As a teenager, I played football and other sports, but on my 13th birthday, I decided to go 100% in for speedskating. After a few years, I was in the national ranks, but I realized I didn’t like being cold all the time and always competing and training in the same environment.
When I was 19, I decided to start racing bikes. Then at 22, I signed with Krolstone, a continental team. One year later, I went to another team, Asito, while I finished my studies to become a PE/gymnastics teacher. After I graduated, I joined Team Type 1, the predecessor of Team Novo Nordisk.
The best part is that you have many chances to prove yourself. The worst part is that you don’t know exactly what it is you have to do to become a good cyclist. I started racing later in life, so my strategy was to train hard.
No, diabetes is just a way of life for me. Every day is different, but I have worked hard to manage my diabetes just like I train hard to be a professional cyclist.
I love that cycling is a sport millions of people participate in around the world. The bike is very common in Europe and Asia and just a little less in the USA. I think nearly everyone can identify as a cyclist because we all race on the same bikes, race on the same roads, and train in similar ways. I always say cycling is a sport of the streets.
I like to see my family and friends, relax, and try to explore the world.
I always check my social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, read newspapers and chat with friends. Social media is part of my daily routine before training or a race. We tend to have a lot of time in the mornings between breakfast and racing or training to engage with friends and fans online.
Yes, I would love to keep working in bike racing. I have thought about managing my own team or something else tied into the sports industry. I also have dreams of starting a coffee shop one day.
Not really, I stopped playing digital games a couple of years ago. |
