The fact that Alla is riding the UCI Track Champions League at all is a remarkable achievement. The Ukrainian was marked out as one of the sport’s brightest talents when she won three medals in total at the 2021 UCI Junior Track World Championships and UEC Junior European Championships, but then war erupted in her homeland in 2022.
Amidst the turmoil that ensued, Alla and her family were forced to move to Lithuania so she could continue her training, and in October this year she was awarded a place on the UCI World Cycling Centre’s track programme.
Since then, the 20 year old has gone from strength to strength and we caught up with her ahead of Round 3 to find out more about her unique story, and how excited she is to be racing this season:
Alla… first things first, is it true that you attended the UCI Track Champions League last season as a fan?
Yes it is! I was there in both Mallorca and Berlin to support some of my friends who were competing. I really enjoyed it and was amazed by the scale of the production, and how much the fans enjoyed it.
How crazy is it that one year later, you’re actually competing in it?
Honestly, I dreamt about taking part in it back then, so yes, it is crazy that it happened so quickly. Whilst I am over the moon to be competing, I am also keen to prove myself at this senior level, and show that I am worthy to represent my country.
What are your ambitions for this season?
I also want to use the UCI Track Champions League to gain experience from the riders I’m competing against, but more generally, I want to keep progressing, achieve better results and performances. As well as competing in the UCI Track Champions League, I also want to take part in the UCI Nations Cup, UEC European and UCI Track Cycling World Championships next year.
The last few years must have been really tough for you. How much has your life changed since the war in your homeland began?
After the start of the war in my country, it was very difficult for me to focus on, or continue, my training. I was very upset and didn't know how to cope. When it began I was competing in Turkey. My brother called me at five o'clock in the morning from Kharkiv and told me he was hiding in our basement. I felt powerless because I couldn’t help him.
My team and I were given the opportunity to be housed in Lithuania so we could continue training in safety. We ended up staying there for 18 months. For a while it was very difficult, being in a foreign country, but over time, I got used to it and began to train more. My brother eventually joined me there too. It was very difficult to get him out of Ukraine because he is still small.
My parents still haven’t been able to leave. Our home is in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is currently in the Russian-occupied territory, and I only have limited contact with them. It is very difficult to talk about it.
How did you end up at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, and how much are you enjoying it there?
I was invited to join the Track Programme after the European Championships and I arrived there in September. At first everything was very unfamiliar and it felt strange to be away from my old team and coach, but I received a lot of support and soon settled in. I really appreciate how they treat me, take care of me, and help me, and I arrive at every training session with a smile on my face.
Does everything that’s happening in your homeland inspire you, in some way? And have you heard about how you might be inspiring people back in Ukraine as well?
I have 100% been inspired by people back home - especially my friends and family - and it fuels me to improve so I can hopefully give them a better life.
As for me inspiring Ukrainians, after the 2021 UEC Junior European Championships in Apeldoorn [where she earned a silver medal in the Keirin] strangers from back home were congratulating me, and the military wrote to me to commend me for my performance, saying that I’d inspired them. Those words could not have made me more proud.
How much are you enjoying competing in the UCI Track Champions League?
A lot. I look forward to each and every round and I have already made some new friends. The camaraderie between the riders is really strong.
How does it feel to compete in front of big crowds, week after week?
I really like that experience. It’s so nice to hear the fans supporting me, and cheering me on. It's very inspiring.
We've already seen some of your great posts on your Instagram account this season. Is this something you particularly enjoy doing?
Yes, I definitely enjoy making videos and posting them on social media. I like it when people leave comments and support me. It helps me take my mind off the racing and allows me to relax a bit. I also like to draw, for the same reasons.
And finally, can you describe the UCI Track Champions League in one word?
Awesome!
