World Championship 24-Hour Time Trial 2024 Recap: Racing Time and Terrain in Borrego Springs, California

Introduction
A few weeks ago, we took on the 24-Hour World Time Trial Championships in Borrego Springs, California. This isn’t our first time at this intense race, but every year, the challenge of pushing through 24 hours of nonstop cycling is just as daunting racing against time and terrain. With non-drafting rules, each rider races against their own limits, relying on personal endurance, power, and sheer mental stamina. Supported by a crew of five, my husband Mads and I gave it our all, battling time, exhaustion, and the desert’s unforgiving conditions.

Pre-Race Preparations

Arriving in Los Angeles the Monday before race day, we had a few days to settle in. The nine-hour time difference took a toll, leaving us feeling jet-lagged and drained every evening. Despite this, Mads and our mechanic Anton prepared the bikes and we tested the route. The rough, uneven tarmac in Borrego Springs poses a unique challenge, requiring careful adjustments to stay comfortable in aero position -essential for conserving energy over such a long race.

Race Day: The First Pedal Strokes

Race day finally arrived on Friday, November 1st, with a 5 p.m. start. We spent the day resting, gathering our race numbers, checking in our bikes, and our crew set up a solid pit area. After a light meal and race briefing, the minutes flew by. By 5 p.m., the starting gun fired, sending us off in small groups.

My focus was to find my own pace, keeping to a power target without getting distracted by others. The race demands strategy—too much early speed, and the fatigue will hit hard later. I completed the first four laps without stopping, staying consistent with my planned watts and conserving energy. The race had begun, and it was time to dig in. With a 2nd and 3rd place in 2021 and 2022 a podium spot was the main target but with such a strong field of women it was tough right from the gun.

Into the Night: Facing Fatigue and the Desert’s Cold

In Borrego Springs, sunset brings a drastic drop in temperature. Around 6 p.m., I started feeling the cold, though I’d prepared by wearing arm and knee warmers to delay the need for extra layers. By midnight, fatigue was setting in, and my wattage began to decline. A quick pit stop allowed me to put on more layers, including shoe covers, gloves, and a neck warmer, to fight off the desert chill.

My watts were below target, but with the crew’s help, I made adjustments to keep my pace. Ultra-endurance races like this require flexibility – strategies shift as you hit new physical and mental walls.

Early Morning and the Struggle to Stay Awake

In the early morning hours, around 4 a.m., sleepiness hit hard. My eyes struggled to stay open, and after 16 hours of racing, it felt like my body was ready to give in. I took a necessary but costly 10-minute break to rest my eyes. Though it cost me valuable time, the brief pause helped me regain some strength and mental clarity. The crew refueled me with food, and I pushed back onto the course, re-energized but trailing behind the leaders.

Sunrise Brings Hope – and the Wind Picks Up

As the sun rose with 10 hours left, my spirits lifted, but the motivation soon waned. In most European races, the sunrise signals the race is almost over. Here, we still had 10 hours to push through, and the feeling was overwhelming. My crew kept me going with encouragement, helping me shed warm layers and refocus on the race.

With around four hours left, the wind picked up. Crosswinds hit hard across the terrain on parts of the course, and I couldn’t stay in my aero bars. Three hours before the finish, the race organization announced that we would have to change into the shorter loop 1h30 earlier than planned due to increasing wind. On this shorter loop, two parts had strong crosswinds, and sand blewing across the road, reducing visibility to about 100 meters.

With around 1 hour and 10 minutes left, the race organizers announced that the race would end 30 minutes early due to the wind and sand. The crew called to tell me that I could secure 5th place if I managed two more laps on the short loop. I had been riding the earlier loops in roughly 17 minutes due to the strong wind.

The last push – Racing Time and Terrain

When I came through the pit for the last time, I had just 15 minutes left — each lap only counts to your total distance if you finish it before the time runs out. The crew shouted that I needed to get around one more time to secure 5th place, which meant doing the lap two minutes faster than before. I was exhausted but dug deep for one final push. Through the pit and off I went. I pushed as hard as I could with 23 hours of racing against time and terrain in my legs.

The first part with crosswind was tough. I knew a right turn was coming, followed by a tailwind section where I could catch my breath and take a sip of water. Another crosswind part with blowing sand, a right turn, and then a part with strong headwind to the finish. My heartrate was high, and I was gasping for breath, but I could see the finish line. Time hadn’t run out yet. One last deep breath, and I powered through. I crossed the finish line just in time, securing 5th place. Not the result I came for, but we fought until the end, climbing in rank in the final hours racing against time and terrain.

Reflecting on the Race

Why didn’t things go as planned? I simply didn’t cover enough distance. It wasn’t my best day, and fatigue and sleepiness slowed me down. My crew, however, was exceptional, helping me stay warm, hydrated, and mentally focused through each challenge.

Each ultra-race offers lessons, and this year was no different. I’m returning home stronger and with more knowledge to fuel the next adventure racing against time and terrain. To our dedicated crew and supporters—thank you. And to our sponsors, your support makes these incredible experiences possible. Now, it’s time for the off-season to recover, reflect, and prepare for what’s next!

Thank you to everyone who followed our journey and cheered us on – see you next season!