WEEK 19

WEEK 19 (Sunday 14.05.2006)

FIRST PLACE IN MADRID

[Translation: Crispen T.P. de Lange]

It was an amazing experience for both of us to win the World Cup race here in Madrid today. This is the third year running that we take first place at this race track, which has become a classic of sorts within mountain biking. We’ve entered an exciting and important phase of the 2006 season, with three World Cup weekends in a row.

At present I’m lying here on my bed with my legs raised. My pulse is beginning to drop and the adrenaline in my body is gradually receding. I’m still sweating after a very tough day on my bike in the scorching sun and temperatures well above 30 degrees Centigrade. The first hours after crossing the finish line have been spent talking to Norwegian and international press, plus the ceremony, warming down on the rollers, doping control, photos and writing my signature for all our Merida supporters here in Spain. I’ve had a good massage and we’re looking forward to a delicious dinner together with the team.

Last weekend we took part in the Bundesliga at Heubach in the south of Germany, which was a demanding and exciting warm-up before the World Cup race today. We arrived here in Madrid on Monday afternoon and the week has been used for resting and restitution-training, fine adjustments every day, and focus on regaining energy. Through the past weeks my physical shape has been steadily improving, and we’ve been receiving the feedback that we’ve been looking for on the race track, both regarding physical feel and performance.

The race track today offered high speed on hard packed terrain. Patches of loose sand in the bends caused a measure of uncontrolled riding for most participants today. Short, steep climbs with sharp turns at the bottom of rapid descents made the race stressful and aggressive for those fighting in the lead.

I opened hard and was leading by 15 seconds after the first round – not much of a comfort when I knew those who were chasing me were in top shape and just as set on winning as I was. The thought crossed my mind that I had perhaps opened a little too hard, but told myself that everybody else was probably feeling just the same as me.

Canadian Marie-Helen Premont was close behind me through most of the race, and the distance back to her varied between 25 seconds and up to 45 seconds at the most. Premont was unlucky with a puncture right after completing her fourth round out of a total of five and lost lots of time in that way. Spanish Marga Fullana rode in to an undisputed second place in front of Russian Irina Kalentieva. Lene Byberg took a great sixth place today, and she was very satisfied with that.

Multivan Merida Biking Team can look back on yet another successful day with a great 13th place for my team mate Nina Göhl, along with two top positions for the men. Ralph Näf came in as number three, and Jose A. Hermida fought his way to a great fourth place. I get to keep the blue leader jersey in the World Cup and will have a new opportunity next weekend at Spa in Belgium to get more points in the battle for victory in this year’s World Cup.

Tomorrow we fly directly to Belgium where rest, recovery and lots of sleep await me during the coming days. We are fairly familiar with the area round Spa from last year’s season, and we know that it’s a lovely area for training and restitution. As usual after tough competitions, we’re expecting a restless night with little sleep for me, but I’ll get to recover through the next days.

I wish you all a great 17th of May [Norway’s National Day] at home in Norway. Kenneth and I will be celebrating the day with a relaxed long distance bike ride, a slow-paced afternoon, maybe a parade-march around the hotel with a little Norwegian flag, plus a tasty dinner in a good Italian restaurant which we visited several times last year during the World Cup at Spa.

Cyclist’s greetings from Gunn-Rita and Kenneth

Multivan Merida Biking Team