EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ALPAGO, JULY 30
SILVER MEDAL at European Championships in XC
[Translation: Crispen T.P. de Lange]
It was a very tough struggle for the medals at the European Championships today. After two days of suffering with diarrhoea, I was lacking a lot of power in my legs, and I could feel it right from the start of the race. So on a difficult day, this was a very uplifting result.
I didn’t have a totally optimal period of preparation for this major championship, but still I managed to fight my way to a great silver medal. We’ve been eating very good food here in Italy, as usual, for the last two weeks. But a small aperitif on Thursday evening knocked my digestive system out of balance. Both Kenneth, the Merida mechanic Ralf and I all have been suffering with a lot of stomach pains, tiredness and multiple visits to the bathroom these past days, and it’s doubtlessly drained us of some of our energy.
I quickly recovered after the European Championship, Marathon, last weekend, and have had great legs and a good feeling the whole week. Our exercise stint on Thursday out on the track, during which we usually bomb around the track at high intensity and then rest, went as planned and proved to me that my top gear was in place as we had hoped. I would never have managed to take the silver medal today if I hadn’t been in top shape.
It was Spanish Margarita Fullana who took the gold medal today, and she became a deserving European champion, as she rode very well. German Sabine took the bronze medal, and I expect she’s very satisfied with her performance. Lene Byberg came in to a great 12th place, which is her best position so far in international races. Personally I’m very happy to have taken the silver medal today, and I’m satisfied with what I managed out on the track.
Our family and group of supporters have all been out by the tracks, and they gave me that little extra something that I needed so badly in order to even get up the steepest and longest hills today. This evening we’re going to celebrate our silver medal from the European Championships together with our gang, and we’re really looking forward.
We’re leaving for the drive towards Bern in Switzerland already tomorrow. We’ll be living there for a week. This coming Sunday we’ll be taking part in the Swiss Power Cup in Bern, and we consider it our last race in the run-up before the World Championships in Marathon and Cross Country, which are both very exciting challenges for both of us these next weeks.
I wish you all a continued great summer and an exciting period of preparation before the Norwegian championship race, Birken.
Cyclist’s greetings from Gunn-Rita and Kenneth
Multivan Merida Biking Team