Women to watch KASIA NIEWIADOMA-PHINNEY

I always wanted to ride but it took some years before I was allowed to have a bike.

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EARLY DAYS

My dad gave me a road bike to use when I was 14 years old, and I went so hard on my first ride to prove I was able to do it. He then signed me up for a race and I won it against both boys and girls. Afterwards, my first coach got in touch with me and things grew from there. Racing gave me the chance to travel out of Poland and meet different people, so it was just fun at first. But I was always competitive, even when I was younger, and I think that attitude stayed with me as I grew up and turned professional. I just love riding my bike. Being in nature and the feeling of freedom energises me.

TRAINING

My personal coach, Nate Newton, sets my training plan, as well as the training blocks or periodisation. We have a good relationship which is important, and I give a lot of feedback and input into the training plan on what I would like to work on and my experience with what works for me. We also have two team coaches who oversee the training of all the riders in my team.