This was supposed to be my end of season 'climax'; a great way to end my first season back. In many ways it was, but it was also extremely frustrating and disappointing. I had been training very hard and was in a nice patch of form after a good taper period. I had been doing a lot of work on my new time trial bike and really felt I had a good result in my legs.
We headed off (I took my beautiful little family with me) to the Gold Coast on Thursday morning. I had felt a little 'funny' on the local bunch ride that morning but didn't think anything of it. By the time we reached Toowoomba (one hour into the drive) I was at my father-in-law's house, laying in his shower with one hell of a stomach bug. I managed to drag myself out of the shower and Nadine (wife) drove the rest of the way to the Gold Coast. I slept twelve hours (with multiple overnight 'interruptions'), woke up for half an hour and then slept another three hours. I had absolutely no hope of making my 11.35 am time trial start. I was absolutely gutted at missing this. As I said earlier, I really think I had a result in me.
Road Race: I decided to start the 96 km road race the next day, even though I was not feeling 100% and was not confident of even going the distance. It was 30-34 and 35-39 combined with about sixteen starters. I struggled with stomach cramps and other issues the whole race, but the torrential rain, wind and fast pace probably kept me distracted. The pace was on pretty much from the start and by half way a selection had been made and there were only three 35 - 39 riders left. Still not feeling the best, I hoped at this point I could at least suffer along to a medal. Tom Collier (Pensar Hawk team mate and very strong Elite and 30-34 rider) absolutely put the hammer down in the cross wind at about 60 km. This was extremely hard but at the end of the flurry he was down the road with another 30-34 rider and I was in a group of four riders chasing. I was the only 35-39 rider left! This gave me two solid reasons not to participate in the chase. Firstly, I was the only rider left in my division so as long as we didn't get caught, all I literally had to do was get to the finish to win. Secondly, I could not contribute to a chase with my team mate Tom in the winning 30-34 break. So I sat on the other three riders in my group, literally all the way to the finish line (photo of me actually showing this):
This was an unusual way to win a title, but sometimes that is how it goes. In the end I am pleased I suffered through Tom's earlier flurry, because even just sitting on the chase group I could feel how unwell I was in the last lap as I was really struggling. Tom went on to win the 30-34 division so it was a great day out for the team:
This was an unusual way to win a title, but sometimes that is how it goes. In the end I am pleased I suffered through Tom's earlier flurry, because even just sitting on the chase group I could feel how unwell I was in the last lap as I was really struggling. Tom went on to win the 30-34 division so it was a great day out for the team:
Criterium: It was 30-34 and 35-39 combined again with about fourteen starters. I really overdid it yesterday and I paid for it today. The pace was red hot from the start and I didn't make the split of about seven in the first couple of laps. I kept chasing and in the end I caught two 35-39 riders who had been dropped out of that front group. Another rider caught us and we had four of us sprinting for the silver medal. I had absolutely zero left in the tank and took 3rd in the sprint for 4th overall. Interestingly, the three medals had all opted to not ride the road race, so you can imagine how fatigued my poor legs were compared to theirs.
So despite my huge disappointment at missing the time trial, I really can't be unhappy with the games given my health issues. A gold medal and a fourth, running on a half empty tank is all in all probably better than I could have hoped for.
