Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 54, January 2014 | 页面 16

Running and Sport

Pedal
She’s currently South Africa’s leading female road cyclist and
carving out a successful career on the European circuit, but
Olympian and multiple SA and African champ Ashleigh Pasio
says she has unfinished business with running.
– BY SEAN FALCONER

T

“I showed a lot of potential to be a good endurance runner, but my development
from hockey player and part-time runner, to hardcore runner went really fast, and
I think I developed a muscle imbalance. I probably pushed too fast at the time,
going straight to 21km instead of sticking to 10km at first,” says Ashleigh. “I’ve
learnt through cycling that I need recovery periods and regular massage in order
to remain injury-free, and the bonus of cycling is that there is less impact on my
joints and muscles. Also, core work and gym work are essential. But I want to
explore running again some day – I’ve always had a dream to run Comrades.”

CHAMPIONSHIP MATERIAL
Born in Pretoria and schooled in Bloemfontein, Ashleigh went on to study chemical
engineering at the University of Stellenbosch, where she met her triathlete
husband, Carl, who now coaches her. “Carl introduced me to a life of competitive
endurance sports and today I find myself travelling the world together with my
husband and best friend, competing on the world stage. We live half the year in
Riebeek-Kasteel, about 80km north of Cape Town, and the other half in Varese,
Italy, constantly chasing summer days and good weather!”

Rainy ride at London 2012

was not experienced enough to ride together at that level. So I was initially disappointed
with my result, but looking back now I am satisfied with 16th. It gives me a realistic idea
of what I need to do to prepare for Rio 2016, and I have made plans to get the right
support structures in place.”
Thanks to her UCI points from European races, Ashleigh also represented SA at the
World Champs in Italy last year, but again found it tough due to being the only SA rider
and having no team support. “In 2012 we had six SA girls racing in Europe, but in 2013
it was only me, so we need more build-up ahead of Rio. There are a lot of youngsters
pushing through now, but I am still preparing myself for the possibility that I could be
alone again in Rio. My focus now is on Europe – I will be selective about racing locally
– because if you have aspirations to go to the Olympics or World Champs, you need to
race the best in Europe.”
With Olympic teammates
Robyn de Groot & Joanna
van de Winkel.

Ashleigh began racing competitively in 2008, and once she finished her studies
in 2009, turned pro in 2010. She recently joined the Hi-Tec Products team
in Europe, having been racing for the Lotto-Belisol team, and she rides
for Biogen Toyota in South Africa. Her list of honours now includes
numerous podium finishes in Europe, and she has also enjoyed
much success in SA: “I’ve won a fair number of races here,
including most of the big ones – the Argus, 94.7, Amashova,
OFM and EP Herald,” says Ashleigh, who has also done well at
both SA and African Champs in recent years.
In 2009 she was second in the SA Road Race Champs,
in 2011 she was African champ in the road race and
runner-up in the time trial, and in 2012 she added the
SA national title in the road race and was second in the
time trial, followed by identical results in the African
Champs. In 2013 she claimed both SA titles, and says
she wears the SA colours on her racing kit with pride:
“Winning the SA Champs title means a lot to me, and
riding in your national championship jersey makes you
stand out in races, which has its benefits.”

LONDON EXPERIENCE
Ashleigh’s success on the road saw her selected for the
2012 Olympic Games in London, where she was SA’s top
performer, finishing 16th in the women’s road race and
24th in the time trial. “London was a hard experience, to
be honest. I went into the Games with high hopes, but
underestimated the mental aspect, and don’t think I was
properly prepared. The crowd was massive, and conditions
on the day were really tough, with torrential rain, but most
importantly, I had to ride alone in the road race as our team

16

ISSUE 54 JANUARY 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Ashleigh W

ith her Hus

band-Coa

ch Carl

Images: Courtesy Ashleigh Pasio

here was a time when Ashleigh dreamed of making it big in triathlon
and duathlon, and with a 1:21 PB for the half marathon, she was enjoying her
road running too, but then she picked up ITB problems and put running on the
backburner, concentrating on cycling instead. A few years later she is SA’s only pro
female professional rider on the European circuit, and led the SA women’s cycling
team in the 2012 Olympics… but she hasn’t given up on running just yet.