(Rumors say, that the new Pump Track in Slettestrand will be ready any mimute, so add that to your list of reasons to go..)

Ascending ( photo: Jesper FK, Aarhus 1900 mtb)

Amazing how scenario changes; one day finding myself in South Africa, then relaxing in Norway with some alpine skiing, a few days in Copenhagen, then Silkeborg and Slettestrand in the Northern part of Denmark. In between all this, I rode the Danish C2 race in Aarhus, enjoying racing on home turf for the first time since last year.

The race in Denmark was the first round of the SRAM liga ( national league in Denmark ) and people from both Norway and Sweden had found their way to Aarhus. In the female category though, only Danish women participated. For the Olympic qualification this was very conveniently, since the UCI-points would all add to our account.

Rikke Kornvig sprinting away ( Photo: Jesper FK, Aarhus 1900 mtb)

The start of the race was tough, since Rikke eagerly jumped away full power. I caught her wheel and followed up her starting speed, when we hit the trails. Looking over my shoulder, I wondered just how close this race was going to be?.. Being in the lead, I gave it my best, riding as fast as my power allowed. Some men passed me, but I couldn’t follow their speed. Instead I enjoyed the course, which was superfast and at the same time pretty tecnical with lots of loose ground cornering and steep ascends and descends, – all in perfectly dry conditions!

Outbalacing oxygen deficit ( photo: Mikael Bech Knudsen)

I ended up winning with in front of Helle Bachmann and Rikke Kornvig. In the upcoming worldcup in Houffalize Rikke will also be riding So follow our adventures in Belgium..

Descending towards the lake ( Photo: Mikael Bech Knudsen)

Photo: KZN Mountainbiking

The first big contest of the year, the World Cup #1 in South African Pietermaritzburg

After some great results on Cyprus, I had hoped to do better than an 18th place, which ended up being my result in Pietermaritzburg. I did my best on the day, so in that way, I’m happy about my performance. There was no more in my legs. Everytime I tried to push it a little more on the climbs, I really had difficulties to get my legs going afterwards. So my strategy turned out to get as smoothly and efficiently through each lap with what I had. Funny enough, I first started to feel a little stronger towards the end of the race. The course itself was a tough one and very much “either or”. Either very physical demanding fast singletrack / climbing or very tecnical stuff with big rocks and jumps. Just what world cup courses are supposed to be like – testing your skills and physic to the limit.

Photo: KZN Mountainbiking

This first world worldcup of the season however was a great awakener for me how high world cup level racing is. That’s why I look forward to the next one in Belgian Houffalize in the middle of April.

Oakley are now supporting me with their delicious sunglasses and accessories, which I’m absolutely thrilled about!

The Oakley glasses have always belong to my favorites, since they have it all: top-quality, perfect fitting and a great look. I’m proud to present my view for the season. Besides sunglasses Oakley have provided me with bags, which make my many hours tumbling around at the airports so much easier!