So the Swedish Championship 2010 is over and I am no longer the Swedish Champ… It has been a fun year in the jersey and I will sure try to take it back again next year!
This weekend was midsummer, something we celebrate in Sweden. The big celebration is on Friday evening and since we had our champs early Saturday morning I had to stay at home in the evening, so no celebration for me. 36 girls started and our race was 138 kilometres on a lap that we did 4 times, it included one big climb and I was sure that was where the race was going to be decided. This is the thing with a road race, you can never predict how it will end… The first time up the climb Emma Johansson (Red sun) put the hammer down, she got a bit of a gap but not enough to break. At the bottom on the other side we were 10 girls in a break, but more caught up from behind. Then the move of the day came when Marie Lindberg (Red sun) attacked and Karin Aune (Fenix) went with her, it was only 10 kilometres into the race so I thought it would come back together. The gap grew when nothing happened in the bunch. The second time up the hill Emma put the hammer down again and got Sara Mustonen (Hitec) with her, they got a gap to me, Emilia Fahlin (HTC-Colombia) and Isabelle Söderberg (Hitec), I did not have the legs to close the gap and neither did the other two. And that was the last we saw of the 4 at the front. After the third time up the climb we were 6 girls chasing and at one stage we were only 35 seconds behind but we never caught them.
I finished 7th on the day, not happy with the placing but satisfied with how the legs and body felt. Felt better after this then after the time trail when I was 6th.
Next on the program is a stage race in Czech republic which starts end of next week. So until it is time to pack the bags again I will have some holiday at home, having coffees with friends and just enjoying being home. It will be 4 weeks with races in Czech, Sweden, France and then Sweden again for a world cup, the next big goal for the season.
1 JOHANSSON Emma, Red sun 3:36:01
2 LINDBERG Marie, Red sun 3:36:57 0:56
3 MUSTONEN Sara, Hitec 3:37:23 1:22
4 AUNE Karin, Fenix 3:37:26 1:25
5 ANDRÉASSON Veronica, Lotto 3:40:23 4:22
6 FAHLIN Emilia, HTC-Colombia 3:40:45 4:44
7 STENERHAG Jennie, Alriksson GoGreen
8 SÖDERBERG Isabelle, Hitec
9 OLSSON Madelene, Alriksson GoGreen
10 RYDLUND Malin, Alriksson GoGreen
Photo: Fredrik Jansson
In the corner at the bottom of the hill
Photo: Fredrik Jansson
At the top of the steep climb
Photo: Staffan Björklund Dalademokraten.se
Throwing my bottle on the way out on the last lap
Photo: Staffan Björklund Dalademokraten.se
Was really tired after the right after the finish....
....and also very happy! The champs was over:-)