Congratulations to Anna Friborg who broke 5 existing Female 18-49 Standard bike records on June 5-6, 2021 at the Volvo Proving Grounds in Hällered, Sandhult, Sweden on their 6,168.561 meter track. Anna set the following distance and time categories:

Exisgting Record Data Standard bike Female 18-19
Distance Event Kilometers Time Avg Sp (Km) Avg Sp (Miles) Name Age Country Date Time avg mph
100 Kilometer outdoor track 03:04:20.22 32.55 20.23 Elin Starup 45 Denmark 2020-09-19 00:03:06:06 20.03
200 Kilometer outdoor track 06:25:45.32 31.11 19.33 Elin Starup 45 Denmark 2020-09-19 00:06:27:52 19.22
300 Kilometer outdoor track 09:54:17.55 30.29 18.82 Elin Starup 45 Denmark 2020-09-19 00:10:26:50 17.84
500 Kilometer outdoor track 16:52:55.86 29.62 18.40 Elin Starup 45 Denmark 2020-09-19 00:21:00:37 14.79
Distance Event Miles Time Avg Sp (Miles) Avg Sp (Km) Name Age Country Date Time avg mph
300 Mile outdoor track 16:16:51.23 18.43 29.65 Elin Starup 45 Denmark 2020-09-19 00:19:46:50 15.17

Read all about Anna’s inspiring story:

In October 2020 I decided I was ready to go for my first 24TT. I realized that my goal of 600 km could make me a World record holder in my age group in the Category “Outdoor track”.

During the following months I was searching for a suitable track all over Sweden. So many helpful people helping me I couldn’t  find what I was looking for………. 

Until I got in contact with the Dynamite biker Jonas Bohr. He introduced  me to Volvo Hallered  Proving Ground , Boras.  

The track was perfect. A dream track! Volvo decided to let me use the track for my 24H WR attempt but we had one problem. The only possible 24 H they could let me use the track was at the National Day of Sweden since the schedule of the testing activities usually is 24/7.

 Since this took place in the beginning of May it gave me 5 weeks of preparation for the record. I realized this was the chance of my life so, when Larry Ostlund, WUCA,  gave me a thumbs up , of course I decided to go for the challenge of my life! 

A team of six members and three officials were recruited superfast( thank you so much everyone). I also contacted potential sponsors.  Meanwhile I tried to stay focused on my training program ( Thank you Richard Larsen for your patience), working at the hospital of Varberg and of course also a dedicated and proud mother of Nils, Gustav and Oskar.

And so it came…… WR attempt day!!!!

 Two days prior to the attempt I was off work, sleeping, eating, and preparing everything …….. I felt calm, focused and full of energy to start….

The weather forecast was perfect. Almost no wind during at least 12 hs……..I told myself; You might be inexperienced… But  Now or never. You can do it Anna!!!!

My WR attempt started at 6 pm the 5 of June. 300 miles, 500 km and 24 HS, outdoor track, age group 18-49 years.

 Legs and lungs felt super and I could feel the confidence from my Team assisting me. With the experienced Crew chief Christian Behre I felt I could go through fire if necessary.

I followed my Energyplan by the book. Thanks to the very light wind conditions my speed was much higher than estimated. My six minutes every three hours was not necessary. Two and a half was good enough. 

The team was cheering me up  every lap and the car behind made me feel even more focused and motivated. The darkness came around 11 pm, and suddenly I felt a bit mentally tired. Struggled for a while, trying to follow the marked lines. 

It was hard. Crew chief noticed it and ordered me to take a brake. That was the wake up signal I needed! Awake and alert again and still going…… No more mental tiredness during the darkness…. I make a stop early to put on some clothes . Tic tac tic tac….. clock was ticking on and I was still in a good shape when the sun was rising. Put off some clothes and went on the bike again. My nutrition plan was working so well. The team was working like they had never done anything else in life…. How could they possibly interact so professionally? 

 

Lap after lap I came closer to my first record attempt ; 300 miles. I revived heads up telling myself I could make the record not only for my own age group record but the “overall” female record!!! That information hit me and gave me so much extra fuel!!! 

I was thinking a while but made up my mind quickly.  I decided to go as hard as possible for both 300 miles and 500 km female “overall” records. That was so much more than I ever expected I could deliver. But I also knew that by making that decision my goal of 600 km could be threatened. 

The day was getting warmer and warmer . The 2021 has been so cold, windy and rough so the heat was a new condition for me this year. I started to drink even more. I gave everything I had and managed to set new potential  record times for both 300 miles and 500 kms!! What an outburst!! 

The heat became even stronger, and my headache was coming up. The last 100 kms to reach 600 kms was a struggle. Many breaks, cooling down treatments. Crew chief and the team members tried to talk me through but I was still sure I wanted to end when I reached 600 km. Then the dizziness came. I took even more breaks. Suddenly it was hard to continue to drink. I reach 600 km after 22hs and 10 minutes. Crew chief did his best to make me continue but I couldn’t motivate myself. two potential records far beyond the limits I thought I had and 600 km that was my final goal. I declared I wanted to finish and so I did. 

So happy and overwhelmed by the service from WUCA, Volvo cars, my Team and Officials. 

Thank you all for making this WR attempt so special in many ways. A memory for life!

Thank you for reading

Best regards from Sweden and take Care 

Anna