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Weekly Write SnowShoe edition

8/3/2022

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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A weekly write

6/30/2022

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Coming home from Leogang I had two weeks leading into the Danish championship. More or less 9 days of training. I had a hella good ‘week’ of training, recovering and just finding that routine. We are animals that loves a good routine right?.. I only mixed it up with a race in Andorra, on the World Cup track for later this year, which went really well, and I felt strong and confident. When things goes well I start to build up this excitement and drive for my next race – because I go – Oh Imagine the possibilities!

the kinda crazy you can’t stop loving.

I flew to Denmark rented a van and off I went to the northern part of Denmark where the championships were held this year. Rold Skov, was the name of the forest, beautiful place. Sun was shining too, which as a dane you don’t take for granted. Loic came along for the ride, and we had a good weekend together. My team, KMC Orbea, also arrived with our general manager and one of our mechanics, to help both Fini and I.
My two races, was. Was like a little bit meh.

I felt nervous and focused before the start, which was a nice feeling, the switch was on. But I felt like I ran out of energy towards the end of the race. For the first 60 minutes I could see Sofie and Caroline riding somewhere between 30sec-1min ahead of me, but in the last 30minutes, where I thought I could make a difference I felt I empty. But seeing my teammate and good friend Fini winning, was awesome and heart-warming. Dang I want those red and white colours back!

Monday, we drove back to Copenhagen and prepared for travelling back to Barcelona the following day. The suitcase life is real for us during the summer, hah, anyways the suitcases made it to Spain (luckily with all the airport mess atm). I felt so tired, mentally, and physically the weekend had been massive, packing my stuff and travelling again felt like a mission. Tuesday, I woke up feeling unwell – day 2 race hangover? Started to feel sick, and yea I tested positive for Covid… Omg. Honestly.

Gratefully I’m in Spain under the warm healing sun in my own bed, so I hope to recover the cold quick. And trying to convince myself that some forced ‘rest’ is what I needed. Now one day at the time, and then I slowly start to set my eyes on the next racing block – Lenzerheide and Andorra. Two great race locations that I look so much forward to!
I just have to get healthy again and then I can back into the groove :)

Sport is full of emotions, from ups to lows within the span of a week – it’s crazy, but the kinda crazy you can’t stop loving.

/Malene

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