April saw the start of the 2014 National Road
Series with the girls heading to Adelaide for the first round. Three BCS women
were on the start list: Lauretta Hanson, Tayla Evans and myself. Everybody was
in high spirits after the teams meeting upon arrival, and looking forward to
the coming days.
Thursday was a glorious day in Angaston for
Stage 1 of the tour, an 85km road race. Lauretta didn’t think so though, waking
up with the flu. Nevertheless, she stood on the start line ready and waiting.
Tough as. The gun went off, and so did the neutral car. It was all pretty tame
until the second pinchy climb, where Lauretta put the flu aside and attacked,
dropped the peloton and soloed for the next 35km. A huge effort! Specialized
Securitor and Holden got organised and started to roll turns to reel her back
in, but Tayla and I ensured that the pace didn't get too high. In the end the
peloton caught her approximately 7km from the infamous corkscrew. Here I was,
dagging at the back while the peloton descended at high speed down the Gorge
Road, I mean, the scenery! Spectacular! In all seriousness though, they had the
pedal to the floor down that road until we turned left and onto the corkscrew.
I had never been over the corkscrew. I have only ever been past the turnoff. I
would eye it with caution and continue on my painless merry way and leave it
lurking there in a back corner of my conscience. This day I had to face it.
Cadell did it in the big ring, how hard could it be right? Wrong. It was like a
slap in the face. The first few hairpins almost stop you dead in your tracks.
Tayla did a fantastic job, disappearing up the road with the best hill
climbers. Lauretta and I paced away, tap tap tap until the top. I took off on
the downhill to catch Nic Whitburn, and crossed the line about mid way through
the peloton. Results: Tayla 18th, Lauretta 40th and myself 34th. A fantastic
ride by Talya, and Lauretta’s reward of the ‘Most Aggressive Rider’ Jersey was
well deserved.
Cycling Aus video re cap of stage 1 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bUOvrygj0YM&feature=em-upload_owner …
Day two stage 2 was another road race this time
at Woodside. Two laps of a 51km circuit which would include four sections of
dirt. Alas, it is cobblestone season! The start/finish at Bird in Hand Winery
was spectacular. No time for taste testing though, we had a job to do. Lauretta
unfortunately was far too ill to continue the tour, so it was up to Tayla and
I. The race was relatively tame, even up the first KOM. The race didn’t break
apart until the end of the first lap, at the dirt sections. We were riding
along nicely, when suddenly we veered left, and straight onto dirt. The first
section was ridden at approximately 45-50km/hr downhill, and flat tires were
rife. I got caught behind riders who were flatting, and fell behind. Tayla was
right on their heels though. I dropped off approximately 800m by the end of the
dirt, and set my mind to catch up. No sooner had I caught them that they were
gearing up for the intermediate sprint. I searched for Tayla, sat on the front,
and drove it. Everybody else was rather impatient though, and they took off
around me. Tayla took off in a valiant effort, but it was a long way out. That
left me there thinking, oh crap, I’ve got to sprint! I stuck to Nic Whitburn’s
wheel like glue, and ended up coming fourth. They attacked soon after the
sprint, and Tayla got in a largish breakaway. Shame it didn't stick. By the
85km mark Flick Wardlaw was off the front to take the stage win. Results: Tayla
11th and me 26th. Happy with that!
cycling aus video re cap stage 2
Stage 3 was a criterium in Adelaide around
UniSA North Terrace. It was raced so early we nearly had to have lights. The
light was the least of my concerns; I was more panicking about the bloody steep
hill someone had decided to install along one side of the course. For those who
don't know me, I climb like an elephant. Tough course. The gun went off, the heart
rate went up and I fought to the front. Usually, get to the climb first, then
by the time your up it your at the back, not off the back. Theory: wrong. We
hit the hill and I went backwards. Lap 2, I fought to the front, got to the
hill, went to the back. Fight, hill, and repeat. Tayla was spectacular and was
climbing like a mountain goat, perfectly positioning herself the whole race.
Time to change tactics. I began to give myself room at the back, hit the corner
before the climb so damn quick I was running up the rear of the leaders by
halfway up the hill. Meanwhile riders were getting dropped left right and
centre, and I will mention the spectacular crash by a Holden rider who went
headfirst at 40km/hr into a tree. That stage hurt like hell. I stuck in there
till the end and finished with the main bunch. Results: Tayla 14th and me
32nd.
Day four and the final stage was a Kermesse at
Newton. Tayla and I began by riding the course. Lots of road furniture, a bit
technical at times. We thought it was going to be tough. Nik and Lauretta had
warned that it was a circuit, which made it hard to move up. They were right.
The field sorted itself out within the first few laps. Apparently nobody was
getting away. Lets just say, that was probably the best fun I have ever had in
a race. Legs felt amazing, technical suits me, and I had a ball. Tayla again
rode well, and we were both in the main bunch for a sprint at the end. Results:
Tayla 11th and me 18th.
girls waiting to start stage 4
What a fantastic tour! We had a ball. Tayla
finished 14th on GC and I finished 20th. A very special mention goes to Nik for
her managerial skills, Marc the wonder mechanic and chief Prado driver, Heather
the accommodation manager and support staff member, and Lauretta for not dying
of the flu even though we know she wanted too. I learned so much about my team
and myself at the tour. I am forever gaining confidence, which I attribute to
my new coach and this fantastic team and its members! We are now looking
forward to Tour of South West. Bring it!
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