hips don't lie: Checking in: Sri Lankan adventures and ski escapes with Victoria Pendleton

By
Sarah Ewing

PUBLISHED:

13:11 EST, 25 January 2013

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UPDATED:

13:11 EST, 25 January 2013

Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton has peddled her way around the world to various competitions, but when it comes to holidays she says you just can’t beat backpacking in Sri Lanka or hitting the slopes in Switzerland…

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Peddling champion: Victoria Pendleton is now making more time to travel since retiring from cycling

Most memorable destination?

Sri Lanka, when I went to the Jetwing Vil Uyana eco resort three years ago. We stayed in a hut on stilts in what appears to be the middle of a paddy field. We were surrounded by nature and cultural sites that dated back to 400 AD. Luxury is great, but I enjoy backpacking, too.

Describe it in three words

Relaxing, quiet, inspiring.

What are the best things to do while you’re there?

Try the three-alarm curries – some of the hottest curries in existence. Thankfully, they toned them down a little for us, but I did bravely try the local strength and was violently ill.

Hire a tour guide – ours, Harold, was one of the oldest in Sri Lanka and very proud of the fact. earliest childhood holiday memory? My dad bought a camper van when I was three or four, so we could go on cycling holidays to the south of France.

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Swiss miss: Victoria recently enjoyed her first ski holiday in ten years

Mountains or sea?

Mountains, and not because I could practise my hill climbs. I just love them. I lived in Switzerland for 18 months and am just back from skiing there. You feel as i you’re on top of the world when you’re that high. The views are spectacular and make you feel so small.

Sun or snow?

Snow with some sun would be perfect skiing conditions. I hadn’t been skiing for ten years before I went last week because it was banned while I was cycling because of the risk of injury. So it was a baptism by fire, especially as I was facing thigh-high powder. I felt as if I’d forgotten what to do. The visibility was bad, too, so I really had to work hard at it.

Flop about or get fit?

Get fit definitely! I love the idea of going to one of those healthy retreats where they’ve got yoga, healthy eating and fresh air. I’m not very good at being still for long, plus I have fair skin so I have to be careful in the sun. I’m much happier with physical activities such as snorkelling. Plus exercising means I can enjoy my food.

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Kiwi climate: Victoria’s parents bought a house in Blenheim, on New Zealand’s South Island

Where do you feel most at home?

New Zealand. My parents bought a place in Blenheim on the South Island ten years ago and I haven’t spent as much time there as I’d have liked to because of training and competitions. Now that my schedule is more flexible, I’m looking forward to exploring more.

Ideal travel companion?

My fiance Scott. We’re good at divvying up the responsibilities of organising a trip, but I like to keep hold of our passports so they don’t go missing!

Never travel without?

A first-aid kit. You can never be too prepared! Sunscreen, even for the dull days, because of my fair skin. And my trusty trainers so I can pop to the gym or go running, which was banned when I was cycling because it was too high impact on my joints.

Can you recommend a holiday read or travel app?

I’m a big reader. Even though I have a Kindle, it’s not the same as reading a book. I like factual rather than fiction and I’ve been getting more into philosophical and religious books.

Victoria has designed her own range of bikes for Halfords (www.halfords.com)