In competitive cycling, every mile is its own battle. Every second is won on the smallest maneuvers. The smiling face at the end of a race is earned by constant sweat and toil. Shimano presents: In Between the Races, a portrait of the painstaking preparation and fierce focus leading up to – and during – the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, this time in Nové Město.
We’re following INEOS Grenadiers’ experienced multi-disciplinarians Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock to Nové Město, Czech Republic. This mountainous Moravian gem is known for its dreamlike ridges and rolling hills with rivers running throughout. Its forests are riddled with tricky rock formations and treacherous roots, making this slice of natural beauty the perfect scene for an MTB challenge of majestic proportions.
With In Between the Races, we’re offered an insight into the day to day lives of top MTB riders. From rest days and travel to all-out training, everything is done with focus on performance. “Usually I like to train alone,” Pidcock tells us. “But with an experienced rider like Pauline, it’s really nice to train as a team. Of us two, she has won more championships, so there’s a lot I can learn from her.”
As race day looms, the INEOS mechanics have set the XTR-equipped Pinarellos to perfection, the weather and tracks are analyzed in detail. What’s left is for the riders to find their way to that final podium at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series – a monumental task for which Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot are more than ready.
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