In September I was asked to guest (race for a team I am not part of) for Race scene Female Development Academy (RFDA) for the first ever edition of the Volta a Portugal Feminina. The Volta a Portugal Feminina is a 4 day stage race on the roads surrounding Portugal's capital city Lisbon.

The race began with a team presentation in the centre of Lisbon where each team introduced on a stage in front of the press and major sponsors. After, we had a 15 minute neutralised ride through Lisbon to a ferry port. We were accompanied by a full police escort and it was so cool to be a part of such a big race in a different country. We were then all put onto a car ferry to get across to the other side of the estuary where the official start of stage 1 took place. This was such an amazing start to the tour with lots of supporters cheering us on and stopped cars all honking their horns! I controlled the front of the peloton until the hills started in the last 15km where I stuck to my own rhythm and dug deep to hold the wheels. I finished the stage in 43rd but nervous for the next stage with even more climbing.

Stage 2 hills suited me much better than the first stage so I felt much happier with my performance, I was mega happy to have stuck in on the first long climb which was about 10km long. Following a long descent to the bottom of the mountain, we climbed from the other side and I was still in the front group. The peloton split and I was in the 3rd group on the road, I stuck to my own tempo and led my group. I took a bottle from my team car half way up and squirted it over my head for a much needed cool down in the heat, only to find out later it was a bright pink energy drink, which turned my jersey pink and left a sticky mess. No regrets, I was really needing that cool off on the climb! I finished in 36th moving up the general classification.

Time trial day started off with the entire race and officials getting a covid test. My team then went to pre ride the 10km TT, a 5km climb and then 5km descent back down. The climb was horrendous! It was so steep and I was not expecting the climb to be that steep for so long. I was getting really nervous, the climb did not suit my style; it was too steep for me. Before I knew it I was on the start ramp and hit the climb with the plan to not have anything left for the top for it was a downhill all the way to the finish. Manuel from Portugal, who drove us to the races and supported us for the entire tour, offered to drive behind me in the van as we only had 1 team car. He was awesome and honked the horn the entire way to give me and extra boost. Near the top of the 5km climb I could see my minute rider so I knew that I was on for a good ride. I caught her just before the long descent and used my off road skills to get the 5th fastest time down the hill. When I finished I was spent, I went all out. I was immediately informed that I had to provide a sample for anti doping. I was escorted to antidoping and spent the next 4 hours there. My first ever anti doping test and it was an experience I will never forget. I was too hydrated so I had to stay and wait to dehydrate. After 3 hours the head official bought me some beer to dehydrate, I was fortunate that it worked and I could get back to the hotel. I finished 24th and 7th Junior - which meant prize money! My best stage of the tour and very unforgettable with anti doping too.

Stage 4 was 91km and the longest stage of the tour as well as the longest road race I've done. It had a hilly start and flat finish. After 8km I could tell that my legs were not good and it would be a long stage, as I spent so long stuck at anti doping, I had recovered badly and I was feeling it. To make matters worse the heat was 370C and I was feeling terrible, it was the closest I've come to a long time to dropping out the race. But, I stuck in and rode in a grupetto as the 2nd group on the road. I ended up in 38th winning the sprint in my group and doing much better than I thought. I had finished a big international road race and I loved every moment.

Overall, this race was incredible. It was nothing like I had ever done before and I am so grateful to RFDA for giving me this opportunity to race. I finished 39th on GC and 12th Junior, not bad for an off roader! Check out the video which was made for the team to see more about the race.