Well I decided to do the 80km version as I have in no way enough km’s in the legs to sustain a TT for 160km.

On arriving I caught up with Stu and Nick who were doing the 40km version.
Basically did my warm up and headed round the corner to the 80km start line. Well rough roads head winds (mostly) for first 20 odd kms, not the best way to start a 80km TT but forged on and until finally getting a good 8km section with a tail wind and slowly climbed my ave up over the 40 mark with an aim of being sub hour for the first lap of the 40km course.

I had plenty of advice prior from people saying not many people had cracked over 40 here for the 40/80 or 160 (course record for 160 was 4hrs 6mins). Turning left into the wind again I found some nice smooth roads for a short while before a full turn into the 5km stretch towards the finish line, talk about a slog with the ever strengthening wind and the rough roads never really relented either but finaly into the last turn on towards the line and crossed with a 58.30 time and 41 ave and kept on rolling into the second lap. I am sure the wind picked up over the next 20kms again and slowly watched my average speed going down to mid 38’s and started to feel not so good, maybe the lack of kms is finally catching up with me….

I finaly reached the tail wind section but just couldnt get into a fast rythm but got the ave back up to a smidge over 40 but knew with teh vicous head wind home I would battle to keep it. Back onto the smooth section without any troubles and no one coming from behind but catching people all the time I finaly found the head wind section for home, now I was starting to hurt when trying to hold my pace high but pushed on with heart rate at 185 all through the head wind to the final corner and the 1km stretch to the line.

Feeling rather depleted I crossed the line with 2hrs 2 with an ave just over 39 and sort of happy considering my kms of late and later found out it was enough for 2nd on the day only to be beaten by 40secs oh well haha. It was a great hitout prior to Busso half especially as long range has the weather windy for us on race day at this stage.

On catching up with Stu later he posted the quickest 40km time and NIck rounded out making it a SPR Gold and silver for the 40km. Awesome good work guys.

Troy Coulthard proved he is on song with a win in the 160km and only a handfull of seconds of the course record, so close but so far but did pick up the gold medal so sure he is happy chappy with that effort!

Nico