All editions Belgian Pieter Heemeryck started at CHALLENGEDAVOS. Not with the slightest success, because he was runner-up twice in the Swiss mountains and once, last year, he won the iconic race. This year he will be at the start again and on August 29th he will do everything he can to defend his title. “I have beautiful memories here and I’m really looking forward to race in Davos again.”
Defending his title motivates Heemeryck enormously, but also the fact that there will be a very strong pro field at the start of this years edition of CHALLENGEDAVOS . “I love races with a big list of strong competitors and with the athletes now on the starting list, you could speak of a kind of World Championship. I will do everything in my power to be at my strongest at the end of August.”
‘I have been able to experience that period much more intensely’
Heemeryck has just returned from altitude training, has been training very hard the last few months, but misses the feeling of racing enormously. “At the beginning of April my second son was born. Due to the lack of races, I have been able to experience that period much more intensely. But of course I can’t wait to race again, because now all the weeks go by in which you would normally race. Luckily I don’t have any motivation problems. In addition, I have stuck to the idea that this period without races can not last forever.”
‘Save my best form for the end of August’
One of the things Heemeryck did to motivate himself was with some alternative challenges he set himself and that will continue for some time to come. “Like, for example, my dream of ever running under 30 minutes over ten kilometers. Anyway, my focus is now on CHALLENGEDAVOS and my form is good. Not quite perfect yet, but we’ll save that for the end of August.”
