Recently proclaimed World Trial Champion for the 9th time, Laia Sanz has earned her place among the Spanish sporting elite. Hard work, sacrifice and professionalism have formed this sportswoman, and year after year she proves that she is in a class of her own in her speciality. This season she has not given comfort to any of her rivals, winning each and every one of the five rounds she has competed in.
Ninth world title: mission accomplished…
I suppose so, I am very pleased because after winning the European title the main thing this season was this one. Now let’s see if we can round the year off with the Trial of Nations.
How did today’s trial go?
It was more complicated than we could have thought yesterday because after seeing the zones we all thought it was going to be very easy. In fact, on the first lap I did a zero but then it began to rain and it became more complicated. Luckily I was one of the first to go out and I upped the pace to finish the zones quickly and so not spend so much time in the rain. I did things well and as then it got more complicated and so I was able to set a big difference.
That is part of your secret is it not? Concentration in the easy zones and technique in the difficult ones.
Well yes, because in easy zones the classification is much tighter and any mistake is very costly. On the other hand, the more difficult a trial is the more you can mark the differences. In an easy trial it is very important not to lose your concentration and not to make silly mistakes, but when you come across more difficult zones, or it rains for example, that is really when you see a rider`s technique.
With the current points system in the overall, where only the best two results count, were you able to take things more calmly, knowing that you had another chance next week?
The pressure is always there, and if I did not win today I had to play it all on one card next week. So there was a lot of pressure to do things well today, so that I would not be disappointed next Friday. I always go out to win, and I went out very calmly today, but the pressure is always there.
Tomorrow you compete again, in the World Junior, and next week another race. In trial it seems you never have time to celebrate anything, you are back competing right away?
The truth is that we never stop these days, but well, today we will have a good dinner, and we will get time to celebrate in the future, You can bet on that!
