Hello dear Velomotion and cycling friends,
If you don't know me yet: I'm Flo Nowak and I've been an editor for Velomotion for a good three years. I originally came from professional cycling and was able to compete in many national and international races in various continental teams and with the national team. My highlights certainly include participation in the World Championships in Bergen and Innsbruck, as well as starting at the Tour de l'Avenir (TDF U23), the Germany Tour or the Tour of Portugal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoqqcGZBQR4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Everything was supposed to be different this year when I decided at the end of last season not to sign a contract with any team. Exciting and attractive events, as well as fun, should now be much more in the foreground, according to the motto #createyourownstory. This should make everyone feel addressed and not just try to chase any given goals, but to set their own goals and, even more importantly, to create and experience their own story.
Of course, everything is no less professional, but still something completely different because I didn't just want to be on the road, but also at MTB marathons, gravel races, gran fondos, trail running events and much more. I had planned to take you with me to my sports year 2020 and give you a few insights.
In consultation with many long-standing and new partners, I was able to put together an attractive program. For me, the sporting year 2020 already started in January with the first cross-country skiing event, the Marcialonga 70 kilometers classic in Val die Fiemme. A good month later, the European Skimarathon Championships in Leutasch followed in the skating technique, where I was even able to achieve a top ten result.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8KBbTVHD1c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Next up was the first cycling highlight: Strade Bianche, gravel roads in the heart of Italy. Unfortunately, this event was canceled shortly before due to the current situation, which was of course more than right and yet very disappointing for an athlete who has been working towards the cycling season all winter. Of course, it didn't take long before other spring events, such as Granfondos on Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, were also cancelled. It is particularly unfortunate not only that these events would have been held together with a high-class professional race, but that they would also have been my first races on a gravel bike.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8I7dZlHfFG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
My race setup
Because in the preparation we tested a lot and analyzed the sections of the route from Strade Bianche, Roubaix or Flanders and came to the conclusion that I can be much faster on these routes with my sporty gravel bike. Thanks to better driving comfort and first-class liveliness, it quickly became clear that the Scott Addict Gravel would be the best choice for these races. I also liked the setup with Shimano GRX Di2, especially because of the STIs, because they feel great in the hand on bumpy ground and offer great ergonomics.
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2019/10/shimano-grx-di2-elektrisierender-gravel-spass/
Finally, it became more complicated when it came to choosing tires and wheels. Here, too, after trying it out for a long time, I was able to commit to the Shimano Dura-Ace C40 wheelset for all races, as it offers the best combination of speed, comfort and weight. It got a bit more difficult with the tires, because the gravel meant that Strade Bianche needed a real gravel tire, such as the Schwalbe G-One, but for the two cobblestone classics, it was too extreme due to its profile and width, which is why I chose a wide tubeless road bike tire with 30mm. Let's see if I can still use this setup, or if the races that were originally postponed will now be canceled completely.
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2020/02/scott-addict-gravel-10-gravelbike-test/
Stay fit in times of Corona
I'm also slowly thinking about my other events and of course I hope that everything will soon return to normal here and that I'll be able to race again soon. One of my main goals this year would be the Ötztal Cycle Marathon. But of course, health comes first during this time and rules must be followed. Nevertheless, I try to keep fit as much as possible. I currently go on the roller for 30 minutes before breakfast to get my circulation going. After breakfast I go to the real training session. A lot is changing for me at the moment, as I try to avoid training groups entirely and only train alone. A large part of my training is currently taking place at home, whereby I incorporate a lot of strength exercises and Zwift/roller training. In compliance with the current guidelines and rules, I try to continue to train in the fresh air. Regardless of whether it's running or cycling, I try to keep my units a little shorter and stay with a maximum of 2-3 hours of training. In addition, it is precisely about not doing extreme things in order to minimize the risk as much as possible. Incidentally, I always have disinfectant and disposable gloves with me on my trips to avoid contact as much as possible. In addition, I currently have enough food with me so that I don't have to stop somewhere. For more indoor and roller training tips, stay tuned to Velomotion throughout the week.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8tlQnTnxkr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I'd be happy if you stop by in the future and I'll be able to report on the first races soon.
Until then, stay healthy and fit!