Greig Leach

I was struck by just how relaxed these young women appeared as they waited for the start of their road race through the streets of Richmond, Virginia. I am sure that all of the training and race experience helped Karlijn Swinkels and Aafke Soet (Netherlands) feel prepared, but I know that I was a bundle of nerves when I raced at this young age. Not that I would have ever been able to dream of racing in the UCI World Road Racing Championships. I had the good fortune of meeting most of the Dutch Junior Women's team and even after completing this race they were a very relaxed and joyful group of cyclists.