During these difficult times Alana Castrique, double 2019 Belgian champion U23 (time trial and road race) keeps up her morale. “For the moment, being able to live like a pro motivates me. I get up, go for a ride and then I have time to rest and work for school, which is very complicated in normal times.“ Alana Castrique says.
For the rider from Ploegsteert who will turn 21 this year, last season was more than successful with two Belgian titles. This year she wants to defend these titles. But the most difficult is knowing if the championships will take place and when they will take place. “If the Belgian championships time trial, initially planned on 1 May, will take place end June, this will be a problem for me because I will have my exams. I will have to postpone the exams and find the right balance between training and studying. The Belgian championships are my objectives and I will be very disappointed if they are postponed of cancelled.” Alana is studying physiotherapy which is not easy to combine with top sport. Since she cannot go to school for the moment, she follows her lessons online in the afternoon after training.
« It is like starting my winter training.”
For Alana, not being able to race means reviewing the basis namely a long ride in the morning and reinforcing the muscles and stabilization exercises in the afternoon. “I am lucky my uncle, who lives 100 meters from my house, has a fitness room. It is very practical in times like these when all the gyms are closed. “
Her days are well filled. From time to time she also puts on her sport shoes to go for a run of for a walk so she stays in shape and doesn’t get bored in this complicated period for all of us.