LC__CC member story: Jo Daly’s ride at La Reine

All-women's closed-road sportive in Gstaad

We caught up with LC__CC ambassador Jo Daly fresh from the Swiss Alps after she conquered La Reine, a 140km, all-women's closed-road sportive in Gstaad. From feeling like a pro on the road to discovering the power of community and the mindset shifts that carried her through every climb, Jo shares her biggest takeaways, favourite memories, and advice for women dreaming of their own alpine challenge.

Did any moments during the ride stand out as unforgettable?

It's hard to pinpoint just one moment because, honestly, La Reine was the perfect ride. There was one moment, before the final climb, when Abby and I were smashing it along a rare flat stretch and one of the motorbike support riders came alongside with Elle Linton (the event's social media manager) videoing us - and we were going so fast and our legs felt so strong - for a second I let myself believe we were in a professional road race. For just a few seconds, we felt like pros. It was AMAZING!!!

What are the lessons you have learned from the journey?

Good waterproofs are essential when doing anything in the UK! Also I think I have learnt to go with the flow a bit more. Don't force things. Listen to the body and take each day as it comes. There's always issues that can occur.

What role did the KWCC and LC__CC community play during the ride?

My support network at KWCC and LC_CC were instrumental in helping me train and participate in the event. On a club level, there were always training partners to go on rides with and a wealth of experience to tap up via the club's online forum - questions about travel, fuelling, sportive tips and tricks were all answered quickly and often with very sage advice. With the kind donations of club members, we also managed to raise £2,000 for London's Air Ambulance! Excellent kit is critical to a long season of training and that all-important day in the saddle. My trusty LC_CC bib shorts and club aero jersey made sure I was comfortable. It's always a pleasure to rep excellent kit but it's so important to be able to rely on the kit too.

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Any favourite memories from the trip with the club on and off the bike?

The day after the event, a group of us went for a bit of a hike before we had to leave for the airport. It was such a treat to be able to spend time in the hills we'd been whizzing through the day before and take in the stunning scenery. At one stage, we stumbled out of a forest into a clearing high up on a cliff edge - and found a wooden bed that someone had built, to enjoy the view. It was breathtaking. I'd never been to the Swiss Alps before but I left a bit of my heart there.

What did you learn from the ride, about riding, or about yourself?

This year I promised myself that I would try and master 'focus, discipline and gratitude' in my on-bike performance. They were the three things that Dr Sarah Ruggins (the female cyclist who smashed the JOGLEJOG record in May by a whopping 6 hours - I'm a HUGE fan) said she used to fuel her mental performance. Every time you feel yourself getting lost in your head, with limiting thoughts or feelings of overwhelm - have some discipline and bring your mind back to what is important to think about in that moment. Every time you feel yourself dithering or questioning or catastrophising aspects of training or the event - focus on the things you can control and control them. And every time you whine or complain or wonder why you're even putting yourself through it - be grateful that you can even attempt it. It's hard to explain the impact these thoughts had on my physical performance, but they were profound. It kept my head clear and razor sharp, and it also kept a smile on my face. Happy heart = fast legs.

For other women who want to participate in La Reine in the future,what advice would you give them?

My advice for women who want to give mass participation sportives (including La Reine) a go, is start training early. If you leave it till Easter, you're probably not giving yourself the right amount of time to build a strong endurance base, while also factoring in the recovery time required to arrive at the start line fully adapted and ready to perform at your best. I dialled up the training in January, building up to an FTP test in February so by the end of the Feb half term, I was able to go to Gran Canaria for a week and really lean into a big hill climbing block. That really accelerated my performance into the spring, and it enabled me to train to both a distance and elevation that surpassed the event parkour. I think it's important to feel the confidence that comes from knowing you've come very close to, if not surpassed, the distance and elevation of the parkour you're riding. I did the Dragon Ride in 2022 - it was my first sportive - and I only managed to train to 8,000ft and 90 miles. And I spent the entire event freaking out about how I'd manage an extra 4,000ft and 40 miles. Of course, I managed it somehow and I survived, but the mental energy spent worrying was draining - probably more draining than the effort of completing the course!!! Don't be afraid to train the full parkour and start training early so you reap the rewards on the day!