Race Report: Toowoomba Club Race T.T.

Today was the Toowoomba Combined Club Time Trial at Wyreema. It was a 20 km course that was slightly undulating with a little tail wind on the way out. I had felt good all week and put in a 29 min 36 sec ride to take second place. The course was actually a tiny bit long on the 20 km (I had about 20.6 km). Combine that with the slopes coming back and I am pretty happy with my time. I actually didn't quite leave enough in the tank for the last 4 km, which was pretty hard. I will remedy that for sure next time I race on that course.

I actually thought today could have been my first win for the year, but Andrew Patten, recently crowned Silver Medalist at the Masters 40-44 World Championships came to race in preparation for the Queensland Titles Time Trial next week. He rode a 27 min 50 sec time to beat me. I believe the race record is held by Toowoomba local Darren Rolfe, who has done about 26 min 30 sec. That...is...fast!

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

This was a hell of a hard race. About 35ish of us for 120 km. It was seven laps of a 17 km course. The field gradually whittled down lap after lap. With two laps to go there was a break of two up the road and fifteen of us left in the bunch. With 10 km to go the hammer went down again and I was seeing stars. The field started to split up over the three hills on the last lap and we all finished in dribs and drabs. I went over the line in 11th place. I would have loved to be able to say I was top ten in Queensland in my age division in my first year back racing, but I'm satisfied with how I went. I left nothing out there. It was the hardest race of the year for me and my legs feel like they have been bashed around with a hammer. Can't wait for next year...

I do have the State Titles Individual Time Trial in two weeks and I am hoping I will finish a bit higher in that event. 

Race Report: Charles Coin Memorial

I raced Elite B today instead of Masters B (I have a dual licence) and I doubt I will race Masters B again. The pace was definitely quicker, but I coped with it very well. Given I have been off the bike sick recently, I am especially pleased about how I went. We had about 36 starters and a Pensar Hawk team mate found himself off the front in a two man breakaway with about 25 km of the 108 km to go. I worked very hard chasing down attacks and generally trying to disrupt the chase. This was a success as the break stayed away and he won. I was totally shattered by the end but managed to get 5th in the bunch sprint for 7th overall. There was a lot positive to take out of this race today. I enjoyed the more positive racing very much, compared to the somewhat negative 'wait for a bunch sprint' approach you see so often in Masters B racing.

Timing is Everything

Well it's 13 days until the state titles road race and I am stuck inside with an apocalyptic dose of manflu! It's time to be positive:

• I will be ultrafresh and well rested.
• I have lost 2kg in three days.
• I have watched a heap of cycling videos online and am feeling very motivated.

Next Sunday is the Charles Coin Memorial race at Mulgowie, which will serve as an excellent lead up race for the state titles. I have actually elected to race Elite B instead of Masters B (I have a dual licence, one of the few advantages of being a crusty, old dude). The Elite B race is a bit longer (108 km vs 90 km) and it starts at 9 am (not 1 pm like the Masters B race). I just think it will serve my purposes a little better. Mark Brady (old friend and Queensland Masters A legend) tells me that Elite B is maybe only a little faster than Masters B anyway (and certainly nowhere near as fast as Masters A). Hopefully, health permitting, it should be a good race for me.