Premiere

Yet another cycling blog, or is it? Well, yes, in a way it’s exactly like that but with a slightly different angle. I think, I am not totally sure and honestly, I am a beginner at this, writing a blog for everyone to read. It’s a bit daunting since I am not 100% confident in myself but what can go wrong here.

For starters, English is not my native tongue and I wouldn’t consider myself as fluent in the language, so expect some errors on a regular basis. My native language is Swedish, and Sweden is the country I was born and raised. This blog will not be so much about Sweden but the cycling in Guatemala where I moved a couple of years ago to be with my girlfriend, sorry, fiancé (still getting used to that). In Guatemala I got in touch with the cycling community quickly and this is the story about how I navigate on the Guatemalan cycling scene with all cultural clashes, beautiful Guatemalan climbs, drunk drivers and everything that comes with trying to stay with the Guatemalan elite peloton and the life around it. It’s been an amazing journey so far and it’s far from over.

I am 31 years old and have been racing my bike in Guatemala for two years. Due to responsibilities back in the homeland I have just been able to race half seasons so far and haven’t yet been able to race “la Vuelta”. Vuelta Guatemala, a 10 stages long race in late October which is part of the America tour calendar. My Spanish is very weak which I am a bit of ashamed of and the average knowledge of English in Guatemala is very low which makes for some communication difficulties at times. The cycling community is where integrate with the society and the locals, then we speak the same “language” and have the same culture. Out goes Guatemalan frijoles and Swedish meatballs and ABBA and marimba music is long gone, it’s all about the passion of the sport of cycling and I have to say I never could have dreamed of being so welcomed as I have been by many people in the cycling community.