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Laatst bijgewerkt op:
08 September 2010, 08:22:20

My first months with SwaboLadies

19 mei 2010

Zoë Appel

Beverwijk – Zoë Appel kwam aan het einde van de winter over van Australië, waar het hartje zomer was, om in de vrieskou, wind en regen te komen koersen met het SwaboLadies cyclingteam. Zij wil dit jaar gebruiken om op het hoogste niveau te kunnen rijden en zodoende zichzelf te kunnen ontwikkelen als wielrenster. Hieronder haar ervaringen in de eerste 3 maanden.

The last ten weeks couldn’t have gone by any faster…Time fly’s when you’re having fun, right? Right!

Since week One, I’ve almost raced every weekend. The amount of racing for women in The Netherlands is fantastic and not just that but the calibre is outstanding too. What’s even more fantastic though, is the team I’ve set my self up with. For a relatively small team, the SwABo girls (including myself) get to race at so many top-level events.

To race in a European peloton is a thrilling experience. To ride with and against the worlds’ best is any cyclists dream. And to be able to do that with an awesome group of girls as team mates makes the experience truly satisfying.

My first real race in The Netherlands was the 9e Omloop van Strijen. Talk a about wake up call. The field spilt within the first ten kilometres. And as I was still trying to find a good spot to ride in the bunch, I missed the break. I bridged across a few gaps and spent the rest of the race in a small group adapting to the speed, wind and “wijers” (HANS, SPELLING!?). I finished with an OK 32nd.

Race Two couldn’t have been any more different from its predecessor. The Dolmans Heuvelland Classic down in Valkenburg was just as its name describes – a Land of Hills. A race thick with Prof Teams, I knew I was in for some hard kilometers(that and after reading the course outline, the three times we’d climb the Cauberg). Fresh from Australia, I still had some hills in my legs but boy, they don’t make ‘em like that where I’m from. After the first few climbs, I found myself in a small group that was happy to ride paced and to stay in front of the “bezem wagen”. Although my last few races didn’t go as well as my first few, I’m not giving up hope.

I can’t wait to try my hand at Dutch crits and Kermesses. And the time is coming.

Zoë