On arrival we we’re greeted by a continuous ceremony of music, rollerblades, UCI flags… involving energetic above the head waving (of unidentifiable description) soft toys to top off the morning’s choreography.

As much as it was a little over the top it did make us feel very welcomed and proud that the Chinese are embracing women’s cycling…. perhaps as it should be on regular occasions in Europe?

Huge congrats to my ex teammate and good friend Shelley Olds on her win yesterday! Marlen our sprinter for whom we worked for scored a top ten finish which is a promising result for races to come.

Now begins the epic journey to the USA… via Germany!

I will be giving insights on their health blog, my first piece being released last week!

Being a professional athlete, and a health professional I have happily continued to acquire a unique combination of sport, exercise and health science knowledge. Naturally I am passionate about sharing a collective mix of expertise and experience to inspire, inform and motivate change with relevant and simple health promotion concepts.

Health is a myriad of physical, mental, emotional, and lifestyle factors… there’s no one way, each persons health ‘pathway’ is unique. Empowerment through knowledge is the key to unlocking your body’s complete health potential. My philosophy is that health can be attained through seeking information, becoming inspired and discovering the intrinsic motivation for vital lifestyle practices that lead to one’s optimal health.

I enjoy informing, inspiring and empowering others to find their own ‘pathway’ way of living a healthy life… through experiences, factual knowledge or simply sharing thoughts this blog will inspire education and discussion around a diverse collection of health topics.

Looking forward to sharing more with you via health.com.au shortly…

Here are a few snapshots among the few; enjoying life on tour without pasta every meal, Imported Aussie goodness for breakfast, the four of us relaxing pre race, Marlen set to drag race, friendly smiles and the completely infatuated locals seeing bike racing for the first time!

There is a lot I appreciate about the Chinese – people, philosophy and most infatuating is the cultural diversity even within one 10km stretch of a city (honestly itching to exit the hotel and explore but I’ve remained behaved & well rested for tomorrow!).

The delivery of the opening welcome speech this evening’s welcome dinner was one with sincerity and pride that they could successfully draw professional athletes from the global stage and showcase this small island to the world. This is an encouraging example of an extremely well organized race in our sport, that is increasingly looking for visibility in the global sports market.

For them this is a big event – four race books, billboards, accreditation tags, banners and roadside flags. The volunteers and locals don’t stop smiling and are most happily sharing their roads with us. Exhibited profoundly this morning with the guy on his scooter whizzing past our bunch of eight girls squatting in the roadside grass taking a pee stop in a small street – it didn’t him from belting a huge ‘HELLOOO…. WELCOMEEEE’!

Our Team Nutrixxion is only four…. Anna, Dani, Marlen and I. My fellow countrywomen Emma and Belinda unfortunately didn’t win the extraordinarily difficult battle to get a visa in Europe. I on the other hand have the grand old Patrick Neylan from the Emerald Isle to thank for that.

Whilst its a pancake flat course it’s my turn to work for the team result… and a hard race is also a hard race. In any pro team its often necessary to participate races in those other than ones particularly suited to your own strengths.

Aside from focusing on the upcoming racing challenges I’m having fun with two of my teammates while they enjoy many discoveries on their debut trip to China (and 21 year old Anna’s first to Asia!) Daily new food safaris and of course the mandatory chopsticks lessons have been quite the entertainment.

Pleasantly reminded first hand what I appreciate about the Chinese – hard working, polite, calm, proud and gracious as our every need is tended to.

In the midst of packing for the month away & adhering to travel logistics I failed to consider the lack of Facebook and twitter we’d have in this week being under the communist governments extensive web censorship so this will suffice as my connection to the world for this week…

Happy to be here doing the same thing i love but in a completely different world… enjoy the stories

May is set to be a big moth with two tours both outside Europe!

May 9-13 Tour of Chongming Island & World Cup 

May 24-29 Exergy Tour, Boise Idaho

I had a lucky into from my sports director to a former Nutrixxion team rider running a cycling stay business www.ma-13.net here on the island so have had the perfect introduction to the Spanish mecca for cycling. After less than a week on the island its obvious why cyclists flock here – climate, superior road quality, diversity of terrain, coastal mountains and beaches make it the perfect place for cycling training.

Eyes wide open to small ‘maze’ like village roads, local farmers markets, heart warming locals, Mediterranean cliff faces and Saturday afternoon cultural village surprises outside the front door have made my time here so far a bit of an April treat worlds away from the past weeks full of windswept chilly roads of the Netherlands!

Among the sweat and fatigue of a tough training block theres nothing like experiencing and discovering a new place in the world…

Up next is Ronde Van Gerlerland back in NL on Sunday. Happy Easter and smiles from Dortmund!

My first week included a few short trips – a full bike biomechanic set up in nearby Cologne www.staps-online.com and to my friends at SRM headquarters also in nearby Julich.

And… a slightly longer trip to my first European race and World Cup in Italy last Sunday.

Its been quite a busy time attending to just a few ‘new’ aspects of life – bikes, weather, training roads, apartment, lycra wardrobe… and not to mention importantly the placement of my ponytail in my new Abus helmet! There have also been a few ‘different’ things… namely the German coffee, I’ll say no more!

Next race – Tomorrow / Sunday 1st April Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Women’s Tour of Flanders)
read great preview here!