Sunday was BCS women's first state open race as a full team… there were butterflies, lots of toilet stops and a few abrupt words prior to the start due to pre-race nerves (this was only Kate F).
From now I will refer toKate Finegan spelt like with a K, and Cait Fraser Jones spelt with a C so as you don't get confused.
Kate was defending champ and wanting to replicate her win last year, however knew the field was a lot stronger with some internationals in there as well as double the number of riders. Nicole knew her fitness was coming along nicely, and Cait is not that fond of a Criterium so was unsure of how she would go… Race plan was to keep it together early, but ensure we had at least one of us in each of the moves, and if it was still together at about the half-way point Cait was to give it a go and try and rip the field apart. Within the first 10 minutes there had been a few minor attacks, then one of the Belgium girls went up the road, Kate followed within half a lap and the 2 dangled off the front by about 70m for 4 laps, before being joined by Cait, the other Belgium and Amy Bradley of Total Rush. This formed the break of the day, all 5 were working well together and at the 35minute mark overtook the remainder of the field who were all pulled from the race.
From now I will refer toKate Finegan spelt like with a K, and Cait Fraser Jones spelt with a C so as you don't get confused.
Kate was defending champ and wanting to replicate her win last year, however knew the field was a lot stronger with some internationals in there as well as double the number of riders. Nicole knew her fitness was coming along nicely, and Cait is not that fond of a Criterium so was unsure of how she would go… Race plan was to keep it together early, but ensure we had at least one of us in each of the moves, and if it was still together at about the half-way point Cait was to give it a go and try and rip the field apart. Within the first 10 minutes there had been a few minor attacks, then one of the Belgium girls went up the road, Kate followed within half a lap and the 2 dangled off the front by about 70m for 4 laps, before being joined by Cait, the other Belgium and Amy Bradley of Total Rush. This formed the break of the day, all 5 were working well together and at the 35minute mark overtook the remainder of the field who were all pulled from the race.
Fellow team members Nik and Shantelle had been in this group so got to stand on the sidelines and cheer/laugh at our pain. It was made easy by only needing to cheer for one name; we do what we can ;)
At 10minutes to go Cait asked me what do I want her to do?? I said whatever you like, knowing that she would then attack which was what I wanted her to do to, this would see if we could drop one or 2 of the others in the break, over the next 4 laps Cait and one of the Belgiums attacked a few times but no one was suffering enough to get dropped/strong enough to drop the others. The bell lap came around very qick and that second last corner was the key. Cait layed herself on the line keeping the pace up and I came around the second last corner shoulder to shoulder with the 2 Belgium’s but came out third best and held onto that position till the end. Cait came over the line in 5th place.
Thanks to Bendigo Best Cycling Photographer Darren Casey for the photo below
Thanks to Bendigo Best Cycling Photographer Darren Casey for the photo below
Cait powering around the course
Post race smiles
NAB 2012 winners, the band aid on the knee for Kate was a post race clumsy incident...
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