JANA GIGELE
AGE: 26 | BORN IN AUSTRIA | LIVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AUSTRIAN ALPS
MEET JANA GIGELE
How did you start cycling?
After my retirement of professional skiing I tried a couple of different endurance sports and my friends were pretty much into cycling at that moment. So, in the age of 23 I got influenced by friends and started cycling.
What kind of cycling do you do?
I like the variety of MTB, Gravel and Road. But preferred I do road cycling. Above all I like to ride alpine passes.
What is your AURUM bike and why did you choose it?
I do ride Aurum Magma and Aurum Manto. I chose them because I have a passion for special bikes, which are fast, light and have an modern design.
Do you have a favourite route? Which one and why?
It’s not excatly a specific route, it’s a specific region with a lot of alpine passes. The area is called Graubünden in Switzerland, close to the Austrian border.
How do you prepare for a cycling trip? Do you have a special routine?
Well, in general I always check the route first to avoid unexpected incidents and I also think about the food I carry with me and the appropriate clothes.
What other sports do you do to complement cycling?
Due to my fulltime job it’s a matter of time, but I really try to do full body workouts or strength training to avoid imbalance and bring my cycling performance to a higher level. When I have days off, I also love to go for a hike in the mountains.
How do you manage nutrition before and after a bike ride?
Usually I try to eat 2-3 hours before the ride, so that my body has enough time to digest. Afterwards I often drink a recovery shake and try to fill up my carbs. All in all I eat very variably and healthy. But of course I can’t live without sweets as well.
Do you have any advice for those looking to buy their first bike?
I know some people who bought a very cheap bike to try the sport. I would not recommend to do this, because I’m convinced that this sport will catch you and it makes way more fun with good equipment. It’s pretty cool to ride a bike with an electronical groupset, which is aerodynamic and super light. You will find your perfect bike on the AURUM website.
How has cycling influenced your social life?
Good question. I have to admit that cycling had a big impact to my social life. It’s a community sport and thats why I met so many cool people around the world and had the chance to experience other countries in a different way. In addition to that I also could build up a community in my hometown which is also a big benefit and motivation for the sport.
How do you make sure you avoid injuries? Do you have a warm-up routine?
In one hand it’s important that your bike is perfectly fitted to your body and on the other hand it’s super important to compensate cycling with another sport. For me the key to avoid injuries i to work against imbalance and also to recover hard inbetween training sessions.
Is there a cyclist you admire and why?
I really admire Elisa Longo Borghini. She is not only a hard working and very good cyclist with the best downhill skills, she also seems to be a very sympathic and a fair sportsman. In the mens field Wout van Aert is a rider who really impresses me. His skills in almost every discipline, his team spirit and the fact that he is one of the completest rider in the world blows my mind.
