Birken

In 2005 I did my first World Championship here. I finished 5th. Since then I have been back every year to race Birkebeinerrittet. Start is in Rena and finish in Lillehammer. It is a big race. The race is live on tv. Media is interested in the event. This makes the event interesting for us athletes.
My friend Wenche picked me up at Gardermoen on Thursday evening. We drove to Rena where we stayed at Erna’s place. A very nice polite lady spoiling us with good food. Elk meat us usual as pre race dinner. Just delicious.
I was a bit unsure about my fitness level. After the Olympics I took a break and have been struggling a bit to get back into systematic training. So it was with mixed feelings I started today.
This year the race was ridden in dry conditions. Made riding easier for all of us. The first climb I forced the pace a bit and very soon I was away with two other girls. This was easier to control than a big bunch.

I won the first sprint. On the next uphill I made an attack and got a gap. I decided to continue and rode the last 70km alone.
It was my sixth victory in Birkebeinerrittet, third in a row. Feels good to win on Scandinavian soil.