WEEK 14-15
[Translation: Crispen T.P. de Lange]

GREAT START TO THE SEASON
They say time flies when one’s having fun. When one’s days are also action-packed and full of experiences, it’s almost frightening to see how time just disappears! We’ve already had three weekends in a row of off-road competitions, and this has provided us both with fantastic experiences, on and off the bikes. Next weekend we’re taking part in the first World Cup race of the season, and we’re looking very much forward to it.

I have a lot to tell about this time, since you haven’t heard from me for a good three weeks. The mountain bike season started for me with the Swiss Power Cup in Reinach on April 2 in Switzerland. It went better than I had dared hope, as I won the race, just in front of my teammate Irina Kalentieva. Multivan Merida Biking Team was victorious again the next day when Ralf Näf won the men’s race.

I was a little unsure as to whether I should take part in the race at all, since I still had a bit of pain in my ankles, and especially in my left heel. But everything went surprisingly well, and as usual there wasn’t time to think about such things when thundering over rocks and roots, and concentrating on various challenges on the fly. Still, the race was a sort of shock-start to my system after an inactive Easter after the crash I was involved in on my road bike during the Primavera Rosa race. The following week was used for slow and relaxed training, a lot of rest, alternative training, and many hours of massage.

BEAUTIFUL ITALY
Last weekend we spent in Italy where we had a lovely weekend from Thursday to Monday, consisting of some other things than just great biking experiences. Delicious food, friendly people, cultural experiences, exciting happenings, amazing hospitality, and lots of laughter. Two races in one weekend, both over long distances, many hours driving by car, and a tight schedule usually results in long days and too little sleep. But once in a while it works out just fine, and especially when one’s having fun.

The conversations naturally concentrate around winning when one rolls across the finish line in first place two times in a row on two consecutive days, but those aren’t necessarily the only experiences Kenneth and I took with us. On the race on Sunday morning, the Grandfondo del Montello race, elite women and men lined up together at the start in order to ride a large loop of 45 kilometers. Kenneth also got to take part in the race this time, and lined up in the first row together with me and many other pros. It was a complete mud bath from beginning to end, but lots of fun and excitement the whole way. We simply enjoyed ourselves on our Merida bikes, and looked anything but beautiful as we crossed the finish line after 2 hours and 12 minutes.

Apart from that, the weekend offered us a dinner together with the Italian importer of Merida and his family on the Friday evening. The whole family naturally lined up as excited supporters the following day in the Luquigas Cup on Saturday morning. Multivan Merida Biking Team had been split up this time, so it was only me and my Spanish teammate, Jose Hermida, who traveled to Italy. The rest of the team took part in Swiss Power Cup in Buchs. Jose was missing both his luggage and his bike when we arrived at Pisa on Friday afternoon, so he borrowed my bike and Kenneth’s kit on both Saturday and Sunday. Jose is a fast rider, and he won the race in front of his previous teammate and Olympic champion from Athens, Julian Absalon, on a completely new bike, and in somebody else’s riding kit.

Apart from that Saturday and Sunday were spent at medal ceremonies, and eating great Italian food and being present at enjoyable meetings. My shoe sponsor, North Wave (NW), was also one of the sponsors for the race on Sunday, so we naturally spent the weekend together with many members of that group too. Great people who we really enjoy being together with. On Monday before leaving we also got to visit the NW factory which lies a small hour’s drive from Venice.

A BASE AT LOVELY HEUBACH
We’ve got ourselves a base close to the town of Heubach, 1 hour’s drive southeast of Stuttgart, where we’ve spent our weekdays for the last two weeks. We have a large and nice apartment which we’ll stay in for the rest of this month. We’ve been living in this same area for the past two years at this time, and really enjoy ourselves here. Last week Lene Byberg and Håkon Austad also lived with us here for a few days before the Norwegian national team came down on Thursday.

This weekend we’ve taken part in the first MTB Bundesliga Cup in Münsingen, and it was an exciting and fun experience. I really got to test my physical shape plus training for my goals, and the results were great. I won by all of two minutes in front of my teammates Irina Kalentieva (RUS) and Nina Göhl (GER). In other words, a great day for the girls on Multivan Merida Biking Team. Our Spanish racer, Jose Hermida, was number 3 today and was satisfied with his form through the race.

There were also a few other Norwegian riders at the start today who performed well. Lene Byberg came in on a good sixth place, and really got to demonstrate how hard she has been working and training through the winter. Håkon Austad arrived among the 20 men. He did a good race and was happy with his results.

Tomorrow evening, Monday, we’re having a press conference here at Heubach with many other high-profile riders from Germany and Belgium. On Tuesday morning Kenneth and I will be driving together with our team mechanic, Ralf, by car to Belgium where I’ll join up with my Italian road racing team. On Wednesday I’ll line up at the start of the World Cup on road, Fleche Wallonne, and it’ll hopefully be a good run-up before the opening of the off-road World Cup the following Sunday. It’ll take place in the town of Spa in Belgium, and there will no doubt be nerves and excitement in my system as the time approaches.

Well, it’s pretty well time to get out your bikes in Norway too, I reckon, so just enjoy! Bring a few of your friends and take a long trip out into nature. Good luck, and cherish the experience that your two-wheelers give you.

TRAINING SESSION OF THE WEEK: Team tempo together with Kenneth and Håkon. It was a great tempo session during which I had the advantage of riding a road bike while the boys rode slicks on their mountain bikes.

DINNER OF THE WEEK: Italian pasta with an utterly delicious garlic sauce…and naturally in the pleasant company of the North Wave family.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Take a good friend to a good Italian restaurant. Make sure you have lots of time to really enjoy a lovely evening together.

Biker’s greetings from Gunn-Rita,

Multivan Merida Biking Team.