Australian rider part of Taiwan KOM challenge, will race to 3275 kilometres above sea level tomorrow
Starting tomorrow as the best-known women rider attending the Taiwan KOM Challenge, a gruelling race which takes the riders up a 85.2 kilometre climb to the summit of Mt. Hehuan, Tiffany Cromwell has said that she is hoping to share her experience with the Asian riders and help to raise the profile of the unique event.
The Australian rider had a fine season and is poised to move up another level in 2014. Before then, though, tomorrow’s event gives her the chance of racing one more time in the Orica AIS jersey before bidding it goodbye and moving to an as-yet unannounced team.
“I was invited to come and compete, to help promote the women’s side of the race,” Cromwell stated in the video interview below, carried out with VeloNation at the rider hotel today. “I am very relaxed about it. I am just going to enjoy the experience. My form isn’t there as it was at the world championships because I had a bit of a break. But I am going to use it as a chance to bring some of my European experience to the Asian girls, because I don’t know how strong they are.”
Aside from its staggering length, the climb also takes the rider to 3275 metres above sea level; given that the event starts from right beside the Pacific ocean, it’s a staggering ascent and one which will push everyone to their limits.
She will aim to ride well, but isn’t putting undue pressure on herself. “[I want to] just to enjoy it, enjoy the scenery. It is a very unique climb and something that very few people are going to experience.”
Cromwell is frank that her form isn’t the same as it was at the high points of the season, but she does have a lot of natural ability which should stand to her in the event. Whatever happens, though, she has already achieved a lot in 2013.
“I have been very happy with my season, it has probably been one of my strongest to date,” she said. “Starting the year with [a win in] the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race…that was huge for me. I have been trying to step up in the Classics, one of my favourite areas. I targeted that as an early season goal and to be able to achieve that was fantastic for me.”
Despite riding on many occasions for Emma Johansson, she clocked up a number of strong results including the Het Nieuwsblad success, stage two of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, fifth in Le Samyn, ninth in Flèche Wallonne and ninth in the world road race championships.
“I think I was consistently strong all season. I didn’t have maybe as many podiums as I would have hoped but I certainly helped with a number of team podiums,” she said.
Watch the video below for a full assessment of the year from Cromwell, as well as her thoughts on tomorrow’s big event.