By Tomas Nilsson
Swedish women’s cycling has lost one of its pioneers. Agneta Asplund-Haverstal has died after a skiing accident.
Agneta started her career in the early 70’s in Arvika Cykelklubb and won the national Junior Championships her first year as a cyclist. Later she won the Scandinavian Championships in her fist year as Elite rider. She was for many years a member of the national team with a ninth place in the World Championships as her best international result. After studies she settled and married in Borås and later turned to triathlon with equal success.
Agneta was a good sprinter with a natural talent for positioning but also a master at tactics along the road, always keeping an eye on who was in breaks and who wasn't and at the same time calculating team competition standings.
Regardless of victories and national team appearances, for us that had the privilege to be her club mates Agneta was always a good comrade and training partner as "one of the boys" long before women's cycling had got it's recognition, always taking her turns and never the first to get dropped.
Cyclingnews wishes to extend its condolences and deepest sympathies to Agneta’s family and friends.
