The Successful Cycling Journey of Henrique Avancini 🏆

In our latest podcast episode, Brazilian mountain bike pro Henrique Avancini takes us through his inspiring journey into the world of cycling. Henrique is one of the most accomplished mountain bikers in history, and his journey from Brazil to the top of the sport is nothing short of remarkable. As the first Brazilian to win a UCI Mountain Bike World Championship title in 2018, where he claimed gold in the Marathon event, Henrique broke barriers and inspired a new generation of riders in his home country.

Henrique continued to make history with a victory in the XCO World Cup race in Nové Město in 2020, becoming the first Brazilian to win a World Cup race. In 2023, he added another highlight to his career by securing his second Marathon World Champion title, further cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greats. Beyond his accolades, Henrique has been a driving force in promoting mountain biking in Brazil, growing the sport’s popularity and laying the foundation for future talent.

What is the Connection Between This Career and a Faster You?

In the final years of his career, Henrique was coached by Björn Kafka, one of the key figures behind a faster you. During this time, Henrique relied on our Powertest and Björn's expertise to successfully conclude his career. This conclusion marked the crowning achievement of Henrique's long journey in professional mountain biking: he again became World Champion in the XC Marathon.

An Inspiring Conversation with Eva-Maria Sperger 🧠

In this episode, we dive into an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation with trail and ultra runner Eva-Maria Sperger, who is not only an accomplished athlete but also a psychologist. The discussion centers on the intersection of mental and physical performance in endurance sports, providing valuable insights from both an athlete's and a coach’s perspective.

The podcast is only available in German. 🗣🇩🇪

From the Athlete's Perspective

Eva-Maria answers pressing questions about dealing with high-pressure situations, such as pre-race anxiety, panic attacks, or sleepless nights. She shares strategies for managing these moments and explains the mental tools that help her stay focused and resilient during competition. Additionally, Eva-Maria reveals how she endures physical pain during races and discusses techniques to push beyond her limits while staying in control.

Negative thoughts during races are a challenge for many athletes, and Eva-Maria explains how she combats these moments to maintain mental strength and regain focus. She also emphasizes the importance of setting meaningful and realistic goals, striking a balance between ambition and sustainability to maximize both physical and mental performance over the long term.

From the Coach's Perspective

The conversation also touches on the essential role of the coach-athlete relationship. We explore how a coach can build and maintain trust with their athletes, providing strategies to foster a supportive and empowering dynamic. Eva-Maria discusses how coaches can guide athletes in understanding the value of rest and recovery, especially when they feel they aren't training "enough." She highlights approaches for communicating the importance of regeneration and avoiding overtraining.

Another key topic is overcoming mental barriers in competition. Eva-Maria offers insights into helping athletes who struggle to perform at their maximum capacity during races, even when they reach peak performance in training. The discussion covers psychological and physical techniques to help athletes unlock their potential on race day and overcome these mental roadblocks.

A Unique Blend of Psychology and Sport

This episode provides a rare glimpse into the mind of an elite athlete who also has expertise in psychology. Eva-Maria’s dual perspective bridges the gap between mental and physical performance, offering practical advice for athletes, coaches, and anyone striving to achieve their goals. Whether you're looking to refine your mental strategies or deepen your understanding of the athlete-coach relationship, this episode delivers invaluable insights into the world of high-performance sports.

At a faster you, we’ve recently been working on some exciting updates and tackling a lot of maintenance to improve our platform. We’re putting the finishing touches on these changes and can’t wait to share some exciting news with you very soon. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! 😊

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