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3 WEEKS on the road

9/8/2022

The weather is a bit moody as I look out the window from my bed. It’s kinda cold in the room so I’m snugging in under my blanket as I’m writing this. I have been home for 72 hours, but my body still doesn’t feel like doing anything really. After 3 super intense weeks I feel like I got hit by a train as soon as I crossed the doorstep to home. My bed and I have had some serious quality time.

But the past weeks has, beside being intense, also been absolute amazing. I felt so strong and confident when I flew out to Munich for the Europeans Championship 3 weeks ago. On the trip overseas I started to feel better and better, but when I got home and prepared for the Europeans Championship, I started to feel much more capable, and like that covid mid-season incident was fully out of the system.
The track in Munich was special, we were racing in a park in the middle of the city. I started the race, kept believing in my abilities and finished in 8th position. Just behind Caroline Bohe and Alexandra Keller, who has been insanely fast all year.

After that race I knew that next weekend’s World Champs could be really great. From Germany we drove straight to Les Gets, where this year’s world champs were going to take place. Our national coach had booked a big chalet on the French mountainside, Caro and I quick took our claim on the nice basement room with our own bathroom (we’re not only racing in the weekend ;-)). Good week ahead with the best roommate. Our room didn’t have any wifi and almost no phone signal – so patients and actual talking was practiced during that week, haha.

After last weekend’s race I knew the shape was there and I just had to keep my shit together and go for it. So, I did that. And finished my best race of the season in 8th! Freaking awesome. I rode alongside the fast ladies, and was thinking, hah, I’m as strong today yeeew.
After a lovely big danish dinner I went to bed with a smile on my face, that Sunday evening. But not much time to celebrate, because when the alarm ringed Monday morning – we were already on the road to our next destination. Last World Cup of the season in Italy, Val di Sole. Just one week more of full focus and then let’s finish this season.

In Italy it was hard to get the energy back for another race weekend, I did my best to unplug and find the drive. For the short track on Friday, I was actually not feeling like racing, but as we discussed with my team manager – do it for Sunday. So, on the start line, I was thinking – do it for Sunday Malene. Finished 13 meant second row – perfect.
When Sunday finally came around I felt ready to give it my all. And I did, again I felt super strong and I went on the hunt for my best result. With one and a half lap to go, I felt like I was capable of a little bit of magic, but maybe I was a little too motivated to finish fast and I hit a stone to hard, which caused a flat tire.. Bummer. But still managed to finish 14th.

On the bottom-line I’m so proud of the way I rode for those 3 weeks. I hit a high level and I managed to keep it for 3 weekends in a row. That both motivates me and makes me dream for the future. Why not me?

Now I upload this, and maybe I take another nap?
Rumours says that I have some other World Champ race coming up.. ;-)

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Weekly Write SnowShoe edition

8/3/2022

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Being adaptable was the name of the game in Snowshoe. Rain, shine, dry, slippery, sticky, muddy, new lines, old lines. I guess being able to adapt is a big part of the mtb sport in general. Maybe a key element to long consistent success? Adaptable means to be willing to change.

The ski resort, Snowshoe, hidden in the deep forest of West Virginia, was the host of the 7th round of the UCI World Cup. I saw others calling it mudshoe this year. A pair of rain boots hadn’t been a bad idea, actually a full rain kit to be honest.
We had trained in all different conditions during the week, tires and lines changed up. But we all knew that come race day, nobody knew what the weather had in stock for us.
Our race Friday was on wet grass, but not yet muddy per se. I had an alright short track, came in 15th, so secured a second row. We rode down the mountain to our house and let the adrenaline fade as well. It’s always hard to find peace and being calm enough to sleep after the race Friday evening. Eventually I did tho. Sunday came around quick

The whole morning was dry, course looked fast. And well, our race started the same way. I got out of the start around 26th position and made my way up to 15th, until the last climb where the tank started to be empty and brakes was gone for the following downhill, so I settled for 17th. The brake pads were gone because on our two last laps, the clouds were full of water, and I’m telling you, it was like a shower. The rain was pouring down. Crazy conditions. You could see the sad faces of the mechanics when we went through the tech zone, haha. The dear bikes.
Both result and feeling wise I had a really consistent weekend. I want to take that consistency I have built up this year, do it again, but faster. Easier said than done. But one can dream and work for it right?

Now we are off to Canada. Next round of the World Cup. I haven’t dared to look at the weather forecast. Will it be a week full of changes and adapting to the conditions again?
Well, we will find out.

/Malene

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Weekly write - More racing

7/20/2022

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Hi. Hope you found some shade or an ac to hide under while you read this. The summer has definitely hit Europe, its boiling. But thanks for reading along. Last time I wrote in here I had Covid, trying recover and focus on the next race block: Lenzerheide + Andorra. So here we go.

I arrived in beautiful Switzerland ready to take on the World Cup with the xcc Friday and xco Sunday. Friday evening it was go time, I had felt healthy since Monday, so I thought it would be alright. You never really know what to expect after being sick. It’s rarely the best race of your life, but it doesn’t have to be your worst either.

The short track was alright, but puuffff the xco race Sunday was tough. I actually had my highest avg heart race of all time, during that race. I came in 37th I think. My body was screaming, maybe a little too fast I came back to racing, but I’m not a quitter so I cannot not do it.

Monday morning, I flew back to Barcelona, a little bruised (mentally and physically), to recharge the batteries, recover more and find the confidence again. I knew why it felt so terrible Sunday in Lenzerheide, only a week after covid, so it wasn’t too difficult for me to turn it around and start to find the momentum for Andorra.
I drove up to the highest destination our World Cup takes us (1800-2000meter) as late as I could to avoid the thin air.

The 3 days at home had been good on me and I felt more and more like myself again. In Friday’s short track I felt strong and composed. Finsihed 12th, so second row for Sunday. Super good feeling and a good day for me. Felt like I was racing again, after some troublesome races (danish champs and lenz). Saturday I wasn’t running around with lots of energy, but as always, I’m optimistic. Sunday started fine for me, but I didn’t have the ‘diamonds’ in the legs like Friday. I didn’t feel very recovered from the Short Track effort. But okay racing in altitude hits different.

Proud that I kept it together and settled with a 18th place, didn’t blow up or anything crazy. Still placing 20th on the overall. Now back home for a week before we fly overseas. Snowshoe and Canada coming up! There is something fun about these long trips – overseas fx – it feels like an adventure with the team, haha, I love it. It’s so cool all the places and experiences you get from racing.
Now this week I put in some hours of good work on the bike – and off the bike. It’s one of the last weeks without racing before quite big month of racing. Let’s make it count :)

What am I taking with me after the pasts two weeks? Those days were it clicks - makes it worth it, heck yea it feels good :D

/Malene

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