Hot hot hot, are three very apt words to describe the Victorian Criterium Sprint Championships!

Jo Wall tells a tale of Melbourne Sprint Champs, Dec 23rd

The day started off on a much cooler note, as we were fortunate enough to have the use of the Bendigo Cycles shop van to travel in style and coolness down to the crit, we were able to fit all 4 Specialized bikes, trainers and the marque in one vehicle which enabled us to enjoy each others company and also interesting tastes in music! Kate was adamant that the Cd's were already in the van when she collected it but that sounded like a cover up from the start!

 

Stepping out from the coolness of the van we were nearly bowled over by the oppressive heat when we arrived in St. Kilda. We set up the marquee in the finishing straight and then it was time to jump on the trainers and warm up the legs. As it was already about 40 degrees I was conscious of only doing enough to loosen the legs up as it was going to be a long taxing race.

We were all called up to the grid for the start, everyone was just wanting to get things underway, as crazy as it sounds it was hotter just standing still. We had planned to have some team organisation off the start where we intended to set a steady pace from the start. We ended up being separated and in what was a bit of a hectic neutral lap, couldn't manage to make contact as a group.

So the race was underway, Kate and Lauretta were making a good impression up the front, riding aggressively and chasing back the breaks, myself Nik, Taylor and Carly were mixing it midfield. The pace was solid with some small breaks forming and the pace ramping up for each sprint, which were every .6-8 laps. Kate was placing consistently in the sprints and accumulating some valuable points.

It was hot work, I found myself with an empty bottle within 30 minutes, thankfully some of the spectators in the start finish area were dousing us with a sprinkler hose each lap, the cool water on your broiling skin was instant relief for about 10seconds!!

At about 45min there was a solid attack and a substantial break formed with about 10 girls up the road. Kate was in the front group, so we sat back and let the other girls do the chasing.
The groups eventually came together with about 5 min to go, everyone was watching the moves for the final sprint finish.
The sprinters were in position, and the mid field riders around me all sensed it was time to sit up and let the sprint be run and won. Kate was sitting perfectly before the last corner but lost some ground coming over the line, finishing a credible 4th place behind Nik Whitburn1st, Chloe McConville 2nd and Miranda Griffiths, 3rd. Kate also had a good collection of sprint points and finished 2nd in the sprints classification.

As a team it was another valuable opportunity to compete in a high class women's field, gaining some substantial exposure for our sponsors and also learning about how we each handle our race. This experience helps us grow as a team and also gets us thinking about how we want to implement some future strategies for how we can work together as a team for future races.

It was a great fun day out in some fun company and I would like to thank our sponsors: Specialized, Skoda, Symes Motors, Bendigo Cycles, Burkinshaw Roofing, Bendbal Financial Solutions, as it just wouldn't have been possible with out their support. Also a big thank-you to Darren "Turtle" Francis Casey for some good photos of the day.

Summer womens crits have started

So it is well into the summer heat, as well as criterium races and our team has now had 2 great Sundays away racing women's criterium racing.
Being a part of a cycling team has so many benefits and one of my favourites is the camaraderie and craziness that occurs in the cars when we go away racing together.
You learn so much about each other that of course can help you out racing...but sometimes it feels like what happens on tour stays on tour.
You learn who is patient and who likes to get things done yesterday, who is the control freak and who is quite happy to be a by stander and not get involved..... 4 girls trying to load 4 bikes plus spare wheels plus trainers plus bags into a van brings up many emotions.
But enough about the travel, lets talk about racing... Cykel Events is running the Women's Grand Prix again this summer and it is one of our teams goals to go well, as it is definitely the level of event that we are all capable of riding and having an impact, especially with the 2 (or now 3) grades.

So off we headed down to Casey fields on the 16th, Nik, Tayla Evans (as a guest rider for a few races this Summer), Jo Wall, myself and Cheryle and Gary team support, Lauretta was meeting us down there. We headed down in our pretty groovy with lots of buttons SKODA Octavia wagon thanks to Symes motors.... all excited for our first official team race, Jo painting her nails for the first time ever, Kate excited to have company and Nik concentrating on driving, trying to ignore the nerves.
The clouds were clearing as we arrived after thunder and down pours of rain, and we all road a few laps together, commenting on who was going to push the hardest in the prologue and if we could last our 3min effort. We were all off around 10min apart from each other, Tayla first and myself last, long story short, we all smashed it and made div 1, and had 1.5hrs before we were to race. I think this made Tayla nervous but was good to have us all in division 1.
The race was interesting, we had wanted to make it aggressive, and Lauretta got in the first break of the day which lasted for about 3 long laps, it was windy out there and this created a very on again off again race and everyone was very touchy on the breaks. The first sprint came around and Lauretta got on the front for myself, however as we had never practised this before, she forgot to open a gate for me to pass through and when Nicole Whitburn and Jen Macpherson jumped a little early to my right and boxed me in I basically had to hit the brakes hard before going again and got 4th. A crash occurred in the back on this lap with an unfortunate rider requiring a ambulance, so we all had to wait until this happened, it only took about 20min and then we were given 4 laps to go.

Pippa Savage from Total Rush launched straight away and set the final few laps off to a cracking pace, Jo got some grass action and the break had given Lauretta and myself time to discuss our lead out. At 1 to go I was positioned well and it started bunching up, Lauretta joined me and just before the left up the hill I told her to go, I could tell she was tired as e only just got to the front which meant I would have to jump earlier than what I wanted. About 20m before turning left into the final straight I yelled at Lauretta to open the gate and went underneath her and went for it. I knew at 30m to go I was starting to die but kept pushing and threw on the line, to only be beaten by the ever strong Nicole Whitburn, I need longer arms to throw that bit further I think... The rest of the girls finishing the race and having a good learning day. With goals for the future races being described planned and set on the drive home.. Full results can be seen here and timing and points here at MYLAPS

 

Lauretta tells us whats been happening lately on the track

After many months of cold weather track season is now finally upon us. Unfortunately mine started a few weeks later than most due to my year 12 studies and with only two full weeks of training under my belt, the Victorian track cup was my first open for the season. I was a little nervous coming into the open due to my lack of fitness and it was my first event as an Elite woman. The two day event consisted of 3 events, the pursuit, sprint and time trial. As an endurance rider my main goal was to win the pursuit but somehow I surprised myself and won all three events and the overall classification. By winning the Vic track cup, I gained an idea of where my fitness level actually was and it gave me a big confidence boost and motivation.

After two more weeks of training I raced the Victorian Open and Para cycling Track Championships. This event is particularly important to me as state selection is based on your performances at this event. I arrived early Saturday as the last thing I wanted was to be rushed for time. This did mean a few hours of sitting around but this allowed me to relax and organise myself. Soon enough I was on my bike warming up and planning out my race, because I have just moved up to elite women, my pursuit distance has increased from 2km to 3km. Having only ridden my first one two weeks prior I was still learning the best way to ride it for me. Finally it was my turn, I was locked in the gate with my coach, Brad Robins, standing off to the side with schedule and stop watch in hand. Usually I go out easier and come home hard but this time I went out harder and hoped to sustain it. About half way through I could see the other rider in the same straight and when you reach this stage it is just like chasing a rabbit. The problem is once you catch and pass them there is nothing left to chase with 1km to go, my legs began to die.

Despite this, I still managed to qualify first with a 5 second PB in a time of 3:50.735.  In the final, against Imogen Jelbart, I didn’t go out quite as hard, and although a slower ride, I felt I finished it better. I finished in a time of 3:52.804 which was enough to win gold.  With my goal of winning the pursuit achieved I could now recover and prepare for the next day’s points score.

Due to the small amount of U19 women, they were combined with our race which was then shortened by 20 laps. I wanted to make a break, but after a few unsuccessful attempts I gave up and decided I should go for some sprints and get some points. In the end I won two sprints and got just enough points to get second in the elite women’s category.

Although I wasn’t as fit I would normally be coming into a state championship I was still very happy with how I rode.  I received state selection and will represent Victoria at Track Nationals at the end of January.

Niks Tour of Bright, 2012

The first weekend in December saw the running of the Alpine Cycling Club’s very popular (sold out within 30 minutes of entries opening); 3 stage Tour of Bright which I was lucky enough to get a entry into (winning already).

With 550 riders across 9 grades Bright becomes a Mecca of cyclists for the whole weekend.  I participated in the tour in 2011 for the first time and loved the environment of the weekend as well as the racing.

Stage 1 The Gap Loop -91k

Stage 1 climbs Rosewhite Gap at the halfway mark and finishes at the top of Tawonga Gap; last year I lost contact with the bunch going over Rosewhite gap and never rejoined. My fist goal for this stage was to be with the bunch coming down the other side of Rosewhite and I achieved this. Some of Men’s C grade came round us going up the gap; we then got slowed up as the rest of their race came around us coming down the other side. This neutralized our race for a few km, just when we got moving aging we got told to go single file for the A grade men; a few frustrating interruptions, but part of racing.

After all that I was feeling great at the bottom of Tawonga, then I nearly lost my back wheel on the corner. I didn’t know what I had done wrong then I had that sinking feeling of my back tire being flat. There is no neutral support due to the large number of volunteers that would be required and I hadn’t taken anything to fix a single (big mistake). I knew if I didn’t finish I couldn’t keep going in the tour so after a few choice words I keep on climbing yelling at everyone that went past to see if they had something to help me out. With still4km left to climb a total rush rider threw me a can of pit stop, up went my wheel straight away back on the bike and I climbed the last 4 k. Thank you to Neil form total rush you saved my day!!

1 big lesson learned never race without anything to fix a flat again.

I was happy with my ride till that point.

Stage 2 15.7k Individual TT

This is that stage I was supper excited for after turning my old road bike in to a time trial bike and spending a few hours riding in aero position I was excited and ready to roll.

After a quick chat with fellow team rider Kate, I was excited to put the flat tyre of the road stage behind me. I had talked with my coach Kim Howard on the day and decide I wanted to do a 26 min and I would be happy considering my time last year was a 27.31.

I was the 3rd last rider off I was determined not to get caught. I caught the rider in front of me early I knew this was good but still couldn’t let anyone pass me. I then caught 2 more riders before the turnaround and could see the rider behind me had not put time into me and I wanted it to stay that way until I crossed the line in 25.50. I couldn’t believe it I was so happy a big tick and another goal achieved for the weekend.

Stage 3, Mount Hotham 55k.

The initial 25k to Harrietvile is relatively flat as the road winds along the Ovens valley to the base of Hotham.

Their were 2 sprint on the way Harrietville with the last one being just before the base of the climb, I was positioned well and started the climb in the bunch. I was climbing well to the top of the Meg (not quite half way) then was done. I had nothing left so I settled in for a long day of climbing.

Overall results can be seen here http://my3.raceresult.com/details/index.php?eventid=13607&lang=en

Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyed weekend with some major achievements made and some new goals discovered. Signing out for now, Nik.