A leader in her own league

Mountain biker Pia Sundstedt aims at becoming a world champion,trusting on her psychological strength to secure victory.

I can't really hear you. Could you call later? I'm on my bike," shouts Pia Sundstedt, 32, on the phone in her pleasant, friendly voice.

Mountain biker Pia Sundstedt first became known in 2000 as the first Finn ever to win a world cup race in road cycling. Following this, she has achieved several stage wins, for example in the highly acclaimed Giro d'Italia race around Italy. In the Sydney Olympics, she came 21st, despite a knee injury.

In the same year, Pia's fantastic career that had spanned nearly ten years was threatened
by her Italian team putting pressure on her to use doping. The situation exasperated Pia to the point that she fled Italy the following year and ended her career soon after. For the next two years, she could not have been less interested in the world of cycling. However, nothing could stop her from riding her bike.

Kokkola-born Pia had adopted Freiburg as her new hometown and was leading mountain biking tours there for tourists, until one day she realised that she had participated in a mountain biking race, beating the then leader of the mountain biking world cup. For an athlete who had previously detested cross-country biking, this was a major surprise.

Soon after, Pia became the European Champion of marathon biking at the age of thirty.

Freedom to choose
Now, two years since the start of her second biking career, Pia is running the show, not allowing anybody else to decide what to do or which races to bike. She has returned to Italy, currently competing in Team MTB Bianchi. Pia is enjoying cycling alongside her new, predominantly male team. They share a great team spirit and the team leader understands that athletes should not be forced to act against their better judgement.

Mountain biking is an individual sport, which suits Pia. "In road biking, you are a part of a team. The main emphasis is on one of the team members winning. In mountain biking, it all depends on your own level of fitness. You can win and show who's boss here," says Pia briskly, before laughing.

She has not given up her road bike and uses it in training, even if she rides the mountain bike in races. This does not mean she is considering a return to road cycling, even though she has been invited many times. In mountain biking, the competition schedule is much more leisurely than in road cycling and, as an active cross-country skier, Pia is happy to have some home time. Gone are the days when she spent 200 days of the year on the road.

But Pia cannot leave her bikes. Her life revolves around training, resting and maintaining the right diet, and even the worst, sleety weather cannot stop her from jumping onto the saddle. "I love riding five or six hours in the sun, in 35 degrees. Sleet is not so much fun, but after the ride you feel great, especially when you think, ‘Hah, I bet my competitors haven't been on their bikes today!'"

Pia carries her bikes and skis wherever she goes, even on holiday. There are so many bikes in her cellar in Freiburg that, according to her own words, she is tearing her hair out trying to find a place for all of them, especially when her partner is also a keen biker.

Aiming at becoming a world champion
In August, Pia will be racing in the World Championships, which she is determined to win. This year will see an extraordinary long mountain biking season, the first world cup race having been held at the beginning of March. For an athlete, this is demanding, but then again everybody will face the same challenge. Pia believes that by making detailed plans for her season, she will
manage.

In April, after early season fitness training, she will rejig her system and begin a tough training
schedule in May, in preparation for the July world cup races. Next will follow a high altitude training camp, lasting until the World Championships in August. "High altitude training has worked for me before. I hope the results will be as good this year," Pia says.

She does not believe that illegal substances will enter mountain biking. The winnings are relatively small, which helps discourage illegal behaviour. Pia's assumption is also based on the idea that if she can win without illegal substances, why would others use them?

Mental preparation is the most important part of her training. "Physically, many of us are at
the same level, so mental strength is the deciding factor in the end."

Pia Sundsted's top 5 biking destinations

1. Schwarzwald, Germany
"Schwarzwald has great scenery and biking terrain. It is also the warmest region in Germany, some calling it the Tuscany of Germany."
2. The Dolomites/Südtirol
"Mountains at their best. Great roads, both for cross-country and road biking. Biking up and down the passes offers the ultimate work rate!"
3. The Alps
"Offers the same attractions as the Dolomites. Also great for high altitude training."
4. Mallorca, Spain
"The second home of all European bikers, especially Germans. Both flat and hilly."
5. Mountain biking on the Kokkola coastline, Finland
"Biking on the forest tracks and trails around Kokkola, I have discovered a host of hidden treasures. The fresh smell of the Finnish forest and the proximity of the sea (and the mosquitoes)... that's what you call a holiday!"

These I would definitely want to visit in finland:
Levi Bike Park
Tahko
Reitti 2000
Vuokatti
Biking routes around Saariselkä and Loppi