Interview Špela Kern

With 12 years in the pro peloton, and participations in races on all levels in the sport, Spela Kern is one of the most experienced riders in the current peloton. She is 35 years old now and one a valued domestique for ProTeam Cofidis for four years now. The Slovenian still gets better every year and tries to make her team mates going for even better results as well, by serving them in the best way possible on the road. In this interview, the rider from Ljubljana tells you more about her experiences, ambitions and the quick changes in the past decade, in the sport.

You're the road captain of Team Cofidis, how do you experience this role?

Hehe… I wouldn’t exactly say that I’m the road captain. We have a few girls on the team who usually take on that role. It’s true, though, that I’m often the helper in the team, which is why it’s important for me to know my teammates well and to understand what they need at any given moment. I really like this role and I’m happy to do it.

What do you expect of this season?

This season, my main wish is to stay healthy and injury-free, so that I can show my maximum potential. I’m still improving every year and I feel that I still have quite a bit of room for progress.

Of course, I also hope that as a team we can achieve as many good results and victories as possible.

You're in the peloton since 2014, how did you see the sport evolving since then?

The sport is developing at an incredible pace. I think this is a good thing, and that women really deserve it. When I entered cycling, salaries practically didn’t exist — we traveled to races in cars or small vans, we didn’t even have a camper van, let alone a bus. There were far fewer races, and they weren’t broadcast on TV. There have been so many changes that I could easily talk for an entire interview just about that.

How did you get into cycling?

I trained athletics, during which an injury occurred. For rehabilitation, I started cycling and later also did a few triathlon races, where I was noticed by the sport director of a Slovenian continental cycling team and I was invited to a training session. I quickly started competing, and cycling completely won me over.

What would you like to be improved in the sport?

A hot topic is definitely safety in races. I think there is still quite a lot that could be improved in this area.

What is your most beautiful cycling experience so far?

Competing all over the world is truly something special, and the feeling that my hobby has become my job is really cool too.

What has been the most difficult aspect in the sport for you?

The hardest part is definitely injuries—especially those followed by a long rehabilitation.

What is your biggest interst outside cycling?

To be honest, what I value most is spending time with my family and loved ones. Cycling is a sport where you are away from home a lot—at races or training camps—so I really cherish the time when I can be at home with my family.