ASHLEIGH MOOLMAN- PASIO BECOME A PUNCHEUR
Career highlights: First Saffa to grace the top-10 overall UCI world ranking
W take- home message: learn to love the pain
I discovered my talent for climbing in Knysna, while visiting my husband Carl’s family when we’d just started dating. I joined Carl and his dad, Norman, for a casual afternoon cycle. I whipped on my running shorts, a pair of tackies, and jumped onto my mom’s hybrid bicycle. We were hardly out of the driveway when Norman turned on the pace, and I found myself hanging on desperately to the Pasio paceline!
Then Norman decided we should climb the hill to the top of the Heads. On hitting the climb I felt more in control, and held my own up the steep ascent. At the top, with the others breathing frantically, I felt such a sense of achievement! Norman turned to Carl and said: “You’ve found yourself a keeper. That girl can ride!”
Whether climbing comes to you naturally or not, there are ways to improve: 1. Include hill intervals into your training schedule. Practice makes perfect. 2. Work on your gear ratios. It’s better to hold a high cadence when climbing. A big gear will make your effort that much harder. 3. Learn to vary your climbing position. You can change the muscle groups you use during climbing by alternating between standing and sitting. 4. Find good rhythm; try not to surge. 5. Learn to love the pain. Going max up a climb will certainly hurt, but the view at the top is usually worth all the pain.
what do the olympics mean to you?
The Olympics are more than the world’s biggest sporting event – they’re a movement, aimed at uniting people through sport. The Olympics have always been something special to me, an event that has captured my imagination. I watch the different athletes with the utmost admiration and respect. I had always dreamed of going to the Olympics, and in 2012 it became a reality.
W what has the road to Rio been like?
My road to Rio started the minute I crossed the finish line of the London 2012 Olympic Road Race. London was overwhelming.
A big lesson learnt was that an Olympic medal requires a long-term plan. It takes four years of hard work, commitment and national support to realise this dream. I’m very fortunate to have had the support from South Africa, and the opportunity to race extensively in Europe for the past four years. This has allowed me to continue to build experience and strength in preparation for the Games.
I couldn’t have asked for a better 2015; finishing the year ranked sixth in the world has helped to take pressure off winning points to qualify for the Games. This means my focus has been solely on arriving in Rio in my best possible form, and I can feel that things are really coming together.
“LEARN TO LOVE THE PAIN. GOING MAX UP A CLIMB WILL CERTAINLY HURT, BUT THE VIEW AT THE TOP IS USUALLY WORTH ALL THE PA I N .”
W your olympic hopes?
I aspire to win a medal for my country. Gold.