Race Report: Bikeline Toowoomba Open (Be Better Psychology Criterium)

This was probably the race I am happiest with so far, in a strong field. Numbers were on the lean side. There were 18 combined Elite A and B riders in the program, but I think only 14 or 15 turned up. It was a cold and windy day which probably kept a few people at home. It was a tough field for me (with about a 50 - 50 split of Elite A and B riders, including Peter Thompson from Drapac Porsche Professional Cycling Team. Plenty of other Elite A riders from Brisbane as well. 

The first ten minutes I found ridiculously hard, but a handful of others got dropped so I can't have been going that bad. I'm actually surprised with how well I coped with that start. In the first lap we were doing 64 km/h and I gave the highest heart rate reading I have seen since I started racing again! At about 20 minutes the race 'settled' with a break of 3 away and 6 of us chasing. That is pretty much how it stayed until the end (the race was 55 minutes + 2 laps). I ended up coming 3rd in my group sprint to take 6th overall and 2nd in Elite B. I managed to beat some of the Elite A riders which I think is a very good sign for the near future.

My legs feel like they have been flogged with a hammer, my lungs (I think) are still hanging on a post on the circuit somewhere but I am very pleased with this outcome.

Race Report: Ipswich Open Time Trial

Yesterday, my dear readers, was a day to forget. I made a BIG mistake and luck didn't go my way either. Let me tell you the whole boring story.

The race was a 40 km individual time trial on a very tough hilly and windy course. I rode in Elite B and struggled to 9th place in 1:05:21.

I have been waiting on a new time trial frame (a very nice new Giant Composite). It arrived on Thursday and was built up on Friday. I only had a chance to do a measly 10 km on it before the race, which is obviously not enough, and to be honest, quite a stupid thing to do.  I fought with the bike all day (in terms of position) and just couldn't settle. I kept sliding off the front of the seat and by the end had cramping arms due to the new position. I should have raced on my old bike and built the new one up next week. Duh...

Another way to look at it would be that I shouldn't have raced at all. Why? I woke up feeling like shit and I knew I was getting sick. My heart rate was doing funny things in the race, which for me is normally indicative that all is not well. This was another reason I couldn't settle into any kind of decent rhythm.  I was supposed to race the Ipswich Open Road Race today, but have actually pulled out because I am not in 100 % health.

The other exciting thing that happened was that during the race, my SRAM gear changer fell apart in my hand. I managed to get some of the bits back on, and the others, well I just stuffed them into my skinsuit and hoped they wouldn't fall out. This was slightly distracting to say the least.

So there you have it. A shit day all around. I am very disappointed with my time and placing as I feel I have been time trialing strong lately and really thought I had a top 5 finish in me today.

Ah well. Time to recover and get back on the horse...

Race Report: Toowoomba Club Criterium

Well, after 24 attempts, it finally happened; I won a race. It was a combined A and B grade criterium (with 4 A graders and about 12 or so B graders). It was 40 minutes plus 2 laps on the full Glenvale circuit. A grade gave B grade a short head start and we had to reel them in. After we did that I attacked at 10 minutes and Matt Haswwell (good U/18 rider) from Team TLD came across to me. We quickly got about a 20 sec lead. Matt blew up at 20 minutes and I had to go it alone. I rode with all I had and ended up holding on by 1 min 5 sec at the finish. Feels very nice to win a bike race after all these years.

Race Report: Masters 2 (35 - 39 years) State Titles Time Trial

The course was a fairly tough 18 km out and back with some drags and hills. I rode with pretty much all I had, but I know I lost two much time on the hills. I averaged over 41 km/h (which I am happy with) to come 11th in 26 min 13 sec. A top 10 in this event was a goal from the start of the year and I couldn't have gotten much closer.