s I creep deeper

As you ’ ll read in more detail on p36 , I was privileged to race the World Multisport Championships on Ibiza and go bike touring on the neighbouring Balearic island of Mallorca . Having raced bikes all my life , including 30 + Cape Town Cycle Tours and 20 + Double Centuries among many others around the world , I have a pretty mellow attitude towards race outcomes . Sometimes I ’ m fit , sometimes I ’ m fat and often ill-prepared , so I take the rough with the smooth because I love the training .

Having qualified for onand off-road champs , and committed to the time and cost , I took my training up a notch . More hours on the bike , more money at the bike shop , lighter components , a more aero position , less beer , more stress – all part of a typical build-up to an A-game .

What really surprised me was how little real benefit I gained from all of that . I ’ m not a pro racing for rent and school fees , I ’ m an amateur trying to stay healthy and be the best version of myself

possible . Why then was I so caught up in what went wrong rather than all that was going so right ? Once the Championship races were underway , I managed to dwell on every minute problem that didn ’ t go according to the perfect plan I ’ d imagined . First a rubbing brake , then a missed course marker by a rider in front that momentarily led a group of us in the wrong direction , were all I could think about as I imagined writing my family whatsapp group race report – and I wasn ’ t even halfway into the race ! Here I was racing my bike , in the best shape of my life , on an island most only dream about , and I

was consumed with negative thoughts . I had a stern talking to myself to take stock of how incredibly fortunate I was to be right there , right then .

Despite my words of wisdom shared on our various media platforms over many years , I had somehow allowed myself to slip over the very thin line of a healthy desire for improvement and into an unhealthy obsession with competition . Right then I banned myself from telling anyone what went wrong , because in truth that justification of coming

17th instead of 14th , which only I really cared about , would have been a bad example to my kids of being a victim . It would give the message that the huge sacrifice I ’ d made had led to unhappiness , rather than what was always meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime treat . From the moment I shed that burdening sense of expectation , I felt so much happier and enjoyed every moment racing full gas .

A two-day break in the race schedule provided an ideal gap to explore Mallorca . What an eye opener ! I never expected the endless roads over mountain passes , along oceanside cliffs and through

I survived the Sa Calobra ! 150km and nearly 4 000m ascent for the day , yet still smiling – it ’ s that good !

quaint villages to be so scenic , and so safe . The local Tourism team have created superb bike paths in urban areas and a culture of respect for bike riders . It felt as safe as a bus tour but infinitely more fun . I saw , smelled , heard and felt so much while riding my bike over 250km with 5 000m ascent .

This was bike-riding bliss . I was filled with wonder , and a sense that there wasn ’ t enough time to soak up all the wonderful stuff that surrounds us . When this sense prevails , we never

waste a moment on trivial stress , we look past the clouds to chase the rainbows . It ’ s ironic that the world champion jersey is adorned with rainbow stripes – I think it ’ s because they get this perspective best and that ’ s hardest to beat . Perhaps you will join us over there in 2024 – check out our plans on p38 .

On my return home I got caught up in the most exciting last week of the Giro d ’ Italia . Watching Roglic finally beat his run of bad luck in the beautiful Italian countryside has me frothing for what should be a spectacular Tour de France in July . Such a perfect time for hibernation on the couch in our cold off-season , watching the greatest gladiators battle against a canvas of medieval castles , snow-capped peaks and fields of sunflowers . It ’ s plenty of motivation to ride as we head into spring , so check out our detailed race calendar on p28 .

Another easy way to up your motivation is retail therapy . I battled to whittle down the list of lightweight , useful and beautiful cycling products that have recently launched . See our final selection on p20 , and remember that none of it is as expensive as medical bills for diseases related to ill-health . Enjoy the greatest show on earth . Follow us on social media for daily previews by our straight-talking , light-hearted road cycling aficionado Hendrik Lemmer , who writes about which Saffas to expect to do what on p32 .

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12 | TOUR DE FRANCE 2023