Maja Włoszczowska (codename: HALLS)


"Beijing" is coming... ;) (07.08.2008) The time goes really fast last days. It's only 15 days till the most important start in my carrier. My shape is getting better and better, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to fight with the bests in Beijing. Now I'm trying not to get sick - I have a sore throat and cough but fortunately it's not so bad to stop trainings. Before my departure to China I will start in two more races. One will be an easy stage race on road and the second - the final of "Bank BPH Grand Prix MTB" (2 category race) in my home town Jelenia Gora. I'm thinking with optimism about Olympic race even having in mind the fact that this season wasn't the best for me. Specially beginning - bad luck in Houffalize, quite good result in Offenburg and then totally disaster on the European Championships because of being over-trained. After that race I had to rest really good and that brought positive effect on the Worlds Championships. I finished the race in Val di Sole on fifth position and that was really a great surprise for me because I didn't felt such great as in the past years. That's why I belive that if everything goes all right I will be ably to beat everyone in Beijing. But I also realize that the level in the women mountainbiking last year improved so much that even in the best shape of my life I can be as well first as eleventh. One thing is certain - it will be incredible exiting race (I regret I can't watch it ;)). Last weeks I rode a few races. I begun my preparations to the Olympics by the stage race "Krasna-Lipa" in Czech Republic. It was quite tough for me because I went there after a week of holidays, but I'm really happy because it was a great training and after that race I felt much much better. Two weeks later I won Polish Champion title twice - individually and in the team relay. So you will see me next year on the races in a great white clothes that I like so much :). Past weekend brought me another title - I won Polish Championships on road (mountain race). That's are not the medals of the "World" races but make me happy as well. Now I just can not give in to illness... I will give next news after Beijing. I hope it will be only good news :). Keep your's fingers crossed for me! Maja

Bad luck in Houffalize.. (22.04.2008) First World Cup this season wasn’t as I expected. My goal was to finish in top 10 and I was really focused to do that. My start position was quite far (37) but I wasn’t very worried about that. I begun the race very good – at the end of the first uphill I reached the best riders. At the end of the first (start) lap I was already on the sixth position. Then I felt that there is something wrong with my gear and... when I pushed pedals a little bit harder my chain has broken.. I didn’t think to much and started to run to the nearest technical box. Unfortunately chain has chocked between ratchet and spokes what immobilized my wheel. I couldn’t take it out in any way so I had to run with bike on my arm. It was really hard because it was at least 2 kilometers to the technical box.. I was already passed by all the riders and I lost another 5 minutes before our mechanic changed my (broken) gear and chain. There was no chance to make up for the loss of minutes but in spite of that I decided to ride – just for training. It was funny because some fans thought that I was riding first...;). My goal was to catch any rider and don’t get the limit of time, what was quite impossible because I’ve already had 20 minutes loss to the first rider. I managed to ride two laps before the judges begun to stop the riders with to big loss. And that was the end of my World Cup... I’m not depressed because that’s our sport – sometimes you have good luck and sometimes bad luck. But of course I’m a little bit unhappy with my start position in Offenburg... And I still don’t know what is my shape at the beginning of the olimpic season. I will have to wait another week to find it out.. Now few worlds about the passed weeks... This year I begun the season with the road races becouse together with my team mates we are helping to qualify as many girls as it possible to the olimpic road race. The situation was very bad after last year - Poland was on the 26th place in UCI ranking what didn’t give any place... But now – thanks to the UCI races organized in Poland it looks much, much better. We are 19th (it gives 2 places) with quite a big chances for reaching top 16 and qualifying three riders! I am very satisfied of my ride on road – the races was in flat terrain (that I don’t like...) but in spite of that I was 4th in Naleczow and I won the stage race in Zamosc, what was not easy because of the great shape of russian girls. I am proud specially of my time trial – third place in UCI race with the loss of 14 seconds to the first is really impressive. I hope that those results really mean that I’m strong and the nearest World Cup in Offenburg will prove that ;). Maja

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