To those who said I’d be empty if I did both the
@giro_donne
and the
@LeTourFemmes
, I present you the finish of Stage 2 of CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées.
I’m not empty. I am full of strength, happiness, coffee and cookies.
Less than a week ago, I was in an ambulance thinking “nothing is worth this amount of pain.“
But we got through it, and I’m grateful beyond measure to have my health, happiness and hope back.
It’s always worth it.
And this is important to remember.
In this moment, one racer said: “this is women’s cycling.”
We were all physically and mentally exhausted after the chaotic race, and we all helped each other get ourselves and our bikes to our team buses. There was no clear route, so we made our own.
📸 Raf Wittenberg
And so begins my 31 day trip: 16 races, 5 flights, 2 trains, and an estimated 6 kg of porridge. I am not going to count the cookies. Or the coffees. Or the smiles. Or the tears.
#WorkHard
#WorkHappy
#DreamBig
#KeepHope
. And, then, we will see, what will be…
I woke up this morning to the best feeling: happiness. Then I rode for 3.5 hrs processing that I thought I was in love and would be forever with someone who I’m now not.
It hurts. But I’d rather try and fail, in a relationship or race, than not at all. Note to self for TDU.
To everyone who made this possible, thank you. I have never felt as much simultaneous pain and love as I did in the last few days.
Every pedal stroke is with immense gratitude, hope, and happiness.
For those who worry about me, worry not.
I am allowed to be sad.
I will fail a million times.
But, I will never quit.
I will always keep hope.
And, I will find my way to a better day.
Xxx to those who care.
24 hrs after telling my DS: I should be exhausted, I should not be good, I should not ride for GC, I found the courage to say: “yes, I can win from this break. I can’t promise I will, but I can tell you I am the strongest.”
PS nice commentary
@Dani_Christmas
and
@TourDeJose
👏
If I close my eyes, it was just a bad dream?
My body, mind and heart are officially empty/broken. They will refill/heal, I hope.
Thanks to my teammates and staff for showing me nothing but kindness.
I’ll be back when I’m back. Ciao for now.
📸
@bastiengason
On the 2nd day of moving my left arm; 1 week after breaking my collarbone in 3 places
After 4 IVs, 1 blood draw, 1 nerve block in neck, approx 10 injections in my arm, 1 lengthy reconstruction surgery, an international flight, many tears and much love + care, the pain has ended
I fell asleep fighting back tears, and I woke up in a state of acceptance that I am going to race, once again. Something I thought might not ever happen again. But here I am,
@Battlenor
, as ready as I can be. I hope I don’t humiliate myself again.
🎥 4pm CET
@GcnRacing
I wish I had 1 more basket to give to my teammates because every single one of them deserves to be on the podium today. But it’s okay because Emma has her own present as most combative.
All I had to do was trust my teammates and put my heart on the line in the final km.
This is UNREAL. With 0 physio sessions, 0 real efforts to regain mobility, 2 talented surgeons, 1 top team doc and a whole lot of love, hope, happiness and health, I have full and pain-free mobility one week after breaking my collarbone.
#grateful
#thankful
#letsracebikes
Yesterday, when I could see the front group and my DS said “you have to make it across,” I said “I don’t think that’s feasible.” Promptly followed by “I made it across.”
If you don’t have hope, just keep trying. That’s what I learned from my first
@LeTourFemmes
.
📸 Russ Ellis
When a racer from another team reaches out to say “Looking forward to having you back in the peloton ❤️,” it makes me wonder how 3 months ago I said: “I’ve humiliated myself in my own world.”
What a year. So grateful to be excited for my return to racing. My return to my world.
To those who ask “what’s going on?”
In the last races, my body and mind were too tired to push/fight/race, so now I’m resting.
To everyone who reached out, thank you. Within every athlete is a human. And, for better or worse, I’m not afraid to show that.
📸
@GettyImages
2024, be good to me, and I’ll be good to you?
Ready for the good and the bad.
The highs and the lows.
The wins and the losses.
Ready for 2024 with 🚲 ☀️ 🌧️ and
@hphcycling
🧡
On a scale of 1-10, how happy do I look?
You’d think it’s because we rode brilliantly and the result is 3rd, 5th and Team GC.
Honestly, I’m just happy to be happy again. It’s always worth it to keep hope that, one day, happiness will return.
#workhappy
#dreambig
#keephope
I am pleased to introduce you to my new race bike. She has a new power meter, crankset and handlebars. As such, I have declared this to be a new bike which has been neither confirmed nor denied by anyone else. We have already bonded and are eagerly awaiting
@Battlenor
.
Me thinking about being single, 33 and in the year 2023.
For those who don’t know, 3 and 9 are my lucky numbers. This year, I’ve got 3 x 3 = 9, so
#dreambig
#keephope
#workhard
#workhappy
Yea, I’d say my heart is broken, but I just had an ECG 🤣
📸 Grubers
👍😀
2 weeks since I broke it in 3 places, and my collarbone has no discomfort with no pain meds.
I can’t recall my surgeon’s name, but 👏 👏 and 🙏 🙏 to him and to everyone who has and is helping me recover as well and quickly as possible.
🎥
#1
mom 💕
I arrived to 🇦🇺 with a broken heart. My heart is now anything but that. Thanks, ladies. So proud of us and the team behind us that makes these moments possible.
@GeoWilliams3
,
@elangs_1
,
@LollyIsLauren
and
@abijesmith
, let’s enjoy this one.
Great news from
@LeTourFemmes
: today we get to race our bikes for 176 km NOT on gravel. My top secret plan is to eat and drink and drink and eat and maybe collect hugs pre & post race.
📸
@MuzziTwila
Last night, I remembered a competitor saying “COME on Krista, COME on” as I passed her, fighting to come back to the peloton—knowing it would be for nothing.
So, I am back. And, I know there’s people who wouldn’t want it to be any different.
#keephope
#dreambig
📸
@BastienGason
I truly believe every race has made me better—if not on the bike, then off it.
Thank you,
@TourofBritain
.
Thank you,
@hphcycling
, staff and teammates.
And, thank you, to everyone who cheered—near and far.