Arlenis Sierra: Sporting mastery at the rhythm of her pedals

January 14, 2020

Arlenis Sierra is a cyclist who continues to grow and amaze us with her performances. Perhaps one of the few pending matters for the 1.63 meter tall, 57 kilogram cyclist from Manzanillo is eliminating her nervousness when being interviewed.

With the Olympic horizon of Tokyo 2020 in sight, the number 16 on the World-977 women's road ranking, dominated by the outstanding 20-year-old Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes (2,259.33 points), concluded a dream season as a standout for the Astana Women's Team.

On her competitive year and planning to face these crucial months prior to the major Japanese event, the selected best athlete of Cuba among those under contract, has expressed the following:

"I believe the Pan American Games is one of the most important events Cuba has after the Olympics. My participation on the track was not entirely satisfactory, but I'm not dissatisfied either. It was the first time I raced the Omnium and at first I thought I wouldn't achieve any result. In the last two events I improved to ultimately reach the bronze medal.

In the time trial I had a mishap with the bicycle, something that is common and part of the sport. On the road everything went well. I was the focus of the race and that added pressure and difficulty. Since it didn't have the level of the races I usually compete in Europe, it made it somewhat monotonous, but at the same time I should have been more attentive to what could happen with my rivals.

Then I came to my second World road championship and I faced it alone. Much demand and complication because, for example, the Dutch brought seven riders out of a total of 152 women from 49 nations entered. They are very strong athletes, the circuit is more adaptable to their characteristics and the Europeans know it better.

All of that made it more complicated for me, but I'm very happy with this result. I thought I would get a better position, but I believe 12th place is not bad, plus obtaining the qualification for the Olympic Games.

In fact, in Tokyo the road will be complex, but at the same time less stressful given that there will be only 67 riders and the decisions are less risky. The course will be similar to that of Rio de Janeiro, more difficult than normal and it will be decided almost at the end, since there is a climb close to nine kilometers".

By the way, Tokyo will be the second Olympics for Arlenis, who in Rio de Janeiro 2016 at age 23 finished in 28th place in a race dominated by Dutch cyclist Anna van der Breggen (3:51:27 hours). In the Asian nation, a quartet of cyclists from Australia, Germany, Italy, Holland, and the United States will compete.

"Now in January I will spend the entire month in Australia, to compete until February 6th in the Australian road circuit. From there I return to Italy to compete in the Valencia Tour, in Spain, after which I would return for a brief time to Cuba.

Then, I would be participating in the World Cup stops held in Italy, Belgium, and Holland, before returning to Cuba to finalize details of my preparation.

A more intense competitive schedule than that of 2019, since then I had almost a month between one event and another. In May I will return to the American California Tour".

How much has being three years under contract with Astana Club, being one of its standouts, contributed to you in every way?

"I think having this opportunity in a European team and the confrontation with all these elite road cyclists makes you change both your mentality and your experience on the bicycle. You see everything, from nutrition to what to do in a race, before the race, how to plan your training system… there are two different levels when you are in Latin America and then in Europe.

You perceive it when racing, even though the pressure increases when you come from Europe to compete in an American event, because it generates additional pressure the fact that they see you as a superior cyclist, plus the individual commitment it entails for one".

"I am disciplined, when it comes to training, before I wasn't so much, now I am. With the years experience gives you that too. Sometimes when you don't have all your objectives clear, that happens. When you put all of that on the scale, it makes you more aware and commit yourself to the maximum".

My family, who has given me unconditional support, everything is fine, my friends admire me. These are things that shouldn't influence the career of a professional athlete, although they always do.

On the team as well, I know I have the best team, I say it in terms of human quality, beyond their competitive level. Any problem we try to solve it together… That is very important.

Regarding leadership there is no problem. Today they work for me, but tomorrow it could be me working for whoever assumes that position in the future without any issues.

Definitely 2019 was a good year, perhaps not with the same results from a quantitative point of view that I had in previous seasons, but good ones, especially in races in which I had not participated before. Having a global vision is very important and of great value for when you then get on the bicycle".