Wise Words is our new interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
This week’s Wise Words comes to you from rising downhill star Vero Widmann.
Vero Widmann burst onto the World Cup scene by bagging a podium spot at her home World Cup in Val di Sole in 2018. 2019 saw her up her game, consistently landing inside the top 10, and getting herself on the box far more frequently, enough to take home a 3rd overall spot in the process.
Photos by Moonhead Media.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
I would love to think they say:” she is definitely faster than you think!” But in reality they would just say that I’m the clumsiest girl in the world.
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
So after I was doing a women’s coaching camp in Saalbach with heavy rain for 4 days, (and me living in sunny South Tyrol obviously not taking any suitable clothes for it), the first thing I did after that was getting a proper rain coat. Best investment so far.
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
For a downhill racer I surprisingly like pedalling uphill as well. Something must have remained from my XC background.
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Don’t complicate things just ride your bike and believe in yourself and in the progress.
Ignore your other half’s advice not to buy this amazing new bike.
If you could go back and re-ride one day from your life so far, where/what/when/who would it be? Would you change anything?
I would go back to one of those little regional races a few years back where I started racing downhill together with my cousin Georg and some friends. Ride bikes together and in the evening have some beers and barbeque around a fire and sleeping in the van overnight. I love racing and my job now but it’s good to remember how light-hearted and simple it all began.
What have you wasted the most time on in your life as a rider or bike industry career that you wished you’d given up years ago?
Let’s face it Instagram and generally using our phones all the time is for sure the biggest waist in our life. And I’m no exception.
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
Try to look at the bigger picture. Every little thing you get done today is progression.
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
It’s hard to say because there are so many things together where you gain happiness in riding bikes. But one of them for sure is the feeling of freedom and adrenaline mixed together.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
Probably the finish jump to flat in Les Gets World Cup.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
To get women more respect and the support they deserve in this sport.
Who else should we ask these questions to?
The Demin Destroyer, Johannes Von Klebelsberg.
