A Lesson About Pain - My Result at the Gravel One Fifty World Series 2025

"The moment you think you cannot go any further, is when true power arises." This is a story about pain — pain as the spice in your favourite dish: telling you you’re alive, awake and ready for the next bite.

Gravel One Fifty 2024

After my race in 2024, which was one of the most toughest gravel races ever trough days of heavy rainfall that transformed the entire parcours into a brutal, slippery mud, was my first true test in pushing forward through tough and challenging circumstances. More than 50% of the participants did not finish, and even though I was one of the few who did complete that race, it was far from an enjoyable memory but I felt strong, alive and determined to come back and race again in 2025.

Now one year later, the weather could not have been more different. It was calm and sunny, the parcours couldn’t be better, and after a full year of consistent training, I felt fresh, strong, and ready at the start line, buzzing with excitement.

The first 30 kilometers the pace was really high and intense, but I was able to keep up, following along closely and even overtaking many riders with confidence. Then, out of nowhere, there was a sharp turn over loose gravel. I lost control, slid out, crashed hard, and unfortunately injured both my knees as well as my upper leg. I stood up, got back on the bike, and didn’t feel any pain at first. However, after about 10 minutes of riding, I suddenly started experiencing severe pain in my knee along with cramps in my thigh.

After about an hour, the pain grew even worse, making it impossible for me to keep up with the others. I had to slow down significantly, feeling frustrated but knowing I needed to listen to my body. After 120 kilometers, the pain became far too intense to continue, so I had to pause for a moment. But almost immediately, my body slipped into recovery mode and started to stiffen up. Not the best idea, because once that stiffness sets in, it becomes much harder to get the body moving and restart the rhythm again.

I decided to continue even though the pain was building and soon reached an intense climax. For a moment, I seriously started to consider quitting. But then I reminded myself that there were only 30 kilometers left to the finish line—a distance that, no matter how tough, I could still push through. I remembered someone telling me once, "The moment you think you cannot go any further, is when true power arises." It was exactly this thought that sparked a new fire inside me and kept me going.

I accepted my pain. I will finish, no matter how intense the discomfort is. I was determined, and then, it happened. The pain disappeared, melting away like morning mist, and in its place, I was given a second life with renewed energy and felt even stronger then before! My full acceptance of the pain completely transformed it into a powerful force, something I couldn’t have imagined five minutes ago. I was able to catch up again with the others and passing more than 50 people over the last 30 kilometers. I pushed myself and managed to bring both myself and my bike safely back home, finishing within the time I had hoped for at the very start of the race.

Now, the day after. I’m not able to walk properly due to the pain in the wound and am forced to take a much-needed rest to fully recover. The key lesson here is clear: it’s just as important to know when to stop as it is to push through. Finding the balance between control and surrender. As long as I was able to maintain control of my balance on the bike by smartly slowing down and making thoughtful adjustments, I was able to push through with confidence. Then, by surrendering and fully embracing the discomfort rather than resisting it, I was able to elevate myself to another level of strength. Pushing my limits and recognizing my body’s signals was absolutely key to unlocking this capabilities, which turned out to be far beyond anything I could have ever imagined before. But for now, it's all about finding the balance to rest, heal and recharge so we can come back stronger next year.

Unfortunately, I didn’t qualify for the World Cup later this year to beat the current world champion, Mathieu van der Poel. But hey, I’m far from giving up! I’m already gearing up to come back stronger and more determined in 2026, after another full year of consistent training. The journey continues!