Race Report: Pan Pacific Masters Games

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:

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.

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.