SVEN ERIK BYSTRØM

Cruising Norway’s jords and the best cappuccino in Tuscany. It’s only the best for

What’s your favourite place to ride? That has to be at home in Stavanger, Norway, along the jords. It’s got some stunning views and the fact that they are my home roads makes me happy. In addition to that, I would say Gran Canaria and Piedmont, Italy, are near the top of my list.

What’s the best piece of racing advice you’ve received?

Never give up and be patient. Many bike races are over 200km and sometimes you feel like shit after 50km but you can suddenly be lying in the last 20km – that’s if you take care to eat properly and ride smart.

What race would you most like to win during your career?

I would be a happy man if I could win the World Road Race Championships again. When I won it in the U23 ranks in 2014 I didn’t get to ride in the rainbow jersey because I moved up to the pros the year after. To wear the rainbow jersey for a year would be a dream.

What is your hardest regular training session?

The hardest regular session

I use is a six-hour ride, with 10 four-minute hill repeats within the irst two hours. The hill repeats on even numbers are at a maximum and odd numbers are at subthreshold. The last one you do should always be the fastest. What’s your favourite co fee stop and what’s the speciality there?

I have only been there a couple of times, but the café Il Re del Cappuccino, The King of Cappuccino, in Monsummano Terme in Tuscany, is a great place. The speciality is of course their cappuccino. It’s amazing.

Describe your perfect o f-season. For me that would be one week away with my wife in some exotic destination. Then it would be spending three weeks at home with my family and friends where I can do the things I normally cannot do the rest of the year, such as hiking, skiing and sur ing.