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Mae Agnieta Francke, neu Ana i ni sy'n ei hadnabod, yn seiclwraig Iseldireg fu'n seiclo'n broffesiynol yn yr Iseldiroedd a thu hwnt pan yn iau, a bellach yn reidio'n gyson i dim proffesiynol Sbaeneg Belori.
Dwi'n adnabod Ana a'i phartner Juan o'n hamser ni'n seiclo ar wyliau yn Andalucia lle buon nhw'n ein harwain a'n tywys yn wych. Ers hynny, maen nhw wedi sefydlu eu busnes eu hunain ym mhentref gwyn prydferth Grazalema (grazalemacycling.com), ac rydym wedi defnyddio manteision y cyfryngau cymdeithasol i gadw mewn cysylltiad.
Sara a fi gydag Ana ar ein gwyliau yn 2018.
Reidiodd Ana i Belori yn rasys cyntaf y tymor diwygiedig yn 2020, a'r byd yn dal i fod mewn cyflwr o bandemig. Yma, mae'n rhoi mewnwelediad i ni o'r peloton mewn byd wedi'i ddifrodi gan y pandemig yn Vuelta Navarra a Durango-Durango.
Gyda diolch am ei hamser gwerthfawr.
Pan aeth Sbaen i gyfnod dan glo ganol mis Mawrth a chyhoeddodd yr UCI na fyddai rasys tan y cyntaf o Awst, roeddwn i wedi dychmygu byddai'r Vuelta Navarra yn agos i ddechrau'r calendr, gyda chyfle i rai o'r timau ddefnyddio'r ras yn eu paratoadau ar gyfer rasys WorldTour mis Awst. Felly roedd gennym ni bedwar mis i baratoi ar gyfer y ras, ond doedden ni ddim yn gwybod beth fyddai'r cwrs tan bythefnos ynghynt.
Llun: Juan Baena
Cyrrhaeddais i yn Navarra gwpl o ddiwrnodau cyn y ras, felly defnyddiais i'r amser i wneud recon o'r ail cymal gwastad fyddai'n ddamcaniaethol yn gwedu'n rhinweddau i'n well. Dros y gaeaf ymunodd llawer o reidwyr newydd gyda'r tim, ond oherwydd 'mod i ond wedi gwneud un ras cyn hyn yn y flwyddyn, doeddwn i ddim yn eu 'nabod yn rhy dda. Yn y dyddiau cyn y ras defnyddion ni'r amser i ddod i 'nabod ein gilydd yn bersonol ac hefyd o ran cryfderau a gwendidau ar y beic.
Flwyddyn diwethaf roedd dau cymal i'r Vuelta Navarra, cymal i'r dringwyr a chymal gwastad (er nad oedd o'n ras gymalau yn swyddogol ond yn hytrach par o rasys undydd). Wedi i mi gael 12fed yn y wib glwstwr ar y cymal gwastad llynnedd, ac 8fed yn Vuelta CV Feminas yn Chwefror, roeddwn i'n gobeithio gorffen yn y deg uchaf. Fodd bynnag, pan rhyddhewyd y cwrs doedd dim cymal gwastad - roedd wedi'i newid am gwrs tebyg i glasur bryniog gyda dringfeydd byr, serth, gan gynnwys un coblog. Gan nad yw dringo'n gryfder gen i, roedd fy nisgwyliadau wedi gostwng.
Fel arfer, byddwn i wedi gwneud rhai rasys, unai ar feic mynydd neu ar yr heol, i baratoi ar gyfer rasys UCI, gan fod hyd yn fy helpu i ddod i arfer hefo rasio mewn peloton a gwneud ymdrechion dwysedd uchel. Oherwydd Covid canslwyd pob ras, felly aethon ni o hyfforddiant yn syth i rasio, ond roedd pawb yn yr un cwch. Yn y dyddiau cyn y ras, arhoson ni mewn fflat hefo'r im, hanner awr yn y car i Pamplona, (dechrau a'r diwedd). Pan fydden ni wedi stopio am goffi fel arfer ar y sbin ddiwrnod cyn y ras, roedden ni'n trio cadw cyswllt gyda phobl tu allan i'r tim i'r lleiafswm posib, gan olygu bod un person yn gwneud y siopa a phawb yn coginio drostyn nhw'u hunain.
Ana yn sgwrsio gyda pencampwraig y byd, Anna van der Breggen. Llun Juan Baena.
Ar y dechrau, roedd trefnwyr Vuelta Navarra wedi dweud wrth reolwyr y timau na fyddai prawf PCR yn angenrheidiol os oedd timau yn gallu cynnig datganiad ysgrifenedig yn datgan fod pob reidiwr yn iach ac yn derbyn cyfrifoldeb am iechyd a diogelwch reidwyr a staff. Yn y cyfarfod o bob rheolwr tim, trefnwyr a rheithgorau'r ras ar noswyl y ras, roedd timau'r WorldTour wedi cwyno nad oedd y broses yma yn cyfateb i'r un oedd yr UCI wedi ei osod ar gyfer y math yma o ras, sef bod rhaid i bob reidiwr ac aelod staff i orfod gwneud prawf PCR 3 a 6 diwrnod cyn pob ras UCI. Gwnaeth y timau WorldTour hefyd ddadlau bod datganiad wedi'i arwyddo gan reolwr tim ddim yn gallu gwarantu bod neb o'r tim yn cario'r feirws, a bod y risg o unrhyw reidiwr neu aelod staff yn trosglwyddo'r feirws yn dal i fod. Yn y diwedd, dywedodd y trefnwyr bod angen i bob tim gyflwyno canlyniad prawf PCR negatif gan bob reidiwr a phob aelod staff er mwyn gallu cychwyn. Y cyntaf glywodd y rheolwyr oedd am ganol nos.
Doedd dim newid eu meddyliau, dim ots faint oedd rheolwyr y timau oedd heb ddarparu profion yn ceisio'i drafod. Felly yn hytrach na chael bore ymlaciol yn paratoi ar gyfer y ras, cawsom ein rhuthro i Pamplona, a diolch byth daethom o hyd i labordy oedd yn fodlon cynnal profion ar fyr rybudd. O gwmpas 1pm, cawsom eu profi cyn rhuthro 'nol i'r fflat i gael ein cit a'n hoffer a chael cinio, ac wedyn dychwelyd i Pamplona i ddechrau'r ras gan obeithio byddai canlyniadau'r profion wedi'i prosesu. Ar y dechrau, roedd y rheithgorau eisiau cael y canlyniadau awr cyn ddechrau'r ras felly rhoeson nhw tan 3pm i ni (y ras i ddechrau 3:50), neu 3:10 cyfle olaf.
Daeth y canlyniadau drwyddo am 3.10.
Dim bwys faint y gwnaeth y rheolwr drio, doedd dim ffordd iddo berswadio'r rheithgorau i adael i ni gychwyn. Felly dyna lle oedden ni, i gyd yn barod efo rhifau ar ein crysau, beics, gels a bars yn y pocedi, radio yn ein clustiau a helmedau, esgidiau - a mwgwd - ymlaen. Yn lle sefyllian o gwmpas, penderfynon ni i wneud recon o ran cyntaf yr ail ras fyddai'n cael ei chynnal y diwrnod canlynol gan ddechrau o'r un lle. Reidion ni gyda him Sbaeneg arall oedd yn yr un sefyllfa.
Tim Belori. Llun Juan Baena.
Roeddwn i wedi gosod fy ngobeithion ar gyfer yr ail cymal beth bynnag ac mi geisiais i ddod o hyd i haul ar fryn, y byddai'n coesau ni'n fwy ffres na gweddill y peloton oedd yn rasio deuddydd. Ond roedd un o'm cyd-reidwyr Belori wedi teithio'r holl ffordd o Frasil ac mae hi'n hoffi dringo, felly byddai'r cymal cyntaf wedi bod yn gyfle gwych iddi serennu. Roedd hi yn ei dagrau wedi'r newyddion na fyddwn ni'n cael cychwyn. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n beth da'n bod ni wedi gwneud recon i gymryd ein meddyliau oddi ar ddigwyddiadau'r diwrnod. Yn lwcus hefyd roedd gennym ni rasys eraill i edrych ymlaen atyn nhw, ond hyd yn oed wedyn roedd o'n siomedig iawn oherwydd y diffyg cyfathrebu yn y diwrnodau/wythosau o flaen llaw arweiniodd at beidio a chael cychwyn ras oedden ni wedi hyfforddi mor galed amdani.
Ana yn y ras. Llun Ixone Nunez San Roman
A bod yn onest, unwaith oedden ni'n rasio wnes i ddim sylwi dim gwahaniaeth. Roedd y rasys yn gyflym felly roedd yr holl ganolbwyntio ar y rasys, gan adael gofod prin i feddwl am Covid neu bethau eraill. Yn Durango-Durango roedd 'na gwpl o ddringfeydd serth yn y diweddglo lle roedd nifer wedi dod i weld y ras. Roedden nhw'n frwdfrydig iawn ac roedd y cyflymdra'n gymharol isel ar y pwynt yna, felly roedd symud yn araf drwy dwnel o gefnogwyr yn gweiddi a gwneud swn mawr yn brofiad gwych. Ond mi wnes i sylwi ar rai oedd yn gweiddi yn ein clustiau lai na metr i ffwrdd oddi wrthon ni ac ddim yn gwisgo mygydau tra oedden ni'n amlyncu cymaint o aer a phosib. Felly gwnaeth hynny achosi teimladau cymysg, achos roedd o'n gret eu bod nhw'n cefnogi pawb o'r reidiwr cyntaf i'r olaf, ond roeddwn i ychydig bach yn bryderus a siomedig eu bod nhw drwy hynny ddim yn cadw'n iechyd a diogelwch mewn cof mewn rhywbeth mor elfennol a gwisgo mwgwd.
Yn Sbaen mae mygydau wedi bod yn orfodol ers peth amser, felly roedd yn rhaid i ni wisgo'n mygydau reit tan ddechrau'r ras. Roedd y lluniau o'r podiwm yn sicr yn swreal a phawb yn eu mygydau! Dwi'n siwr/gobeithio nad fi oedd yr unig un gododd ei photel ddwr i gymryd sip cyn sylweddoli bod rhaid i mi dynnu fy mwgwd i ffwrdd gyntaf...
Agnieta Francke, known to us who know her as Ana, is a Dutch cyclist who rode professionally for many years within and beyond the Netherlands when she was younger, and now rides regularly for Spanish team Belori in professional races in Spain.
I know Ana and partner Juan after visiting Andalucia on cycling holidays, where they were our exceptional guides. Since then, they have opened their own cycling business together in the beautiful village of Grazalema (grazalemacycling.com), and have used the benefits of social media to remain in contact.
Sara and I on our holidays with Ana in 2018.
Ana rode for Belori at the opening races of the new-look 2020 season, with the world still in a state of pandemic. Here, she gives an insight into what it is like to race in the professional peloton in a pandemic-stricken world at Vuelta Navarra and Durango-Durango.
With many thanks for her time.
When Spain went in lock-down half of March and the UCI announced that there would be no World Tour races until the 1 st of August, I imagined the races in Navarra to be between the first races at the re-start of the season, with their place on the calendar at the end of July allowing the teams to use these races in preparation for the World Tour races in August. So, we basically had 4 months to train for these races, but we didn´t know what the course would be like until two weeks before the race dates.
Image: Juan Baena
I arrived in Navarra a couple of days before the races, so I used these days to recon the hills of the second, flatter stage that in theory would suit me more, both by bike as by car. Over the winter a lot of new riders joined the team, but as I had only done one race with the team so far, I didn´t know a lot of my teammates. These couple of days before the races were therefore also used to get to know each other a little better and to learn about each other´s strengths and weaknesses.
Last year the Vuelta Navarra consisted of two stages, a climber´s stage and a flat stage (even though they weren´t officially qualified as a stage race, but two individual races). Because of my 12 th place in the bunch sprint of the flat stage last year, and an 8 th place in the UCI race Vuelta CV Féminas in Valencia in February this year, I was hoping for a top-10 finish. However,
at the presentation of the courses for this year´s race it turned out that there wasn´t a flat stage anymore, as the “flat” stage had become a race with a course that could best be described as a hilly classic kind of race, with short, steep climbs and even a cobbled climb. Since climbing isn´t my strong point, this lowered my expectations for the race that had been one of my main goals a lot.
Ana in conversation with world champion Anna van der Breggen. Juan Baena.
Normally, I would have done some races, either mountain bike or road races, in preparation for these UCI races, as this helps me to get the hang of riding in a bunch again and to get used to the high intensity efforts of a race. Due to Covid all other races were cancelled, so we went from training right into racing at the highest level, but luckily this was something that all riders had to deal with. The days prior to the race we stayed in the apartment of the team, half an hour drive from Pamplona, the start- and finish location of the races. Whereas normally we probably would stop for a coffee during our pre-race spin the day before the race, we now tried to avoid contact with people outside of the team as much as possible, meaning one person of the staff doing the shopping and cooking the meals for ourselves. In Spain, wearing a mask outside and in shops, etc. is obligatory, so we had to keep our masks on until just before the start of the races. I am sure/hope I wasn´t the only one wanting to take a sip from her bottle only to then realize that I had to take my mask off first…
At first, the organization of the Vuelta de Navarra had communicated to the team directors of the Spanish teams that a PCR test wouldn´t be necessary if the teams would provide a written statement declaring that all riders were healthy and that they accepted responsibility for the health and safety of riders and staff. At the meeting of all team directors, organization and jury the night before the first race, the World Tour teams complained that this procedure wasn´t in line with the procedure that the UCI had lined out for this kind of races, which was all riders and staff having to do a PCR test 3 and 6 days before each UCI categorized race. The big teams also argued that a signed statement by any team director couldn´t guarantee that none of the riders or staff was carrying the virus, and that the risk of any rider or staff member transmitting the virus two others in the peloton was still existent. In the end, the organization obliged all teams to present a negative test result of a PCR test for all riders and staff members for the team to be allowed to take the start. This decision was made the night before the race and communicated to the team directors at midnight. The team directors of the teams that hadn´t done a PCR yet because of the guidelines of the organization so far, gathered with the jury and organization again the morning of the race, but the decision was made and there seemed to be now way back. So instead of having a morning of relaxing and preparing for the race, we were rushed to Pamplona and luckily our staff found a lab that was willing and able to do the test on such short notice. Around 1pm we did the test, then rushed back to the team´s apartment to get our kit and equipment ready for the race and to eat some lunch, and then went back to Pamplona to the start of the race, hoping that the results of the test would arrive in time. At first, the jury wanted to have the test results an hour before the race in order to allow us to start, then they gave us until 3pm (the start would be at 3.50pm) and then until 3.10pm, as a last chance. The results came through at 3.15pm… No matter how much our team director tried, there was no way he could persuade the jury to allow us to start, so there we were, all dressed and ready to go, with our numbers on our jerseys and bikes, gels and bars in our pockets, communication in our ears and helmets and shoes – and mask – on. As we were already there and ready to ride our bikes, we decided to recon the first part of the second race, that would take place the next day with the same start location. We rode together with another Spanish team, that had been in the same lab as we had been and hadn´t gotten their results in time either. As the first race was a race for the climbers, I had set my eyes on the second stage anyway and I just tried to see the silver lining, that we wouldn´t have heavy legs like the rest of the peloton for the race the next day. But one of my teammates had come all the way from Brazil, and as she loves the climbing, this first race would have been here chance to shine, so she was in pieces after the news that we wouldn´t get to start. I think it was good that we went out to reckon the course of the second stage right away, as this took our thoughts off the race that was going on without us being part of it, and helped to focus on what was ahead of us. And luckily we did have some other races coming up and to look forward to, but even so, it was really disappointing that because of a lack in communication the days/weeks leading up to it we didn´t get to start in a race that we trained for so hard.
Belori team. Juan Baena.
As I said before, it is obligatory in Spain to wear a mask, so for us that wasn´t any different, which has made for some surreal podium presentation photos. Before the start of the race each rider would normally have to sign in, but this was done by a member of the jury now. Also, our temperature was taken to make sure that none of the riders was having a fever. And all riders and staff of the teams had to do a PCR test, so that it would be clear that the peloton would be a safe “bubble”.
Ana racing. Ixone Nunez San Roman
To be honest, once we were racing, I didn´t notice much of a difference. The races were fast and furious from the start, so all the focus was on the race, leaving little space to think about Covid or other – in those moments – secondary things. In Durango-Durango there were a couple of steep climbs in the final of the race, where there were lots of people that had come out to see the race. They were very enthusiastic, and the speed was low at that point, so we were slowly moving through a tunnel of supporters, that were shouting and making lots of noise, which was kind of cool. However, I noticed that some of those supporters who were shouting in our ears when we passed them at less than 1 meter, didn´t wear a mask, while we trying to take in all the air we could get. So that caused some mixed feelings, as it was really nice that they were supporting everyone, from the first to the last rider, but I felt a bit worried and disappointed that in doing so they didn´t keep our health and safety in mind by something simple as wearing a mask.
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