Here I am, legs up and resting up for D-day(s) in a hotel room in London.
Whilst most of my teammates are staying in Belgium close to where I live, I’m counting down the days till my track World Championships start. I love being back at the Olympic Velodrome in Lee Valley Park. It brings back great memories. These World Championships are the last race to take away qualification points for the Rio Olympics and are also seen as a last test between the big rivals. No need to say it’s quite an important week if you’re a trackie these days. To be honest, at this time of the year, I would like to split myself in two (or even better clone myself) so I can ride the track as well as the Spring Classics together with the Wiggle High5 ladies. But that’s not going to happen so I’d better focus myself on the job and get the best out of my track legs this week.
This year is going to be different for me. Coming into an Olympic year sets high expectations. Every day I’m thinking about Rio, I know why I’m doing all of this. Thanks to my Wiggle High5 team I could choose my road program as a preparation for the omnium in Rio. I see myself more as a trackie until then. So unlike last year I support my teammates from behind my laptop (thank god for the livestreams and to the people who do the live tweeting!!). Seeing all those races from a different perspective makes me realise how much I miss it. So I will definitely be back again next year to tick off some boxes!
But for now, I’m riding round in circles to pursue my Olympic dream. No thermal jacket, winter knicks or Egon (van Kessel, sports director) yelling in my ear, but a skinsuit and a headphone with upbeat music instead. Only for now though, cause next week I will be back on Dutch soil for the World Tour Ronde van Drenthe. Good times ahead!
Till the next one,
Jolien aka the Belgian Bullet
P.S. Keep your fingers crossed this weekend!
