‘I can say that I am a racer who has to train,’ comments Lisa.

‘After time off of training at the end of the season, I’ve slowly gotten back into riding again. Wanting to progress my career I decided to go back to working full time during the off season, which means that I have slightly less time to train then when I was working less. But it feels right to do this because I want to progress as a surgeon too. Depending on the day I need to be at work around 08:30 so I tend to train in the evening as I finish around 17:00. It can be hard sometimes to motivate myself to ride after a long day, but I know that it will make me feel better. I have a gym where I work – right next to where I park my bike – so that is good when I want to do some cross-training.’

‘I think that balance is the key. Racing is important to me, but so is my work and social life. I feel that being able to do all of these makes me a rounded person. To be honest, before the World Championships last year I was already mentally tired from the season. I felt like I had to pull the motivation out of my toes to stand ready on the startline, but once I was racing, it went well. I think that is why I planned these early season races. There’s a balance of staying motivated, but without putting pressure on myself or consuming too many weekends. I’m sure that I could be a person who raced both winter and summer.’   

‘When it comes to riding, I am doing some longer intervals this winter, but also concentrating on making sure that I have a little top end for the races I’m going to do. Beach racing is something so unique – a cross between a crit and a MTB race – that I felt I needed some shape to be able to ride as I want. Egmond Pier Egmond was only 38k, but it was full-gas racing to get into groups, battling not only the sand, but also the wind.’

‘Other than these two weekends of racing, very little else is planned at the moment. I have just got a licence to race for a small team on the road in Holland in the spring. I think this will help my gravel riding a lot. Knowing that the spring will involve racing 120K distances, rather than the 180k races you get on gravel, will be mentally a bit easier.’

‘Gravel racing is changing. Having road racing form will help me to keep up, but I know that my season will not just revolve around the tarmac. I like being competitive, but now that gravel is becoming more dependent on your ability to ride in groups, and – if there are no separate women’s races – how well you can follow the men, I will need some extra adventure too. Gravel bikes can take you to such amazing places, so I have some plans to do some bikepacking trips, and get out into nature. I should have my season planned pretty soon, so watch this space.’