Womenspecific.com: What changes do you make on your bicycle set up during the various stages?

I’m pretty much down to the smallest detail that I know exactly where things should be, how long I sit on the roller, when I start, what I eat, what I drink. Everything is more or less the same.

Womenspecific.com: How are you feeling about your current fitness?

I had some heavy days after the World Cup last week in Curacao. So, I was surprised that I felt so good yesterday in the Super XC. I think we have done a lot of good recovery. After so much experience, we know very well what works for my body, how to save energy, and how to recover. We also know how to treat your mentality before starting racing again just a few days after a really big race (World Cup) that you have had to focus on for months. So, I was a little bit surprise.
It is not only about the training, it’s as well about the nutrition, about the sleeping, about the resting and saving energy, all of that has to do with recovery

Womenspecific.com: As far as your nutrition, what do you choose to use for racing and recovery?

It is not difficult to eat healthy and eat the right thing. It is about eating something that fits your engine. Because we are all different. So what I eat that really works 100% for me, gives me the right energy, the good feeling, and the balance in the body doesn’t necessarily work for everyone else. It is up to yourself to find out what works for you. You need to be aware of how your body reacts on what you put in your mouth, both of liquid and solid.

Womenspecific.com: What do use for nutrition on race day?

Normally on the warming up I use water. Every morning for breakfast I always have oatmeal and water, nuts, and seeds. This gives me the right fat. That is normally together with Soya powder in water. It’s a good breakfast and I like it. It is important that you like the food you eat and it really gives me the best out of the day.
I try to stay away from it when I am on holiday after the season for two weeks because it is good to have your mind on something else other than biking. We even tried to have a beer as the first meal of the day because you hear of people doing it. It tasted awful. It doesn’t sound good at all. But on holiday you should really go as far away from what you normally do. This is really a lifestyle as professional athletes traveling around the world and we love it everyday. But, I think it also good for your mentality to break from routine even if it is only for two weeks out of the year.

Womenspecific.com: What is your favorite stage here at Sea Otter?

We had a fun, fun thing going on during the Super XC. It was exciting for the people watching us. They could see us more or less the whole way. On the other hand I think it might not have been that exciting with me in the front leaving a big gap.

Womenspecific.com: That was exciting for you (laughing)!

Yeah (laughing)...I had a great day. I was having a lot of fun even though I was alone. But it was really fun and exciting. We had a good group of 8 or nine girls down to the wire fighting for it. You have to think about the people watching you even though they might not be racing that day or the next day. But a lot of people may go racing on Sunday in the Sport class or something and it is important that they come and feel apart of it with doing their race but also watching us race. I do look forward to Sunday’s cross-country race. It will be a hard race, a long loop.

Womenspecific.com: What is the one thing you would say to women who are trying to work through the ranks in mountain bike racing?

Try and go out there. Bring your neighbor, you mother, your best friend or whatever. Mountain biking is something that is very social and you can do it at whatever level you are. I think it is very important to put up a little program for yourself. Set goals for yourself. You don’t even have to tell anyone. Work with it, think about it every now and down, touch it a little bit and celebrate when you reach your goals. Mountain biking is my passion, it comes from the heart and I love it. If I can somehow explain the thrill, the excitement, and the enjoyment mountain biking gives to two or three girls in the world that starts mountain biking and they get more or less the same feeling I would be very happy. I feel so privileged that I am doing a sport that most people can enjoy on their own level. I feel that through my results I can reach to people of many levels and give them that push to keep trying.