My Women's Cycling Tumblr

TTT was good today! Bit of everything for the @dolmansladies! Panic at the start when 2 riders saddles were not straight! Well Martine…

— Emma Trott (@EmmaTrott1989) September 5, 2012

A few near misses with the lead moto who was shocked at the speed we were going round corners and round a bouts! 3 times he was nearly

— Emma Trott (@EmmaTrott1989) September 5, 2012

Stopped in front of us! Not to forget the wind that took everyone by surprise and nearly wiped out our last rider!Who happened to be martine

— Emma Trott (@EmmaTrott1989) September 5, 2012

Apart from that 8th was a solid result! You have to keep these things entertaining, right? Straight forward just is no fun!!

— Emma Trott (@EmmaTrott1989) September 5, 2012

Martine Bras has seen the ups and downs of a cycling. From being Netherlands National Championship at 10 years old, to having to take three years off through illness, at 33 she’s now having the best year yet.

After a few years in Italian and international teams, she moved back to an all-Dutch team for the first time in a long time. She’s riding for Dolmans Landscaping with all kinds of ambitions, both personal, wanting at least two more years at the top of the peloton, with her eye on a precious spot on the Dutch team when the World Championships come to Valkenburg, and altruistic – passing on what she’s learned to a new generation of young Dutch riders.

I interviewed her before she set out for the Spanish races, and she told me about her lifetime in cycling. She’s seen a lot of changes in the sport - no matter how bad the accommodation is in the races these days, at least they’re not sleeping in bomb shelters any more…

Women’s cycling goes way back. We all know that the first official world championships for women were in 1958 (Reims France) won by Elsy Jacobs from the Luxembourg. But that was not the start of women’s cycling. In 1868 it were 3 sisters from Bordeaux France, Amélie, Finette and Rosita who challenged each other. Keeping their last name secret as it was kind of a violation of public morals to race as a woman.

But is not what I want to share with you. There is an even better story. The story of Alfonsina Morini (Strada).

Alfonsina was the first and only woman who participated in the Giro d’Italia in 1924. That year she had won 36 races and organizer Emilio Colombo invited her as most of the big teams boycotted the Giro. He thought that this stunt would give more attention to the race and he was right!

Why is it that the Dutch girls are so good? I wonder myself. I think that if you look to the Dutch cycling structure you will find some answers.

* In Holland you can start racing from the age of 8. There are 7 youth categories. From 7 till 14 years old you can race is these youth groups. The girls are one year older than the boys in the same category and race together. They learn all they need to learn at young age. Off course starting at very young age will also give a bigger dropout at the age when it all gets serious. But I believe that because of the youth categories we have more woman cyclist than anywhere else in the world.

* After the youth groups, when they go to the juniors they are well observed. The strongest ones are selected and go into the national junior team. They get tested regular and well trained. If they are up to it the National coach let them participate in UCI womans races to learn.

* Once a good elite rider you go the the Topsport group. A group that exist out off the 12 best Dutch riders. This group has many facilities. Most of that group gets paid a salary (after reaching good results first) and lots of training facilities. Like training camps (South Africa, Gran Canaria, Italy etc). But also high quality testing, training guidance, help with nutrition or materials.

I think that these 3 points are really important. A good base and a good guidance are important. Not only for a few years, but for several years. To let them learn and grow. And ones at that highest level the support that is needed to stay there.

Also I do think that the high level brings out the best. As for me, since training with girls like Marianne Vos I did improve a lot. It is not only lots of fun, but necessary to work with athletes on higher levels to get better.

I was all about that last km. One girl of Topsport escaped under the red flag of the last km. The rest of the group got nervous en tried to chase her down. I just waited and with 350 meters to go uphill I left. I pushed up that hill with all I had in my body and sprinted over that last girl in front of me. 10 meters before the finish line I knew I was going to win and put both my arms into the air. A lot of feelings went through me at that time.

Satisfaction, relief, happiness, joy.

It is amazing to reach your goals in your sport or even life. There is only one who can win in cycling. Maybe that is why it feels so good! And, oh yeah… I want more of this!! Tags: Ash, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, cycling, goals, happiness, Martine, Martine Bras, racing, satisfaction, winning « Eat fat to burn fat Care to comment? You must be logged in to post a comment.

It is full on race time for me. I do not have any time to do any training. I go from one race to the other. I spend hours in the car, on my bed, on the massage table and on my bike. I see my room mate more than I see my boyfriend.

The life of a pro cyclist is all about what I just wrote. But it is more that that. It is also all about concentration and focus. Let me explain you how my day before a World Cup looks like.