I didn't expect a lot out of this race. I am still well and truly battling to get back into form. My arm is progressing well, but my power numbers are still a long way off and even though my weight is falling, I'm still nowhere near a decent race condition. I have also been struggling to shake a persistent head cold that has been annoying me for weeks.
There were nine of us at the start of the A Grade Toowoomba Criterium (45 minutes + 2 laps). Seven of the nine have been racing Queensland Road Team Series (QRTS) regularly this year and some of those riders have been in great form. I was going to have a tough time. My realistic race plan was to follow wheels and hopefully finish in touch with someone. I rarely enter a race believing that finishing in last place would be a good ride...but.
The pace was very tough. A lot of attacks from the start and generally very aggressive racing. Within the first few laps the field split with five going forwards and four going backwards (I was in that group). The front five quickly established a ten second or so lead and it was looking like being all over. Then that thing in my head kicked in. That little voice that said 'come on you fat old slug...you can get across that gap'. So I did... Man oh man did that hurt. Just as I made contact with the front group, Trent West kindly attacked up the finish straight hill, forcing me off the back. I chased back on again with a heart rate for sale at $1.90 and lactic acid turning my hair grey.
From that point onward, It was just a matter of chewing my stem and trying to hang on as there were more and more attacks. The front group whittled down to four riders and somehow I was still there. Tom Gough attacked with two laps to go and held on for the win and I hung on for fourth in the chase group.
Fourth place. I don't think I have ever been so happy with a fourth! This is hopefully a good sign for racing ahead. I'm taking it one race at a time for now with the Scenic Rim Tour next weekend being next on the agenda.
Here is a picture of me with a mouthful of stem (credit Fixdgear Photography)::
