The Polish Karolina Kumiega ready for the English stage race. For her it will be one of her many debuts in her first season in Valcar-Travel & Service.
After the Spanish campaign that gave the team their third victory of the season, Valcar – Travel & Service heads to London, the scene of RideLondon Classique from Friday. For Davide Arzeni’s girls, this will be the fourth stage race after the Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs, the Itzulia Women and the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas.
At the start for the blue-fuchsia formation: Anastasia Carbonari, Chiara Consonni, Eleonora Gasparrini, Silvia Persico and Ilaria Sanguineti. The latest pawn will be 23-year-old Polish Karolina Kumiega, who has never raced in England in her career.
“It will be another good experience for me and the team: we will go to London with the intention of achieving other good results.”
What race will it be?
«Much faster than the Spanish stage races my teammates faced; perhaps more similar to the Veenendaal Classic. The third fraction, above all, is very similar to a criterium ».
It is one of your many firsts this season, which also saw you debut on the World Tour.
«I’m young and this season I’m learning a lot: how to move in a group, how to eat, how to drink, how to approach competitions. In Valcar – Travel & Service I found kind and helpful companions and sports directors. And, which is not bad, the team has that friendly temperament, I dare say Latin, which I like very much ».
Karolina Kumiega during Paris – Roubaix Recon – Credit T.Muzzi
One of the experiences you had this year was the Paris – Roubaix, which you considered the race of your dreams.
“I ran it on my birthday and I understood why they consider it the hell of the north: at the finish there was no part of my body that didn’t hurt me. But I’m happy with how it went and my feeling on the stones ».
That of 2022 was the second women’s edition. A sign that interest in pink cycling is growing?
«Yes, and fans, sponsors and media are taking notice; however, there are still some things to do, such as standardizing the prizes between the men’s and women’s competitions. But compared to when I started, a lot has already been done ».
When did you start running?
“When I was 12: the coach of the local team came to school and I decided to give it a try, also because in my town, Kotomierz, there were not many opportunities to play sports”.
What would you say to girls to get them to go cycling if you were going to school?
«Which is a great school of life: cycling teaches you to be methodical, precise, focused and determined. And, if you have the ability to become a professional, it becomes a job that allows you to travel the world ».
Is travel your passion?
“Exactly. I love to travel, especially in places I’ve never visited and where I can live new experiences and meet people with different cultural backgrounds. A little bit what I will do in London, even if at RideLondon it will also be difficult”.