With 8 international victories, Mischa Bredewold He's one of the big names this season. Success after success, both in road races and in stages, proving to be a true alter ego of her teammate WiebesWe got to know her a couple of years ago when she conquered, not without surprise, the European title, but compared to then, the Dutch girl with the Russian name ("but only the name, there's nothing Russian about me" she says laughing) has grown a lot.
All this attention does not surprise or disturb her, on the contrary she is extremely available in analyzing even the causes of this vehement growth: «It's a fantastic season, obviously the best since I've been runningLet's say that a lot is falling into place and it's beautiful, even if I always think that we can do more, we never really reach the limit we have in mind."
This year you've won 8 times and in very different races: what kind of cyclist do you think you are?
I get asked this question often and there's no precise answer. I think my strength is being comfortable in the team and knowing how to interpret every type of race even if I don't excel in anything.For example, I know I'm not the best climber in the group, but in any case I can defend myself and stay with the best, even in the fastest tests, even in certain sprints. The knowledge that I can win races, often, is very important.
You won the Dutch time trial title and on Sunday you finished fifth in the Tour de l'Ardeche: do you think you could also become a stage racer with your work?
I really enjoy them, and I think I'm suited to small stage races at this point in my career. It's something I enjoy doing, especially if there's a time trial involved. The situation is different for the Grand Tours: to stand out at the Giro or the Tour you really have to have another climbing pace, if you want the top positions you have to be an excellent climber and then I really have to train on this.So I have to make different choices. It means I have to focus on this aspect, but I don't want to do it right away; I want to get there over time, maybe in a couple of years.
You're on the same team as Wiebes and Kopecky. How do you manage to collaborate and not compete with each other?
We have a very good team, where there's a give-and-take system that works. We have many athletes who are capable of winning races; each has their own space. Besides, I think it's also a choice you make. If you go to this team, you know, sometimes you have to give, but you also know that you are in a super team, where you will have that chance again and you will have a super strong team behind you.. It's definitely an advantage to have more cards to play and that means that sometimes you have to do it, you have to give a little more and if you know it, you can benefit from it.
Is there anything you envy about Wiebes and anything you think you're superior to her?
Well, we're talking about the best sprinter in the world, if you know what I mean...I think there is no need to compare ourselves, to understand who is better or who is worse. All SD WorxHaving so many good riders makes each other better and in a way complements each other, because we have riders for every need who are capable of doing so many different things. I'm not looking at Lotte (Kopecky, ed.) or Lorena and thinking, "They're better than me at this or that, or I'm better at this or that." They're not my rivals, they're my teammates. Lorena and I are definitely quite different. We have different ways of driving. But we certainly don't hinder each other.
Two years ago you won the European title: do you think that was the turning point in your career?
I think so, but to tell the truth, Joining this team after a difficult period as a professional was a turning point for meSomething clicked in me mentally, and that was before the European Championships. But there I made a quantum leap, I realized I could win important races like that. After becoming European champion, things changed, definitely.
Of this year's many victories, which one do you hold most dear?
The Amstel, definitely. That was my first goal; for us Dutch, it's "the" race. Another goal was to become a national time trial champion because it was a goal I had been chasing for so long that it was really special for me.Finally, the victory in Plouay because I knew that by winning for the third time in a row I would be making history. These races were my favorites.
And what are your goals for the end of the season?
Now I'm really focusing on the continental time trial and I'm preparing specifically for it. It's such a difficult path that a lot will depend on how things go on that single day. But I know I'm working hard, it's an important goal for me.
This year you've only been to Italy for the Strade Bianche: do you enjoy racing here?
Very much. The Strade Bianche is one of my favorite races. But every race is special, you will find short or long climbs, they are never ordinary or predictable races. Then the food is fantastic… I hope to come back as soon as possible.
