Finnmarksturen in Ludvika was my first real race when I started cycling 11 years ago. The race was 120km in 2003 and I was really happy to be 1h after the winning elite girl, it motivated me and my cycling career had started! I thought I was going to be a mountainbiker but it changed to road and I only returned to Finnmarksturen in 2012 to finish in 3rd position, which I also did last year. This race is close to the place where I grew up so it feels a bit like a “home race” with lots of people I know along the route. All these things made it very special to step up on the highest place on the podium, a special race for me.
Half way up the start hill it was me, Hanna and Emmy all together, I pushed hard close to the top and we dropped Emmy. After about 10km, at the first spectator point, I heard the commentator saying that Hanna was on my wheel. I worked hard in the beginning to close gaps and try to go with better guys where possible. We came on to a gravel road and more people caught us and we were a big group when we approached a technical single track, 2 guys attacked to be first on to the single track and I went with them to enter 3rd. That was a good move since that was the last time I saw Hanna. Without getting any time gaps I had to work hard all the time, one can never be sure, especially when we are racing with the men. I took the hill sprint after 42km and after 50km my parents told me I had a 1 minute gap. It grew to 3,5 minutes by the finish.
It is a fun route with lots of single tracks and shorter hills, it is challenging and tough! I like this route a lot!
A special “well done” goes to my brother who did his first MTB race ever and loved it! He is now really motivated for CykelVasan, his big goal next weekend!
