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01 Mar 2019

“I hope to be top three”

Norwegian Hildegunn Gjertrud Hovdenak (VPG) won Andalucía Bike Race 2018, was runner-up in La Rioja Bike 2018 and Catalunya bike Race 2017. Her clear goal is the final podium.

What do you highlight of Andalucía Bike Race…

Last year it was highlight for me! Despite some bad weather, there’s always people cheering along the trails and causing a good atmosphere. I like to race it because the trials are very flowy.

 

Having won last year and besides aiming to win it again, the main reason to is…

The good atmosphere, the good organisation and incredible trails, make it a very good race. At Andalucía Bike Race everything is easy, from getting information, to fixing the bike or getting a massage.

 

Your expectations are…

I hope to be top three, but I’m sure it will be a very good and hard fight.

 

Spaniard Natalia Fischer will be one of your main contender, which you have raced against several times…

It’s always difficult to say what the others have been training during the winter but, if it’s like before, I guess she will be faster than me on the long climbs.

 

Your goals for this season…

My first goal is for sure Andalucía Bike Race. On July, the MTB Marathon (XCM) European Championship in Norway. It will be a very good race in a lovely area in the Norwegian mountains. That’s of course my main goal this year.

 

Andalucía Bike Race is just over a month away, your advice for those who are training for it…

Train hard and good, but the week before have a calm week and rest a lot. Six days of racing are super hard, and last minutes training will do more damage than good. During the race try to save some in the climbs, to get a good overlook and enjoy the downhills. Instead of going in the red zone in every uphill, take it a bit down and have a good safe downhill. Remember that the race is six days. You need to take care of both your bike and body!

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