Maja Alm: "All of my three gold medals mean the world to me"

By achieving three gold medals, Maja Alm takes the most prominent place in the history of the recent World Orienteering Championships, WOC 2015. This great Danish athlete rises today on the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's tribune, sharing the unforgettable memories from these moments and designing, already, the upcoming season.

Two weeks ago, you've been in Göteborg, representing Denmark on NM Cross in Athletics (which is your second sport, I believe). Don't you ever stop?

Maja Alm (M. A.) - I ran that Cross competition just for fun. I like to compete and it's nice to travel with other national teams, which I always do, to see how they work and how they think about their sport and training.

We often see orienteers performing highly in Athletics but not the contrary, you being a good example of that. Have you tried, some time, to get some of your friends from Athletics into Orienteering? Is Orienteering a “difficult” sport?

M. A. - No, I haven't tried to get them into orienteering. I think it's too difficult for them to read the map and they're only able to run the easy courses. On the other hand I've heard that some sprinters and triathletes run a variation of orienteering in their off-season to straighten their running style.

You're ending the Orienteering season as no. 1 in the IOF Sprint World Ranking. Would you label this season as your best ever?

M. A. - This is, definitely, my best season. It was really incredible to win at the World Championships and now be the number one on the IOF Sprint World Ranking. I had a speed at this WOC that I haven't had before, and succeeded really well in the competitions mentally. I'm really proud of that. Another season of special meaning is of course last year, where the whole Danish team did so well and won six medals for Denmark. Last year we saw, for the first time, that we could win and I think that's why we really believed in ourselves this year.

Would you like to tell me about your three World titles and the meaning of each of them?

M. A. - All of my three gold medals mean the world to me, but in quite different ways, actually. The individual Sprint medal is, of course, really important to me. It is nice to show that I have the level to win an individual medal. In the individual distances you need to perform close to perfection to win a medal. In the Relay I see it more like three stable performances. I don't think the medals in the Sprint this year were a surprise. Nadiya was 4th last year, one second after me, so I knew that she was really strong. It was more a surprise that I could win with such a big margin.

The women’s Relay medal is also very important to me. Ida, Emma and I have been training and competing against and with each other for so many years now, and I really think we have improved each others’ levels. At the World Championships we really competed for each other as a team and I really think we deserved to win the gold together. The Sprint Relay is important to me of course because it was the first gold I have ever won. We have had high positions in almost every Sprint Relay we have been running, and finally the margins were on our side. It is very nice to compete together on a team with the boys. The way girls and boys think before a competition is quite different and it is really inspiring to see how the boys do it.

And what about the Danish “Dynamite” Team? Are you, Danish girls, unbeatable?

M. A. - Ha, ha... No, of course we aren't. At WOC 2013, in Finland, we didn't succeed as a team in the women’s Relay and I think that has inspired and motivated us. We know that we have to run the relays with a certain amount of respect, but we are not afraid of making mistakes. We have been running together on relay teams so many times now and I think this is a big advantage, that we know each other so well now. I really admire Emma and Ida, and I think the inner respect from each other is what makes us so strong.

If I asked you about a moment – the great achievement of the Championships – what would it be? And the Orienteering achievement of the season?

M. A. - I think the big achievement has been after the World Championships. We have received a lot of attention on our success in Scotland. When you are at the World Championships, there isn't much time to enjoy your success. I had five competitions in six days, so I didn't have much time for celebrating. It was much more about being ready for the next competition.

What is your winter training going to be like? Is Portugal - and the Portugal O' Meeting 2016 - in your plans?

M. A. - I have been training on a low level since the World Championships. Our tough winter training will start in January 2016 in an attempt not to make the season too long. We will go on a two weeks training camp in February and it will be to either Portugal or Spain. Our coaches will decide where.

Next season, you have three world titles to defend, as well as your leadership in the Sprint World Ranking, but we can see that you're still far from the World podium in the Middle and Long Distance. Is a medal in a forest distance your main goal for WOC 2016, in Sweden?

M. A. - I have a Silver medal in the Middle Distance to defend at the European Championships, so I have some results in the forest as well. I will try to improve in the individual forest distances, but I still want to be in a position where I have the chance to win the individual Sprint. The terrains in Sweden are quite different from those in Denmark, so my individual goals in the forest are more for WOC 2017. To have the chance to win the Relay gold next year, I have to improve my running in Nordic terrain, so my forest goal for the next season is pointed at the Relay.

For those who see Maja Møller Alm as an example, an inspiration, especially for the young athletes, what is your advice?

M. A. - Find your own way of doing things and remember to enjoy your running. I really like what I do, but here, in the off-season, I like to do other things than orienteering; I like to see my friends from outside orienteering. It is important that you are balanced as a person and I think that can be quite individual.

Now that a new season is about to start, I ask you a wish for those who love and are committed to Orienteering.

M. A. - I wish that they can achieve their goals and keep having fun with orienteering as much as I do.

[Photo: Kell Sønnichsen / do-f.dk]

Joaquim Margarido

City Race Euro Tour 2015: Jack Kosky and Merill Mägi, winners of Elite Final Rankings

Eduardo Gil Marcos and Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan were the big winners of the City Race Euro Tour 2015's last stage, held last Sunday in Seville. The good performances of Jack Kosky and Merill Mägi on this stage allowed them to secure the victory in the Final Rankings of the CRET's second edition.

With the completion of Seville stage, came to an end the second edition of City Race Euro Tour. The event had its first stage in Antwerp, last 6th September, extending later to London, Porto, Barcelona and Krakow, to finish in the Andalusian capital, last Sunday. The notes of success of this last stage are given by the great participation of 1200 athletes from 18 countries, but also for the presentation of this sport to three hundred local participants, the remarkable mobilization of a large number of media, including television, and by judicious choice of courses, combining perfectly the technical challenge with an amazing “guided tour” to a really charming city.

The City Race Euro Tour Seville 2015 was just one of three stages - curiously the last one – of a major event that was the Seville O'Meeting 2015. Held in the historic centre of Seville, under Long Distance courses, the race saw the Spanish Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve) and Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan (Colivenc) winning in the Men and Women Elite classes, respectively. The victory of Eduardo Gil Marcos was achieved after a tremendous fight with Antonio Martínez Pérez (Colivenc), by the narrow margin of 8 seconds. The third position fell to another great master of Spanish Foot Orienteering, Andreu Blanes Reig (Colivenc), while the fourth and fifth positions were achieved by the Portuguese Tiago Gingão Leal (GD4C) and Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri). As for the Women, the triumph of Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan is undeniable, leaving their teammates, Alicia Gil Sanchez and Natalia Gurchenkova, respectively second and third ranked, at distant two minutes. The Portuguese Raquel Costa (GafanhOri) finished fourth.

It should be noted that Andreu Blanes Reig and Antonio Martinez Perez won, respectively, the Middle Distance and Sprint stages of the Seville O' Meeting 2015, in Men Elite, while Raquel Costa was the winner in both stages, in the Women Elite. In the sum of points of three stages, Andreu Blanes Reig and Raquel Costa were the big winners of Seville O'Meeting 2015. Although the City Race Euro Tour 2015's Final Rankings weren't been officially published yet, it is clear that the British Jack Kosky (UDOC) secured the triumph in Men Elite class, after the 8th place achieved in the stage of Seville. Also the British Mark Burley (Bristol Orienteering) and the Belgian Dieter Coen (TROL) granted the second and third positions, respectively. As for the Women Elite, the victory smiled to the Estonian Merill Mägi, from OK Kape (5th ranked in Seville), followed by her compatriot Maiki Jaadmaa (OK Võru) and the Norwegian Lone Karin Brochmann (Bækkelagets SK).

Results

City Race Euro Tour Seville 2015

Men Elite

1. Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve) 50:08 (+ 00:00)

2. Antonio Martínez Pérez (Colivenc) 50:16 (+ 00:08)

3. Andreu Blanes Reig (Colivenc) 51:06 (+ 00:58)

4. Tiago Gingão Leal (GD4C) 51:45 (+ 01:37)

5. Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) 53:50 (+ 03:42)

6. Clement Demeuse (C.O. Liège) 56:27 (+ 06:19)

Women Elite

1. Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan (Colivenc) 50:23 (+ 00:00)

2. Alicia Gil Sánchez (Colivenc) 52:09 (+ 01:46)

3. Natalia Gurchenkova (Colivenc) 52:15 (+ 1:52)

4. Raquel Costa (GafanhOri) 53:29 (+ 03:06)

5. Merill Mägi (OK Kape) 54:08 (+ 03:45)

6. Carolina Delgado (GD4C) 55:11 (+ 4:48)

Winners other classes

Young M/F - Miguel Garrido Corral (Vane) and Nerea González Peña (Toledo-O)

Junior M/F - Elmar Montero Cárceles (GODIH) and Maria Prieto Del Campo (Malarruta)

Veterans M/F - Santiago Jiménez Molina (GOCAN) and Marion Büchli (Swiss O-Tours)

Superveterans M/F - James Crawford (GO) and Delia Kingsbury (WRE)

Ultraveterans M/F - Mike Godfree (DVO) and Liz Godfree (DVO)

Further information and complete results at http://sevillaomeeting.es/en/.

[Photo: Juan David Perez-Caballero / picasaweb.google.com]

Joaquim Margarido

Hanny Alston: "2006 was not a fluke"

Hanny Alston introduced herself, at the age of 20, in the World Orienteering's Hall of Fame and then almost disappeared. Nine years later she is back on track, the same power on her legs, a new approach on her mind. A big applause for Hanny Alston, the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's invited today.

Starting from the beginning, can you remember your first steps in Orienteering?

Hanny Alston (H. A.) - Yes, it was on a local orienteering map, in Hobart. I was taken there because my brother was participating in school. I didn’t really enjoy it :) I was 11 years old.

When did you feel Orienteering as your sport? Was it the result of a particular moment?

H. A. - Not till I was 16 years old and I was on my first national team to New Zealand. A coach asked if I was going to nominate for the JWOC team going to Estonia the next year. I never thought I would travel, so it gave me huge motivation to try harder and train harder. But I didn’t believe in being a great orienteer till I was 18 years old and had competed in my first WOC in Sweden, 2004.

If not Orienteering, what would be your sport?

H. A. - I was a sprint 50m freestyler. And I was an elite track and field, marathon and trail runner. So I probably had the engine in me to go on many different paths. I still love trail running and wonder what more I could do with my marathon.

What means to you to be an “aussie” orienteer?

H. A. - Coming from a place where no one expects you to be the best in the sport of orienteering. It is an amazing feeling to succeed as the under dog.

I'm a great admirer of your career and everything you’ve achieved so far. Of course, I have this question for you: How was to win the WOC Sprint in 2006?

H. A. - Thanks so much. I appreciate your kind words. For me, the win in 2006 was super tough. I had just been through a family suicide attempt and had also had a full ankle reconstruction in which they thought I would never run again. Thankfully I proved them wrong! But I thought that winning might prove to myself that I had got out of this really hard hole. Sadly it didn’t. When I got my gold medal at first I was exhilarated. But then came this feeling of, ‘oh no! I am still Hanny and still have to go home and work out what to do with my life’. I wasn’t prepared for being a World Champion so soon. I had thought that it would take years. So without that goal there, everything started to feel tougher and more confusing.

A tremendous challenge for a 20 year old girl...

H. A. - Yes. And it happened in a time when we were still learning how to support elite athletes. I had no on-the-ground coach other than my athletics coach so it lead to being pulled and maneuvered to the running & athletics sports. I ended up trying marathon running with a debut of 2hrs47mins on a hilly course. So suddenly the Olympics and Commonwealth Games became on the agenda. I was also lost in my career as I pulled back from Medicine and tried teaching. I just felt like I didn’t know who I was or how I could keep winning (and thus coping with the pressure I was feeling). In 2009 I finally burnt out and took a couple of years off. But I missed the friendships, travel and feeling of fitness so I decided to come back into the sport that I once loved so that I had “no more regrets”.

I believe that your gold was really important as a sign for the non-european athletes, that they also could think about reaching the top of the podium. Did you have the same impression? Could you understand, from that achievement, a new approach to the big competitions (at least in Australia and New Zealand)?

H. A. - Thanks. I appreciate this too. Look, I do think it made us all sit up and go, ‘wow, we can do it to’. I really do believe that we have it amazingly great in our countries. We don’t battle with epic snow and cold winters. Many of us also come from countries which place great emphasis on sport. Therefore, I believe we can train smart, all year round. I think we should believe that physical preparation is our weapon so all we need to focus on when we go to Europe is being careful and learning the finer details of the competition terrain.

Nine years later, we could see you again in the podium. Not with a medal, that’s true, but still in the podium. What particular emotion did you feel that day, three months ago, in Forres?

H. A. - Relief. I would have been happy to finish without another podium result because I was now just having fun. But the relief did hit me like a train because finally I realised I had found the answer to what I was looking for, that “2006 was not a fluke”. I believe my run this year was as good as the run that own me the gold medal in 2006. I just think that the bar is lifting in our sport right now.

How was your training time? Did you feel well prepared for the WOC? What goals have you drawn?

H. A. - Lol, no, I felt very, very under prepared. I was very fit because I was competed on the international stage for trail & skyrunning. But I literally ran (both race and training) a total of four sprints all year. Like literally NO orienteering preparation other than World Cup in Tasmania and our selection trials. And I only had three days in Scotland before the Championships to prepare myself for every distance. But I think, because of all of this, I approached the race very fit but also very cautious. I was 120% focussed on my navigation. Therefore, I made two mistakes in the whole of my 2015 WOC campaign - across six races. I am very, very proud of this result. More so than the podium.

What motivation this results represent for the future?

H. A. - To be honest I now don’t feel like I have the same desire to prove anything to myself. I could quite contentedly wander away from elite orienteering now. I am not a terribly competitive person but rather love the camaraderie, travel and racing myself. So that same burning light is not there any more. Therefore, I am not sure about 2016. I am still trying to work through this question at the moment. But I love coaching the juniors and would love to continue trying to give back to my sport.

Do you feel an example for the australian girls? What responsibility do you feel about that?

H. A. - Yes, I think that is a true statement for me. But also to the boys too. I hope that it has helped even one junior or senior out there to believe we can match it with the best of them. But I also hope that people appreciate just how much blood, sweat, tears and money goes into achieving such successes. I, my partner and my family have made many, many sacrifices to reach this level. And I am always juggling a million balls just to afford the time and money to do this sport. Hopefully that can set the example that you don’t have to give up everything to move to Scandinavia to be the best in the world.

Now that a new season is about to come, I ask you a wish for those who love and are committed with Orienteering.

H. A. - I wish that every orienteer finds peace in the knowledge that your success is in the journey. If you are proud of how hard you have worked towards your goals then the result doesn’t really matter. And I hope every orienteer can experience that perfect, clean run when everything comes together. There is no better feeling than that.

[Photo courtesy of Hanny Alston]

Joaquim Margarido

Veronika Kubínová: "The Czech team is going to be even stronger!"

At the age of 18, Veronika Kubínová has a brilliant career so far in MTBO and a lot of stories to tell. Some of them are in this Interview, showing - along with her natural doubts and certainties -, the extraordinarily promising athlete she is.

The first question is always the easiest. Would you like, in brief, to present yourself?

Veronika Kubínová (V. K.) - Hi, my name is Veronika Kubínová. I am 18 years old and I love sport. My hometown is Karlovy Vary, a city in the east of Czech Republic with thermals and beautiful nature around. Biking here is a real pleasure. I study on high school and next year I'll enter the university (mathematic, physic). When I am not at school or training, I cook, bake and do ceramics. I do many types of sport. For example bouldering, swimming, dancing, paddling, cross-country skiing, slackline and yoga. When I was 8, I went cross-country skiing club Slovan Karlovy Vary. We had a great group and we did foot orienteering together. I do MTBO thanks to my father. My first MTBO race was the 5 days in Pilsen, in 2005. With time I did more and more races. Right now, MTBO is very special to me but I'm still young and I'm not sure what will be my top sport in the future.

What do you see in MTB Orienteering that makes it so special?

V. K. - The combination of thinking and power. Every control in orienteering is a surprise and I like it a lot. Having fast legs is not enough. I did some bike marathon this year and I could see that I knew the track by memory from the start to the finish, so nothing surprised me. I didn’t enjoy it as much as finding controls. But the most special about MTBO is people around.

Have you a training routine? How is, in your case, a typical week?

V. K. - I have been training under the leadership of coach Honza Novák for two years. In winter I usually spend my time cross-country skiing and in summer I primarily ride a bike and run. I try to do many types of sports. At the same time I study on high school so it is sometimes demanding. My typical week approximately looks like this: Monday – day off or swimming, Tuesday – dancing, Wednesday – running, Thursday – gym, Friday - bike/running/bouldering/swimming, weekend – bike, cross-country skiing, races.

What do you like the most: Long Distance or Sprint? And what about your favorite terrain?

V. K. - I have had the best results on sprint distance but it doesn’t mean I like sprint distance the most. I like all types of distances, each one is different. On sprint distance I like fast decisions and accurate working with map. On the other hand, long distance is fair. It checks out who is really thinking about it and who is strong enough. Middle distance is something in between. Mostly, I like hilly terrains with technical parts. Once again, it depends on the distance.

I can imagine your Sprint title this year, achieved in your home country, as one of the best moments in your career so far. Do you have another significant moments that you'd like to share? And what about the worst?

V. K. - The best moment I have ever been through was definitely the WMTBOC's first race, last year. I reached my first gold medal. It has been the strongest experience. I cried for happiness. But winning at home was unbelievable. Do you know another place than home where you would like to win? To see your family from the winners' podium it’s an awesome feeling. It was also emotional because Martina Tichovská won too. We listened the Czech national anthem twice. Amazing to be part of it. On the other hand the worst moment has been during the Czech Cup race. I did the third (the last) leg of relay and it was boiling and I vomited during my race. I absolutely didn’t enjoy it.

Talking now about the gold medal. How did you prepare for the competition?

V. K. - It was complicated. I was injured and ill on April this year and I missed an important part of my training. On May and June I trained really hard. In the European Championship, in Portugal, I got one gold and two silver medals. I think it helped me for next step. Two weeks before the World Championship we had the O-camp with some junior MTBO representations and it helped me too.

Would you like to remember that day, since the very beginning?

V. K. - To win was in my plans. I was ready to defending successfully my title from Bialystok last year. The day was fantastic since I woke up. I was looking forward to the race. Mornings' rituals passed without problems and I could enjoy the breakfast. Before I went to quarantine, I was joking with my family. Then I was concentrating for preparation. During three minutes staying in corridors, I could feel that I was ready – physically and mentally. The race was successful. I didn’t make any mistakes. I just missed some seconds in urban parts where I am not strong enough. The finish was exhausting but spectators encouraged me to the last second. After finishing I nervously waited for the official results. Lou Denaix punched the last control 4 seconds behind me – what a close race. I won, I couldn’t believe it. I was happy and the best part of this day was sharing my happiness with my family. Although it had been planned, it was a big surprised.

And what about the other distances and the Relay? How disappointed do you feel about those results?

V. K. - No, there was no disappointment. I was sorry that I had some mechanical problems during the Long Distance. I had to fix it during the race and I missed more than 20 minutes. It was my first defect and it gave me a good experience for the future. And the relay? Girls made some small mistakes and one of them had a small falling. I am glad that girls finished with all controls because that was our plan. They made it.

What about the JWMTBOC overall?

V. K. - JWMTBOC in Liberec was the most amazing Championship I have ever been to. The Middle Distance in the skiing area of Břízky was amazing. The tracks, maps and other things... all Middles should look like this. The city sprint in Turnov was also great. There was a cool combination of urban parts and parks with steep slope. The Long Císařský kámen's map was a bit worse. There were steep and dangerous parts and not roads enough. On relay I liked the end of the course in the motorcycle area. There were many chances to change the results. Organizers choose good places for facilities and for spectators. The Championship got the visit of many people from Czech Republic and other countries. The organizers made a good work and I am proud of them. The atmosphere was enormous.

If I asked you a moment - the great achievement of the Championships -, what would be your choice?

V. K. - The Middle Distance's finish, absolutely (even being disqualified in the end for missing the second spectator's control). When I was going from the last control to the finish I heard that I was first. My family and friends were shouting in the finish area. In the end I was so happy. I used all my power and I felt it in the finish. The feeling was awesome. I did my best in this race.

How important is for you this Junior World title?

V. K. - It was my big dream for the season. I am happy that I achieved it. I hope it helps to other Czech juniors to do MTBO. It is possible to win, you just must want to. Personally, this title means new goals for next season.

Have you some goals designed yet for the next season? Are you able to be Martina Tichovska's biggest opponent?

V. K. - Not yet. I am still thinking about season 2015. Of course I would like to defend my title. Martina Tichovská is really strong and I am glad that I can race with someone like her. Some women has been motivated to go back to the national team since the World Championship. The Czech team is going to be even stronger!

Would you like to share the biggest wish for the future?

V. K. - I would like to continue healthy. Definitely I'll be in Portugal for the WMTBOC 2016, defending the title. Who knows what will be next?

[Photo: Robert Vorvaň Urbaník / facebook.com/robert.urbanik]

Joaquim Margarido

Emily Benham: "There will always be some new idea that has the potential to make MTBO better"

Emily Benham needs no introduction. One of the most cherished and admired athletes in the MTB orienteering world, the winner of the World Cup 2015 is also one of the most available. To the Portuguese Orienteering Blog, she talks positively about the season and leaves a couple of question marks to 2016.

How does it taste your season 2015?

Emily Benham (E. B.) - I've spent two months pondering this question in my own analysis. When looking at the results on paper, the overwhelming majority of final placings were 1st. In fact, just three results were outside the top 6, and they weren't MTBO results! On the whole, 2015 was a success, but I won the races I had no focus on, and lost the races I prepared well for. Most of all I'm frustrated that I was in best shape I've ever had, and I missed the opportunities to make the most of it.

To the IOF's Athlete of the Month, September 2014, you said: “I find myself craving perfect races and anything less just isn't good enough”. How many perfect races did you achieved in 2015?

E. B. - The mass start in Hungary came close, but I think the very best race throughout the season was the Long Distance in Pilsen. I was really focussed and doing my own race, making calculated decisions, but I ended up overheating and had to suffer to the finish. A real pain cave race. I had no idea of how good that race was until I saw the final results, and then all the suffering was worth it!

Like in 2014, you managed getting great results along the season... until the World Championships. What is still missing for the gold?

E. B. - I have my theories. It's just about another year of training to test them out.

Would you like to tell, in brief, about your performances this year, both in European and World Championships?

E. B. - I missed key pieces of information in both Middle races that cost me the opportunity to fight for gold. The Long at the European Championships was an interesting and unusual race. Apart from a big mistake to one control I was riding really well, even though it didn't feel that great at the time. I generally made good decisions, but really I'm not sure I'm satisfied with that race either. Things just didn't go my way this year for various reasons.

You could save the winning in the World Cup 2015 overall, but you lose the IOF World Ranking' s leadership to Martina Tichovska. Are you surprised? Does Martina deserve the title of “MTB Orienteering Achievement of 2015”?

E. B. - Martina has been around the top of MTBO for many years now, and last year she was so close to medals at the World Championships in all distances! She has really earned being the double World champion and I can't think of a more deserving athlete to have what is probably the strongest ever WMTBOC week by a female. Being world number one is just a reflection on the hard work she had put in over the years. It was almost a pleasure to be beaten by her and to see her have some incredible races.

You're a very committed person in MTB Orienteering's development and I would hear you about the improvements along this year. Was there any moment / fact / event that represented a big step further in our sport?

E. B. - I think one of the biggest things to happen in MTBO circles is the employment of a marketing manager in the IOF. The essence is to make MTBO and SkiO into marketable sports. The ultimate goal is probably to create a TV friendly sport that is 'simple' to understand, but there are so many steps along the way. Right now, the allowance of a XC style mass start is just a small step - can't wait to try this out!

Is there something new about to come that will make our sport even better?

E. B. - There will always be some new idea that has the potential to make MTBO better. It's just a matter of being brave enough to take the leap, rather than messing around in endless discussions. Without change, MTBO will be left behind. There is so much amazing technology out there that has potential in the sport.

How do you see MTB Orienteering in 2025? More athletes, events, public, spectacularity? Will United States or Brazil be the teams to beat?

E. B. - I really hope we will see more athletes, but also more athletes staying in the sport and not moving on to greener pastures. I'd love to see a global World Cup every year, not only in terms of the countries we race in, but also with the nations attending and being competitive at the top. I hope MTBO is able to make it to a TV friendly sport - shorter, more intense, more pressure. Man made singletracks and a tighter track network. There's so much potential for the sport.

As for future teams to beat, I think USA has great potential once they get more regular events throughout the country. The improvement they've made since 2012 is amazing. Any cycling nation has potential in MTBO, just imagine if the Netherlands start fielding a team? Or South Africa. Or even China. The task ahead is about getting maps in these 'potential' nations and finding people there who are able to develop MTBO.

Are you already planning the next season?

E. B. - Actually in 2016 I'm not looking to MTBO to form a significant part of my year. I have other goals I want to achieve. I'll still be at the big races; maps are in my blood, but I'm not having any focus on MTBO.

How does Portugal match in your agenda?

E. B. - Portugal is going to be one part of a fun season riding my bikes. I'm not sure what my goals are there, or even for MTBO at all in 2016. What I do know is that I'm going to enjoy my time there again, riding an amazing bike and with great friends.

Joaquim Margarido