Wiebes laughs after joining cross without even one prep training: "Not sure I can count all my falls on one hand!"

Lorena Wiebes in cyclocross? Yes! Almost every year, the top sprinter participates in the Night of Woerden, and she was also part of it this year. She wasn't competing for the win but performed well in the subtop. After the race, IDLProCycling.com caught up with her. Will we be seeing her return more often in cyclocross this winter? "If the national coach has a spot left, I would love to ride in Benidorm!"

Wiebes isn't just a road cyclist in the field. In fact, she initially started out racing in the mud before transitioning to road cycling. "I began with cyclocross in the youth categories, but I wasn't good at it at all. It wasn't until my junior years that I switched to road cycling."

Wiebes struggles in Woerden: "Not sure I can count all my falls on one hand"

In Woerden, she encounters the same challenge as she did in her youth: no matter how fast she can ride, she still lacks technical skills. "It didn't help that I had to start all the way at the back, but I actually moved up quite smoothly. Fortunately, I've ridden this bike quite a bit during gravel races in late summer. However, during the warm-up here, I did think to myself: oh, I wish I had done a cyclocross training session beforehand!"

Wiebes can't help but laugh. Without a single cyclocross training session under her belt, she casually participated in a race. "I did notice that I struggled with it. Ultimately, I may have spent more time on the ground than on the bike. How many times I fell exactly? Phew, too many! I think I can barely count the falls on one hand, haha!" After spending a long time in or near the top ten, Wiebes ultimately finished 33rd.

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In January, Fem van Empel was the best in Benidorm

Wiebes would love to compete in Benidorm: "If the national coach has a spot left..."

The race definitely left Wiebes wanting more. She didn't just participate in the Night of Woerden because she enjoys cyclocross. In winter, she often explores different cycling disciplines. "I usually try to ride two or three cyclocross races every year before I head to the Dutch Track Cycling Championships. This year will probably be no different, especially when Blanka (Vas, Wiebes' teammate, ed.) is back on the bike; I'll frequently join her and Marie (Schreiber, ed.) for cyclocross races."

Let's delve into Wiebes' potential cyclocross program. The Dutch National Cyclocross Championships, perhaps? "Probably not. It often clashes with a training camp, and that takes priority." What about the World Cup in Benidorm? Can't that be easily combined with a training camp? "That depends entirely on the national coach, but if he has a spot left in the selection, I would love to participate!"

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