From Struggle to Strength: My Return to UBS 790 (2024)

In 2023, I tackled my first ultra-cycling challenge, UBS 790, and finished feeling physically broken but mentally empowered. That initial struggle ignited a year of intense training and mindset shifts. In 2024, I returned with greater strength, refined skills, and a more disciplined approach. Improving my climbing, eating better, and learning the value of rest all helped make me stronger and more resilient. By race day, I wasn’t just aiming to finish — I wanted to finish stronger. Crossing the line nearly eight hours faster, I realised that the true victory was not in the time but in the transformation from struggle to strength.

Why I returned

The decision to return was made even before my flight home in 2023. UBS 790 had been more than just a cycling race — it was an emotional journey, and Sardinia’s beauty had completely captivated me. The warmth and support of the UBS team made the experience even more memorable.

Completing the event in 2023 felt like a mix of luck and what I’m beginning to understand as one of my stronger personality traits: sheer stubbornness. But I knew I wanted to come back, not just to relive the experience but to ride through the stunning Sardinian countryside feeling stronger, more prepared, and able to fully enjoy the journey.

Ultra-cycling had became more than just a challenge; I found a love for both the endurance itself and the supportive community of riders. The team and riders of UBS 790 being the first to welcome me into their community.

The Journey to 2024: What Changed?

The most obvious change from the previous year before was my training. Going into UBS 790 in 2023, I had only just begun structured training. My longest ride at that point had been a flat 200-mile loop around Norfolk, a ride I had partly completed with others and struggled to finish. I had very little experience riding long back-to-back days, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for significant elevation. Sardinia was a complete contrast to the familiar flat roads of Norfolk, and the climbing caught me off guard.

Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time cycling in Spain and other hilly areas, gradually building confidence with climbing. What once felt intimidating no longer seemed so scary. And while I’m still not the most confident descender, I’ve made massive improvements compared to a year ago, no longer constantly riding on the brakes.

A visual representation of my training progress measured through TSS (Training Stress Score), highlighting major events that shaped my journey.

But it wasn’t just about spending more hours on the bike. Understanding the importance of proper nutrition and recovery was key to getting my body race-ready. I fueled myself better during training, embraced the value of recovery, and felt the difference when it came time for the event.

Mindset Shifts
One of the biggest transformation came in my mindset. In 2023, I approached the race with a mindset of “Let’s see how far I can get before I stop and learn from that.” This year, my confidence had grown. I approached the event with a stronger belief in my ability, aiming not just to finish but to finish stronger.

Dotbooster Training Camp
A huge part of my preparation came from attending the Dotbooster Training Camp in May 2024. Surrounded by like-minded cyclists and guided by the expertise of ultra cyclists Jas and Niel, I gained invaluable insights into every aspect of ultra cycling — from kit choices to mindset and everything in between. The experience taught me so much and gave me the extra push I needed to prepare both physically and mentally.

The People Who Shaped My Journey
Since the event in October 2023, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people who have shaped my journey. Supportive friends, my cycling coach, and inspirational riders who have encouraged me to keep going, try new events, and keep pushing my limits. Sharing experiences with others in the ultra cycling community has reminded me how much this sport is not just about individual performance but also about the connections we make along the way.

Race Experience: The Big Difference

Although I knew I was more prepared and stronger than the previous year, I spent the night before in and out of sleep fretting about the what-ifs. But standing at the start with other racers excitement took over, I was itching to get going.

The first stage took us from Alghero on the west coast, across the island to the east. Setting off at 6:04 a.m , I quickly settled into a rhythm, feeling more comfortable with my own pace this year. I knew I’d be overtaken early on, but instead of feeling disheartened, I embraced it, enjoying the quick “Ciao!” or “Good luck!” as riders passed by. The weather was on our side and not as hot as the previous year, and the scenery was as breathtaking as I remembered. I reached the first checkpoint earlier than expected, arriving at 19:10 on Friday evening.

My next smart move was getting a hot meal — pasta! Thoughts of pushing through the night crossed my mind, but I stuck to my plan, knowing how important it was to stay disciplined. Though I felt strong, the risk of burning out loomed. So, I checked into the checkpoint hotel for 90 minutes of sleep, reminding myself that rest was part of the strategy.

The Night Ride and Early Setbacks
Heading back out into the night, I knew this was when fatigue would start to hit. But this year, the sensation felt familiar — I knew what tiredness felt like and, more importantly, that I could push through it.

My first goal was to reach a town where I had planned to resupply, but I arrived hours earlier than expected, long before anything opened. Luckily, I found a vending machine, enough to get me through the next stretch.

By mid-afternoon, I reached the second checkpoint, ahead of schedule once again. Remembering there was a grocery store just before the checkpoint, I stocked up on supplies. Again, the temptation to keep riding was there, but my plan held me back. The previous night had been bitterly cold, and since I hadn’t packed for outdoor sleeping beyond an emergency bivvy, the risk of pushing on felt too great. So, I checked into a hotel for even earlier sleep this time.

The Final Push
Setting off just before sunset for the final stage, I felt a surge of excitement. I was still feeling good and started dreaming about a sunrise finish. But the night didn’t unfold quite as smoothly as I’d hoped.

Not long after leaving the second checkpoint, I hit a section I remembered from the previous year — steep, relentless, and challenging. It was no easier this time. I hit my lowest point of the race here, struggling to stay mentally positive while having to get off and walk. I’ve been learning to accept that walking isn’t failure. It’s still progress, still forward movement. But in the middle of the night, in the dark, those thoughts were hard to hold onto.

Eventually, I ascended, got back on the bike, and kept moving. Less faffing. More focus. I was about 100 km from the finish when another challenge struck. Suddenly, I couldn’t change gears.

At first, I assumed my SRAM battery had died — not a big deal since I’d brought a spare. I swapped it out, but the issue persisted. I realised I could shift down but not back up. But I hadn’t brought spare batteries for the hoods.

Panic set in. I was tired, it was the middle of the night, and I was far from anywhere. My initial thought was That’s it, race over.

But then I calmed myself. I thought it through. I could swap the battery from my power meter to the hood. I didn’t need power data as much as I needed functioning gears. Fumbling with the tiny parts in the dark, I finally managed the swap — but it didn’t work. The power meter still registered, and the gears didn’t respond.

Again, my mind went straight to I’ll have to stop.

But something had shifted this year. My mental resilience was stronger. My logical side was quicker to respond than it had been in the past. I told myself: I need to get to the finish either way, so I might as well keep moving and do the best I can.

The next seven hours were tough. I had to stop to shift gears manually when absolutely necessary. On the climbs, my cadence was painfully low, and on flats and descents, I spun at an awkwardly fast cadence. But I kept moving. And as the sun rose, I was only a few hours from the finish.

Crossing the Line
At 9:44 a.m, I rolled into Alghero. My total time: 51 hours and 40 minutes — nearly 8 hours faster than the year before.

Crossing the line, I didn’t feel the same pain as I had in 2023. I wasn’t broken. I felt strong, capable, and proud.

One outcome from the race was finishing as the first female and placing 12th overall out of 37 finishers. While this is a result I’m proud of, it’s actually the last thing I think about when reflecting on the experience.

Being so new to ultra cycling, I’ve never entered an event to compete against others. My goals are always centered around the things I can control — my preparation, mindset, and personal progress. I did set myself a sub-goal of finishing a few hours earlier than the previous year, mainly so I could grab a nap before the finisher’s party!

I’m happy to say I achieved that — managing a nap, lunch, and even having the chance to cheer on other racers as they crossed the line, sharing in their moments of success.

Lessons Learnt

I still feel very much at the start of my ultra cycling journey, both on and off the bike. Each race brings opportunities to grow, to make mistakes, and to learn from them. This event was no exception.

Nutrition Improvements:
My nutrition was significantly better than the previous year, and I could feel the difference in my energy levels and recovery throughout the ride. That said, there’s still room for improvement. Fine-tuning how I fuel during long events will continue to be a focus moving forward.

Planning and Adaptability:
Planning is an area where I let myself down. Despite researching supply points, having knowledge from the previous year, and creating a rough plan of where I could stop and resupply, I hadn’t accounted for how far ahead of schedule I’d be. This meant I reached supply points before they opened and had to stop for rest at times that weren’t ideal. In one sense, being faster was a good problem to have — but it highlighted the importance of planning for multiple scenarios, including the possibility of being ahead of schedule.

Kit Adjustments:
My kit setup was almost identical to the previous year, with one key upgrade: a water bladder. This allowed me to ride longer between stops, which proved to be a great decision for both efficiency and hydration.

Minimising Faff Time:
Although my faff time was significantly better on the first day compared to previous events, it did start to creep up as the race went on. Staying focused and efficient during stops is something I’ll continue to work on in future events.

What’s Next?

Will I return for 2025? That’s my plan! In 2025, the event changes with the route now being 1,000km and will explore areas of the island I haven’t been to before.

With my sights set on completing VIA Chapter II in 2025 in July, I would love to finish my 2025 cycling year with another race in Sardinia. As the year draws to a close, it is a great late season event to end on a high.

Conclusion

Sometimes, it’s hard to see just how far you’ve come. I often find myself caught up in the details of individual rides — focusing on the days that don’t go to plan or comparing myself to others instead of recognising my own progress. Taking a step back and realising how small, consistent efforts over time can lead to significant improvements has been incredibly reassuring. Knocking almost eight hours off my previous year’s time was a huge achievement, but even more rewarding was finishing stronger, more confident, and truly feeling the progress, I had made.

Meeting other cyclists, sharing stories, and being part of this incredible community also reminded me why I love this sport so much. It’s not just about the numbers or results — it’s about personal growth, the shared experiences, and the joy of pushing your own limits.