FINALLY 🤩

I didn't sleep very well last night. I love my sleep, so normally I'd be mad about that...but I'm not. Instead, I'm excited, which is why I did not sleep very well. 

The World Cup in Benidorm was amazing! The crowds were loud, the course was fun and dynamic, and most importantly, I had so much fun racing. For the first time this season, I felt like when I was pressing on the pedals, I was moving. All season, I've never really found my top form. It turns out not training for several weeks in the beginning of the fall had repercussions...I stayed positive through it all, but let's be honest: It's not as fun racing when you're not strong enough to compete where you want to be. All season, if I got to a wide pedalling section in races where I saw people in front, I'd always think: "Okay, time to go and pass". Except, it always remained just a thought...every time I would stand up on the bike and try as hard as I could, but nothing happened. I'd pass 1 person if it was a good day. Then, I'd often end up riding alone between two groups. 

But yesterday!!! Yesterday was different, and I was so excited about it that I had a hard time sleeping. 

The race

I won't be complaining about my start position, because: 

1. It is what it is.

2. Gotta earn those points! They aren't free! 

3. The internet is filled with posts of people complaining about their start position. I don't need to add to that. 

4. It IS possible to get to the front quickly. Some people do it often (arg-hmmm Zoe Backstedt is the queen of that!) 

What I will say is this: I will never take a first or second row start for granted. It does, after all, make your life easier. 

Anyway, I had a bad start. It was chaotic, I got stuck, whatever happened, I ended up really f-ing far. Like, 40th-ish far. Somehow, I didn't get flustered. I just got going. The course was very fast, with many turns and many changes of surfaces. It looked easy on TV, but it wasn't. Going fast on that course, while staying safe, was very tricky. All the turns provided opportunities to pass, so I tried to use them wisely. Take inside corner, pass one person. Sand section: FULL GAS running. Pass another. Sprint into the corner and cut inside, pass 2 people. All I was doing was looking for opportunities to pass and go for it. Then, I got on the wide asphalt climb and saw a sea of people 🤩. "It's my chance". I went fast and was able to pass a lot of people at once. And then again as I gave another surge in the second hill in the woods. The race was very much like intervals...whereas some course are more like a long continuous effort, this one was really FULL GAS or RELAX. 

At some point (I have no idea which of the 7 laps), I got on the asphalt and as I looked up, saw the World Champion Jersey, some 777 jerseys, and a Baloise Lion. "OMG. I have not seen those all damn season!" Dave yelled this was the big group to 6th, so I got to work on the chase. 

Eventually, my friend Helene Clauzel and I bridged the gap and joined the group. When we joined it was a group from 9th to 15th. I tried to just go by and keep chasing, but it was then very difficult to drop this group. It became a tactical game. And oh was it fun! 

With one lap to go, our group of 7-8 riders were all together. Passes and small attacks were made left and right. I was fully focused and felt confident. On the paved climb, we all looked at each other, so much so that Marie Schreiber caught up and attacked all of us. It was ON! Only Helene, Marianne Vos, and I followed the attack. I went around Marie at the topo before entering the woods. I was 3rd wheel. On the second climb, I attacked and passed Helene and Vos. I knew if I got in the technical section first and rode fast enough, it was hard to pass. Only Vos followed. The 2 of us had a gap. How would I beat the GOAT? She passed me around the barriers. I got back on the bike really quickly and closed the gap. She was trying to put pressure on me. Only 3 turns left. She got on the pavement and swooooopppp. She slipped and fell. I barely had time to get around her. I crossed the line in 9th. It's unfortunate we didn't get to battle until the end, but luckily she is okay and that's part of racing. Good on her for pushing the limit and taking risk. It's not secret why she won so many races: She isn't afraid to lose (or to take risks)! Chapeau. 

Crossing the line, I was so happy with my race. That was the most satisfying 9th place I ever got! 

All in for worlds

David and I came to train in Calpe, Spain after the Zonhoven World Cup. We've been here for two weeks now. When we arrived, we made a plan. As I said, I did not feel "extra-world-cup-winning-fit" all season. But, for a disaster of a season impacted by health issues, we still managed to do better than I expected. So with 3 weeks until Worlds, what did we have to lose? 

I could keep doing what I was doing, and have a similar average performance. Or, I could go all in with the training, and try to squeeze every ounce of fitness we could until Worlds. The second strategy could have 2 outcomes: I get sick and do worse, or I get fitter and we try for a big results. 

We chose option 2. It would of course have been easier to choose option 1, but also what would have been the point... We'll see what happens at Worlds, but at least I'll have no regrets. And so far, it's been paying off. And let me tell you, I hadn't had that much fun racing in a LONG time. And that, my friends, is motivating and exciting!! 

Muchas Gracias Benidorm! 
Finally, just a quick note to mention just how cool the event was! Over 15 000 fans came, the event was flawless, the sun was shining, and each and every races was exciting! Way to go UCI for bringing the World Cup to Spain. Hear more about the event on the latest Muddy Mondays podcast. 

We're in Spain a few more days and then we drive to Besançon in France for the last World Cup of the season!