A warm start to the year - South Africa, Reflection & My Final Season Begins

Welcome to what I hope will become a regular weekly update here on the Rocacorba Collective.

It feels like the perfect time to reconnect and share a little about what has already been a full, warm and deeply meaningful start to the year.

I flew to South Africa on New Year’s Eve and spent five weeks at home, soaking up family time, hosting one of our most special trips, training at altitude and beginning my final season as a professional cyclist.

Spending time with family & riding endless gravel from Knysna to Franschhoek

The trip began with precious time with my nieces and nephews in Knysna. That stretch of coastline has become home in so many ways. It’s where Carl grew up, and after years of spending extended periods there, it truly feels like grounding territory for both of us.

From there, we hosted the second edition of what is quickly becoming a signature Rocacorba Cycling experience - our gravel journey from Knysna to Franschhoek.

This tour is incredibly special to us.

We start on home soil and ride through wildly diverse landscapes — from the lush coastline and rain forests of Knysna, into the semi-desert expanses of the Karoo, and then onward toward the vineyards near Cape Town, finishing in the culinary heart of Franschhoek.

The week is about so much more than ticking over kilometres. It’s about connection.

We ride hard. We ride easy. We split into pace groups and regroup at beautiful feed zones, many supported by our own families. It’s intimate, personal and rooted in local experience. We take roads that aren’t on mainstream tourist itineraries. We eat incredible food. We share stories.

And we end the week with a celebratory meal at Reuben's Franschhoek, a truly special closing moment to a special journey.

It’s hard to fully capture what this trip means to us, but it has already become one of the highlights of my year.

Altitude & Full Circle in Mpumalanga

After the gravel camp, I headed north to Mpumalanga for altitude training.

This region, close to the border of Mozambique and near Kruger National Park, feels wilder and more raw. I stayed at Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge, perched high up on the highveld. It’s a game reserve, so stepping outside in the morning often means seeing zebra or wildebeest grazing nearby.

Within a short descent, you’re in the lowveld - tropical, humid, lined with macadamia trees, bananas and lychees. The contrast is extraordinary.

This part of the trip felt deeply full circle.

When I first joined a professional team in South Africa years ago, our training camp was in the Nelspruit area. I’ve returned to Crystal Springs multiple times in my career for altitude blocks that set up some of my strongest seasons. Being back there now, knowing this is my final year as a professional cyclist, stirred a lot of memories.

It gave me space to reflect — on where it all began, on the setbacks, on the victories and on how much I’ve grown.

National Championships & A Personal Victory

From altitude, I raced the South African National Championships near Johannesburg and stayed with family in the city. Having them there on race day made it even more meaningful.

The time trial was particularly emotional for me.

Since breaking my back in 2024, I’ve had to navigate more than just physical recovery. Blood sugar issues complicated my return and affected me most in time trial efforts. To finally feel strong, controlled and powerful - and to win the National Time Trial title - was incredibly special.

It wasn’t just a medal. It was confirmation that the long road back has truly turned a corner.

I also finished third in the Road Race, standing on the podium with family there to witness it. A moment I won’t forget.

And finally...back to Europe & special memories at Setmana Valenciana

I then flew straight back to Europe and into training camp with the AG Insurance Soudal Team. And now, as I write this, I’m sitting in my hotel room preparing to start Setmana Valenciana.

This race holds beautiful memories for me.

In 2023, it was my first race with the team. I won the queen stage after a perfectly executed team strategy - Mireia up the road in the early break, our timing impeccable over the final climb, and then playing our numbers advantage into the finish to take the stage and the race lead.

On the final day, Justine slipped into another breakaway. We played the tactical game again - this time allowing her to take the stage and the overall victory, while I finished second on GC. It was the perfect example of team racing: selfless, strategic and powerful.

Reconning the queen stage yesterday (the same one as in 2023) brought all those memories rushing back.

Entering the Final Season

And now… here we are.

My final season as a professional cyclist.

It’s an interesting feeling. I’m genuinely excited. The past year and a half has been tough, but I finally feel healthy, stable and strong again. The altitude block in South Africa, the heat training, the long miles ... it’s all left me with good sensations.

I feel ready.

At the same time, there’s a quiet awareness creeping in. The “last time” thoughts. The last time racing certain events. The last time pinning on a number in places that shaped my career.

I’m not overwhelmed by it. If anything, I feel very present. Grounded. Grateful.

I want to enjoy this year. To race hard. To race smart. To have fun. To honour what has been a long, challenging and incredibly rewarding career.

And alongside that, I’m deeply grateful for this community - the Rocacorba Collective. What started in the aftermath of the COVID years has become such an important part of my final chapters in the sport. Building community. Building confidence. Sharing our love for cycling, health and connection.

As we move forward, I’d love these weekly updates to bring you closer to the journey - the races, the reflections and the real moments in between.

Here’s to a 2026.
Join me for the ride ahead!