Mud bath at "Lida Loop"

2019-05-27

The second race in the Swedish XCM series turned out to be a mud bath! It rained all morning and I didn't look forward to the slippery rocks and roots in the area. Once again I had huge problems deciding how much clothes to wear, +7 degrees and rain ... what do you choose? I decided for thick arm warmers and knee warmers, I was not going to be cold. We started 11.08, 8 minutes after the racing men. It is always good to have our own start but it is also difficult to pass over a 100 men during the race, it worked very well today, everyone was kind and let us pass but it takes a lot of energy to shout all the time and try to get track.

I got a good start and could go first over the top of the ski slope, it was very slippery in the mud at the steepest part. I quickly realized that it was a stupid idea to ride with glasses as they got completely covered in mud after just a few kilometres and I did not see anything. We were a big group for quite some time on the fast gravel roads in the beginning but towards the end of the first loop (of 3) we were 4 girls away, it was Hanna, Emmy, Sandra Backman and I. As we went out on the second loop and turned in to a single track with the most technical section of the race Emmy pushed in in front of me. I was last of the 4 of us and Emmy gave a big gap and I did not manage to pass. I had to chase really hard to get back to Sandra and Hanna who had a big gap. The rest of loop 2 we all rode together without any major happenings. I thought it would come down to a sprint but shortly after we went out on the 3rd and final loop, Sandra dropped on a smaller climb. I noticed that Emmy was tired, so when Hanna and I got a gap after a tricky downhill, we gave a bit extra and quickly got a gap. Hanna and I worked well together the last few kilometres towards the finish. With one kilometre to go I was first and decided to try to go first into the last single track to be able to start the sprint early up the last climb. Something happened to Hanna on that last single track so when I gave it all I had up the finishing stretch I was on my own without knowing it. It was really nice to win in such difficult conditions, especially since riding in rain and slippery stuff is not my strong side.