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International News Networks / Re: Juglander Review
« on: May 13, 2024, 02:00:45 PM »Juglander Review
Sports: Women's Tour of Ardia starts
As the 2024 women's Tour of Ardia is about to start in the town of Ader, with an individual time trial, all eyes are on Kommuna Ladies Hadowynda Salonen, the reigning champion whose unexpected triumph surprised many, if not everyone. Previous to her win in the Tour of Ardia, she had proved her skills and strength after winning Lacuna Classic in a selected group, but she was not exactly considered a contender for the general classification. As Kommuna Ladies team arrives to Ardia, with a team that, along Salonen herself, includes veteran Fryda Andersen, and all-rounder Sygnyr Mydland (third in 2022 Tour of Ardia), as well as Deorwyna Haugdahl, our sports section had the chance to meet her for a short but exclusive interview.
Juglander Review: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. What was going through your mind as you crossed the finish line as champion last season?
"First, it was quite challenging, as the stage was quite demanding and chaotic", Hadewynda Salonen replies with a smile. "It was, of course, a truly surreal moment for me. As a team, obviously, we had big hopes. But I never imagined standing atop the podium, above the world's top cyclists. We were, indeed, very proud and happy of such success".
This season, a win seems to resist you, despite you showed a strong performance through the spring, with six top ten results in Mundus Cycling Cup races.
"It is true, but it is not easy, of course, when you're facing the best riders of the world. I am not obsessed about that, but I would love to repeat a stage win like last year".
Last year, you showed a great consistency through every stage to win the tour. How have your expectations changed this year?
"As a team, we come to ride to win. It is true that more is likely to be expected from me, so I may need to ride differently. The route this year includes larger climbs, which not exactly suit me well, as I'm a more explosive rider, after all. I will try to do my best to defend my title as well as helping my teammates to win if that is required. Anyway, I feel even with better legs that last year and I hope that will be showed on the road."
The route includes other changes, as two individual time trial stages. As you finished fourth in Jugland National Championship ITT last week, do you feel confidently about them?
"I'm confident enough as, while I'm not a specialist in such terrain, I've been focused on improving my abilities against the clock during the off-season. Still, I'm not expecting big differences in those stages for the general classification, even if such differences may prove decisive at the end, as we were told that the second one is not too technical. As a team, we have, of course, additional chances to win a stage with Deorwyna [Haughdal] and particularly Fryda [Andersen], as she showed many times, more recently in East Moreland."
We wish you good luck for this new challenge.
"Thank you!"