This photo was taken on a Monday morning in Mossel Bay. Cherie Vale Redecker and Mariske Strauss are in picture, warming up for the first stage of the 2016 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen. Already in their leaders jersey, they were streets ahead of the competition.
Fast forward to the present day and both Mariske and Cherie are starting another international cross-country campaign. And while Mariske competed in the 2017 UCI MTB World Cup for OMX Pro Bike Team, Cherie spent last year as an individual rider, sponsored by her husband if I recall correctly. Not that this has slowed her down.
I recall bumping into Cherie in the warm up area at Albstadt 2017. On a bright and sunny Bavarian day, Cherie was doing what most pro riders do a half-hour before 90-ish minutes of anaerobic hell: riding the rollers in that intense place known as the "Warm Up Area", albeit in plain kit. Shade is often scarce in this place, as is attested by the supporting "sambreel" photo and "spinning video." But Cherie had marked her spot close to a fence underneath a tree. She related how she was happy with her form and adjusting to life in Germany. We'll see what my husband say, she said, upon my inquiring of her World Cup plans moving forward that year. But Cherie seemed totally at peace and content with her status, rolling away with a smile on her face and happier than hell to be part of the action. And she didn't disappoint, what with her consistent performance.
So it was great to read today of Cherie's signing for HEAD CICLO XC Team, a professional cross-country squad that will help take her to the next level. Sure, it's challenging out there in the big, bad world of pro sports. But perseverance and having a clear idea of what you want can certainly help make a dreams come true.
Well done Cherie, onward and upward in your career.
Jolly good show!
