Tanja Žakelj (Unior-Sinter Factory Racing) is better with each of the races – she was 16th today on the World Cup race in Andorra, which is her new best result of the season!
Tanja had an amazing race in Vallnord. She had a great start and was constantly knocking on the doors of top-15, on the end she took 16th place. “I felt good all week long in Andorra, maybe also due to the altitude adjustment in Lenzerheide a week ago. I’m OK with the heat, but I was still going through the week step by step, starting with the track walk. Everything was very wisely done and relaxed, at the same time I believed in myself, I believed that that could do better than on the previous World Cup races. I started the race with this thought, and everything worked out great,” said Tanja after the race.
Tanja had an excellent start and again proved that short track isn’t decisive for a good start of the XCO race on Sunday. She was 15th after the first lap, and at about the same position for the remaining four laps. She was constant and finished the race just behind top-15. Tanja Žakelj: “I was in a good position on the start. I took the outer line on the first corner and a path opened up for me, after that I was going with the rhythm and watched where I’m losing the least of my powers and still keep up with the fastest. The start was maybe a little bit easier for me since I was on a hardtail today. I knew this could turn against me towards the end of the race, but I didn’t lost too much, my times were pretty consistent and I’s happy with the position on the race.”
Race in Vallnord/Andorra won’t make it to the list of the most exciting races of the year, it was obvious that the riders are very careful about their strength, the heat and the high altitude can quickly turn against you. A good result is still a good result and that gives Tanja lots of good vibes for the rest of the season: “16th place is my best World Cup result of the season, that gives me motivation and confirmation of good work. I’m also relaxed and I enjoy in all of this. In the last lap I was thinking about 15th place, but my legs didn’t work with me… I’m glad I did another big step forward.”
Tanja will skip races in Snowshoe and Mont-Sainte-Anne and will focus on the next two important races – European and World Championships.
Photo by Grega Stopar
