Bronze medal for Ariane Lüthi at the European championships

Can you tell us a bit more about how your race went?

The race over 104km and 3250m ascent had one major climb, Monte Pala, which also marked the half way point of the route. The 50km, which we covered before the big ascent, was a mix of fast flat sections, some single track and shorter but steep climbs. With each climb the lead group got smaller. Around the 27km mark, where we hit a very steep part, the front group was down to Gunn Rita Dahle Flesja (NOR), Maja Wloszczowska (POL), defending European champ Christina Kollmann Fostner (AUT), myself and Katarzina Sosna (LTU). Unfortunately Christina, who was riding in front of me, was forced to put the foot down and that’s where Gunn-Rita and Maja managed to pull a gap to the two of us. After the downhill, where Katarzina couldn’t keep up with us, Christina and I had 30 seconds to chase down to the two leaders. But Gunn-Rita and Maja were too strong and their lead increased. When we approached the foothill of Monte Pala, I managed to ride away from Christina and from there on I basically rode in 3rd position. Only in the middle of the long climb I was briefly overtaken by Barbara Benko (HUN), but I managed to flip a switch in my head and claim the podium spot back. Although I couldn’t see anyone in front or behind me over the last 30km, I’m glad that I kept pushing as hard as I could on the remaining medium size climb and the flat 10km to the finish since compatriot Esther Süss crossed the line in 4th place only 44 seconds behind me. 

The Raid Evolénard will organize the European championship in 2021. With your experience, what do you think could be improved to make such a championship even better?

I would wish for a completely separate women’s race (while keeping it separate for the men as well, of course) without any interference of other categories. On Sunday we had a separate start, but the time gaps between the starts of the different categories weren’t big enough. We then still had blocked trails by amateurs and it was even allowed to draft behind men, which in my opinion, doesn’t allow a fair race. Or would you consider it fair, if the leading man could draft behind a motor bike on a flat section and save his energy while the chasers weren’t that lucky to benefit from the draft of a third party? I don’t. Marathon racing, especially in the women’s category, has evolved over the past 10 years and has become much more competitive so that small things like that can make a difference on the results list. That’s why the organisation of those events needs to adapt to it. I believe and actually experienced it enough in South Africa, that it is possible to organise a marathon in a way so that the categories don’t mix on the route and I would gladly offer my experience to help Raid Evolénard to realise this ideal. 

You’ve already been racing a lot this year. What will be your program now until the Raid Evolénard on the 10^th of June.

I will race the UCI Marathon Roc d’ Ardennes this weekend and the Belgium Mountain Bike Challenge stage race in May before I go back to Stellenbosch for two weeks to attend some events of my equipment sponsor Specialized. In the beginning of June I’ll fly to Switzerland, spend a few days with my family and then come up to beautiful Evolène.