Internacionales XCO Chelva: Racing Through Challenges, Chaos, and Comebacks

And let’s be real—it’s only February! There are still over three months to go until summer starts. Keep calm and trust the process.

The pre-race buzz

I’ve always loved racing. The nervous energy, the anticipation, the preparation… It’s stressful, yes, but it’s also the feeling I look forward to. This race was no different—I was excited to line up next to my competitors again, curious to see where I stood and how everyone else had progressed.

We arrived in Chelva two days before the race (as always) to get familiar with the course and shake off any travel fatigue. I had two high-quality training sessions with my technical coach, Chus, and on the last day, we went through the course in detail, selecting the fastest lines. Chelva’s course is one of the toughest XCO tracks I’ve ever ridden—physically demanding, technically challenging, and made even trickier by the loose terrain. No chance of getting bored here!

Race day: The rollercoaster begins

The morning of the race didn’t start well. A sleepless night and a headache made getting out of bed feel like a mission. Thankfully, a proper breakfast always works its magic. We packed up and headed to the race venue, where an unusually cold morning greeted us. I put on every piece of winter clothing I had with me!

Once we arrived, I made final tweaks to my bike:

Suspension pressure: 51 psi in front and 92 psi in the rear
Vittoria Peyote tires with pressure: 1.05 bar in front and 1.10 in the rear

For my warm-up, I headed to the PlanetMTB Race Support tent, where my technical coach was waiting with last-minute course updates. Then, it was time for the first rollers warm-up of the season. I usually keep my warm-ups shorter at the beginning of the year and gradually increase them as the season progresses. This time, I did 20 minutes—5-10 minutes easy, followed by some short intervals to wake up the legs.

Then came the calling box—the moment where excitement turns into anxiety. A hundred thoughts raced through my head: “What if I can’t keep up?” “What if I crash?” “What if I break something?” I’ve never really found a way to quiet these thoughts, so I just let them pass and focused on what’s next.

With two minutes to go, I ditched my warm-up gear, took a big 50g gel, and switched my brain into race mode. Deep breaths, a fixed gaze into the distance—almost like meditation. And then… the season’s first start was underway!

The race: A wild ride

Starts are usually my weak point, but this time, things went surprisingly well. I clipped in smoothly and moved forward. Drafting up the first climb, I positioned myself well before the crucial first turn and moved onto the wheels of the leading riders. A tense moment came when the rider next to me slipped on gravel—she almost took me down with her! Luckily, I stayed upright.

Janika Loiz — “You have to start somewhere.”

Start loop: Chaos mode activated

The start loop is always pure chaos. Everyone fights for position, and in Chelva, where most of the course is single track, it’s even more intense. A crash ahead created a small gap, allowing the top nine riders to break away. I focused on finding my rhythm and keeping my breathing steady—well, as steady as possible in a race like this! Meanwhile, a rider behind me was getting impatient, complaining that I wasn’t letting her pass. Should I have pulled over, apologized, and let her by? It’s racing, not a polite group ride!

Lap 1: Finding my flow

The impatient rider finally passed, and I picked up my pace, catching up to the lead group. The gaps were small, and there was always someone ahead to chase. Everyone was in great shape, making overtaking tricky. I reminded myself that my strength lies in the second half of the race—stay calm and trust the process. First gel went down (CHO 30g).

Lap 2: Slippery business

The track was getting torn up, making some sections feel like a sandpit. My low-tread tires rolled super fast, but I lacked a bit of grip in key sections. More effort required, but overall, I was happy with my tire choice. I started to feel better, especially on the descents, where I was able to relax more. Another gel (CHO 30g) for good measure.

Lap 3: The turning point

I could see it—I was gaining on the riders ahead! Slowly but surely, I caught and passed a few. I felt strong, but fatigue was creeping in. The race was shaping up to be a real battle, with everyone just within reach. I pushed harder on the descents, letting off the brakes more. With over half the race done, my mood lifted—now it was time to fight!

Lap 4: Disaster strikes

I was fully in the zone, chasing the next group of riders. Eighth and ninth place felt so close. Then, in a rough section, I landed my rear wheel hard on a sharp rock. I knew immediately—something wasn’t right. I hoped the tire sealant would do its job, but after a few more bumps, my tire was almost completely flat. I had to make it to the tech zone, hoping my spare wheel was ready and waiting for me. Swapping the rear wheel took 33 seconds—long enough for two riders to pass. I grabbed another gel (CHO 30g) and set off again.

Lap 5: The final push

I gave it everything I had in that last lap, but the lost time was hard to make up. I managed to catch one of the riders who had passed me during the tire change, but the other was out of reach. In the end, I crossed the line in 11th place.

Takeaways & looking ahead

Despite the hiccups, this was an exciting race! Chelva’s course is incredible, and it’s great to see this event growing in popularity each year. The competition was fierce, and I’m happy with my first race—it gave me positive feedback that I’m on the right track. Time to build on this and get stronger for the season ahead!