Interview Malin Eriksen

Cycling is not only a sport but also a way of life. That's what Malin Eriksen can tell everything about. The Norwegian is living for the sport now since she's a teenager and spends most of the year as a nomad around the European continent. The 25 years old won her first national title this year and is now representing the beautiful red and blue colours at home & abroad. She showed this season that she can get over the hills well and she will try to do that even faster in the future. Meet the former handball player who's living her cycling dream. 

This year you won your first Norwegian title. Can you describe what you felt right after the finish?

Its such an unbelivable moment just there and then. I did not believe that would be possible from upfront. I knew the course was good for me, but I had some hopes of podium. So during that race when I ended in the winning break, the only thing in my mind was to cross that line first. And I got so focused on that, that I Even forgot to selebrate. Just some moments later I realized what had happened and I just couldnt believe it! It was just so many emotions!

You're riding for Keukens Redant Cycling Team. How did you get in touch with the team?

So after season 2017 I actually had a pro offer that didnt end up in a contract after all. So I stood without teams and just random on a norwegian cup race I started talking to Vibeke that I didnt have anything for next season and that I was afraid I wouldnt get any races, and then she offered to help me! And because of her riding here and helping me out I got to race for this amazing team, and I have had a good time here since then!

You're 25 now, on which terrain would you like to improve yourself in the coming years?

I would like to in general just improve my overall fitness. But I would really like to be able to improve in timetrails especially since there is already quite a few stageraces where that is important. So I think that would be an ability that would be good to improve. Also I would like to improve my sprint slightly more!

 

At the age of 19, you took part in your first elite races, what did you learn since then?

There is so much I have learnt since beeing 19. From how to be in abroad teams to my positioning in races! But my biggest improvement is how I have dealt with the fear of not performing and my nerves around races. This year especially after getting in a mental coach and working with nerves, and where to be «on» and where to be «off» has been a major change in the way I race, and how I feel in life in general. Sport is in the end of the day just sport, Even though it for me sometimes feels like my whole world!

Were you dissapoined that you weren't selected for the Worlds as the national champion?

To be honest I wasn’t too dissapointed, I have faith in that the national coach has selected the best team for the occation, and Even though I think I could have done good there, and it would have been an experience for life, I have real faith in our team, and I wish them all the success! 😀

Do you stay in Norway all year or do you sometimes spend your time in warmer places for training?

So my base is in Norway, but I normally go on training camps in february, sometimes also in january, depending slightly on the season. Then I go to belgium for the spring classics, and this year I have been traveling so many places during the season with cycling that I have bearly been at home at all! So I am looking forward to some months home after the season end this year! 😀

What made you choose for cycling?

I was actually a handball player before I did cycling, and I did really want to be one of the best in that sport. But my dad did do loads of cycling and I alsways felt bad for him going alone. So I started joining him on rides to be Nice mostly, and then I got into quite a good shape. So on cycling things with school I ended up winning over everyone including the boys. And my dad said that if I bought myself a Roadbike he would put me into a clubteam. So I bought a vipera with really shitty gears for 600 euros. And joined a club. And in this club, Eidsvoll cycling club, there was such a Nice inviroment that I ended up chosing cycling as my major sport!

The season is in it's last months. How will you spend your Winter?

I think i perhaps already answered this question, but I will have a few months at home, trying to be present at my last year on my bachlor, and then I will probably do trainingcamps in february. Perhaps girona or something else in january, that is still unclear! But something like that! And then I hope to take another step for the 2023 season! 😀