Stories

Winter

2/1/2023

I spy with my little eye… A race on the Training Peaks calendar! So, it seems the winter training blues are soon to be interrupted.

Our new 2023 look!

As the season is approaching with overwhelming speed, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give my blog some life, yet again. Does anyone read along anymore? Who knows.
Our World Cup season is still 100 days away, but before we get there, I will do a series of racing in the early spring. Starting off in Spain in February, hopefully under the warm Spanish sun. Escaping the grey north for a little while. I spent almost all my November, December, and half of January in Denmark. I had to finish a semester here and as I moved back home from Spain, I set it up as my base. Its been quite nice, and I have had some super training weeks here.

It’s just a little tough tho. Layers on layers, rain, cold, forget about your feet’s and hands, darkness, mud, wind. It makes you a tough cookie, and it also makes you appreciate the small things. A sunny day and you will see the 5 million Danes out smiling in the outdoors. It’s cool.
But to go out there every day and put your best effort, it takes a lot of effort and motivation. So after a while it felt so nice to find my seat in the big bird and fly down to Cape Town. I spent two weeks down in Stellenbosch, and omg it was good. I wondered why I didn’t book another week down there? What a great spot. I went there with my good friend and teammate Sebastian Fini.

Last minute decision to do a marathon race close by!

The goal is to get back into the race-groove, collect points and set up the new bike. Oh yea, that’s right, I got a new bike!

We really enjoyed the life of hard work on the bike and relaxed life off the bike. A nice place to keep the good life balance, which can be a challenge on training camps (it’s possible to go a little crazy from seeing the same 4 walls of a hotel room for too long).
Now I’m back in the big bird flying across Africa and Europe to get back to Copenhagen. Time to find the winter gear again and get back out there. Hopefully flying high on this trip to SA.

I will let you know how the first block of races went in Spain. I’m doing 3 in row. The goal is to get back into the race-groove, collect points and set up the new bike. Oh yea, that’s right, I got a new bike! Did you see it on my Instagram? My team owner took some big decision last year and we are now the same team, but with a couple of new big sponsors. Including two new name sponsors; Lapierre bikes and Mavic wheels. I know Mavic, Fox, FSA and the rest of the components on the bike, but the bike it self is new. Which is really exciting, and I already have good feeling on the rocket. But, still, it’s going to be great to spend some weeks with our mechanic to do testing and get the bike dialed for different terrains.

Exciting times to come. Happy the racing train starts to roll again soon and everything it brings with.
Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be.
Cheers
M

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3 WEEKS on the road

9/8/2022

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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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