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Interview with World Champion Irina Kalentieva: "The women´s competition is getting stronger each year"

The russian Irina Kalentieva is the current Mountain Bike World Champion in the Olympic Cross Country discipline. The 33 year old has won the World Cup in Offenburg two out of three times. The excellent technical rider who wears the colours of the German Topeak Ergon Racing Team belongs again to the favourites. 

1.    You grew up on a small farm in the former Soviet Union and describe your childhood as not being to easy. Despite your hard childhood you have managed to work your way up to be very successful. Tell us a little more.

Perhaps the childhood of privation in Russia was actually a driver for my future success. We really did not have much in my homeland. This gave me the drive and the will to change that. The sport has given me the opportunity.


2.     In 2003, you moved your residence from native Russia to Germany. Why did you decide to make this move and has this played a role in your success?

The relocation to Europe was for several reasons: Firstly, you can train here, even in winter the conditions are still good (in Russia it is too cold with a lot of snow) and the location for travelling to races is convenient. In addition, I could learn a lot by watching my rivals.

3.    Because of your numerous victories in the overall series of the german national round you have been given the nick name "Miss Bundesliga". Your have many titles to your name, russian champion, World Cup wins, the bronze medal at the Olympic Games through to 2009 World Cup overall win. What was the highlight so far and what goals have you set for the future?

Highlights were of course the overall World Cup victory, the two World Cup titles and Olympic medals. Each of these successes are very special to me and I associate so many memories and stories, so I do not compare these results with each other. For the future, my focus is on again winning a World Championship Title, a World Cup win and the overall World Cup overall standings. I have the next Olympics in London in sight, but until then it is obviously still a long way.


4.    In the years 2007 and 2008 you were in Offenburg at the top of the podium. Who are the biggest competitors on this spectacular course and what is it going to take to make it the hattrick?

Hehe, I do not know if I can win again this year in Offenburg. The competition for us women in the last year has become much harder, now there are more than just a handful of competitors who can win such a race. If I manage to finish in Offenburg Top 3, I would be very happy.
But maybe it's an advantage that I have won twice already in Offenburg, so I know already how to do that!

 

5.    Let's take a look behind the scenes. Tell us about your everyday life?

My life is of course shaped by training, refueling, recovery and many trips to the races. If I have some time to myself, then I go for example shopping or eating a delicious ice.


Photo Copyright: Maasewerd