A team of 6 SPR riders entered the C grade event – Andrew, Simon, Morrison, Colin, Des and I. Unfortunately Morrison didn’t make it to the start and I’ll leave the explanation as to why up to him. Conditions defied all predictions, with a sunny start, very little wind and the road a bit damp from overnight precipitation. There were about 30 in the field, with a big number of South West riders joining the fray.
The first 10 km on the flat started with Andrew and I leading out and handing over to Des and Colin. No one else seemed interested in making the pace until the first climb. I was feeling pretty good and decided to mark any attacks until things settled down. By the time we passed the first KOM climb, there was a group of 6, with Andrew and I amongst them. On the last climb before Dwellingup, the South West rider in the group made a small break and was let go by the rest of us. We maintained the gap at ~200 m, whilst working together to keep the peleton behind at bay. Once in Dwellingup we were joined by one of the peleton who informed us that no one else was willing to work. The six chasers then pushed on, maintaining the gap to the solo break and ever mindful of the chasers behind.
By the time we climbed the last hill, the group behind were nowhere to be seen and we still were leaving the man out in front. Andrew backed off a bit on the descent, due to concerns about his bike, but was back with us as we came into North Dandalup and crossed the highway. As we approached the Perth –Bunbury railway line the lights started flashing and we all slowed. This allowed us to catch the guy in front and we nervously looked behind as the train passed. Luckily, the main group were still at least 500 m behind so the last 20 km started in earnest with a great roll through at about 42 km/h.
We spied the pack on one of the turns and they were at least 800 m behind so I figured the 7 of us would contest the sprint. The pace stayed in the low 40s with the kms counting down. I asked Andrew how he was feeling and got a good response. My legs were starting to go but I was willing them on as the pace quickened. I did a roll through at 2 km to go and noted no one following so decided to stay out front and keep the pace on, knowing I would be cooked when the sprint started. Andrew was holding good position behind and I was confident he could go when the pace picked up. At about 400 m, the sprint started and I pulled off and watched it unfold from behind. Andrew timed in perfectly and hit the lead with about 100 m to go and held on to the end. I did the typical tour pose of celebrating from behind as a team mate won.
It was congratulations all around at the end. The 7 in the group worked really well and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the sprint. Des and Simon led home the peleton behind and informed us they were criticised in the group for not assisting the chase, but were happy and safe in the knowledge team mates were further up the road. I believe Colin was a bit further back in the pack.
Back at the tent it was time for a Coke and discussion of the race. My final stats were 69.2 km at 35.5 km/h. It was smiles all around and Andrew offered to shout the team at the bar. Unfortunately I had to get back home but still managed a trip to the bakery. A great effort by all and a brilliantly timed ride by Andrew.
Thanks for the write up Julian, and for working hard today, and being part of the very early breakaway that held off the chasers (I was told later by Des that the gap was as close as 50m at Dwellingup). There’s a few cold beers here for you when you’re done babysitting 🙂
Kudos to Mike B and JB in the A grade Classic race of 132km for getting 1st Masters and 3rd in KOM. A huge achievement given the quality of the field and the distance.
Keith Gill (Eddy Hollands rider) was instrumental in our good form today, as he was the drill sergeant making sure everyone worked together to keep the speeds up. We really had some good teamwork today amongst the 7 riders.
Pete gave me the race strategy last night as “stay at the front during the first climb, then hold on.. then it’s a flat race to the finish sprint” – spot on. I also had an Obi Wan moment during the race when Toby said “don’t drop that wheel”. Mike Bonner once gave me advice on sizing up the opposition, but to be honest I was pretty intimidated by the couple of bigger guys in the group and was expecting them to be on the front at the finish.
When you asked me how I was going as we were rolling through at 60km or so.. I was just turning over a bigger gear looking down at 40km/h, and was fighting fatigue just to do my turns. My response was “OK (pause) I’ll get there in the end (painfully)” not “I’m good for the finish” !
Not much I can say about the sprint. The whole thing is still a bit surreal. I was at the back of the group at 500m to go, I saw the finish line and nobody went too early. As the speed went up, I shifted up, jumped to the front and picked my wheel. I didn’t stay there too long, moved out at about 200m and then kept my eyes on the finish line. I think riding at the track with Mark and Toby has made a difference.
PS. I actually was wearing SPR Kit today (yes, as of this morning I now own some)
Top stuff Andrew! Not bad for a 40 year old 🙂
And great write up Julian. Sounds like you worked pretty hard during the race as well. Great stuff.
And very fetching you looked too, Andrew. You’re definitely on track with your target to move effectively into B grade in the not too distant future. The grading “officials” may have already decided your fate for you.
Stu also deserves a mention for finishing a strong 5th in B grade and narrowly missing the podium for the Masters category in that race. I’m not sure how the other SPRs fared here.
Jonno rode manfully as usual, getting into the 5 man breakaway in A grade, enabling him to sprint for the KOM points on both laps (He finished 3rd in this ‘jersey’). I was 6th at this first points point, but knew I wouldn’t be strong enough to roll through in a breakaway for 100km and so went back to the peleton to sit in while the whole of the Plan B team worked on the front to keep the breakaway within striking distance. Once we hit the flat, they gradually ramped things up until we were rolling along above 45km/hr for kilometre after kilometre.
On the second time up the hill a group of 8 (including 3 Plan Bs – the eventual place-getters – and myself) managed to get away and we eventually caught the tiring breakaway group near the 2nd KOM point. Then the waves of attacks started as everyone seemed to want to break things up, but the group of 12 somehow remained intact to the flat section back into town.
I was now past Belgium distance (110kms) and still feeling reasonable being at the head of the field with the likes of Giacoppo, Brad Hall, Davis, Calder et. al. With a sense of mission accomplished for the day came the crucial mistake. For some reason I began contributing to roll-through into the cross wind (a bit of a rookie error from someone not used to riding with these guys regularly and let’s face it, not that strong on the flat). Subsequently I wore myself out when I should have been sitting at the back behind the Plan B guys girding my loins for their big attacks that were imminent.
So after 125km it was game over and a quiet ride back to town alone. There was a big gap behind and I was able to ride home comfortably within my rapidly growing limits without being caught. Always pleasing to take home a trophy ahead of riders like Brierley and Glasby and an indication that the form for the World Champs is coming together.
Interesting read from another perspective..
http://southwestcycleclub.com.au/?p=1528
Always interesting to get another perspective. They are spot on that, Des and I were never going to assist them chasing down Andrew and Julian. I was somewhat surprised they were working so hard to chase down their own guy.
Good write up Julian. Congratulations Andrew on the win.
Reading the comments, it sounds like a good day out for SPR, Morrison excepted!
morrison was all dressed up with nothing to pedal.
Great work Andrew.. Winning 🙂 Great work Mike B, mixing it with those guys at the speed they go will do your Belgium prep a world of good. great work all otter SPR folk out there too..
Congratulations guys!!! Great effort 🙂
The Wong Way is the winning way apparently…
SWCC seem a bit envious going by their report 🙂 well done everyone!
Anyone interested in a celebratory cheap chinese dinner ?
Well done mate!
(r.e. cheap chinese dinner – would that be the cheap and tasty chinese place the trackies went to last week after track?)
Good one Wongster! A win’s a win – that’s what the records will show. The fact that SPR boys worked as a team is testament to the bond in the group. I’m jealous I don’t have the fitness to race – it’s a bit hard when the knee keeps hitting the spare tyre.
Yep.. I tried out Yip Kee Noodle house on Guildford Road with Josh on Wednesday. Was good enough to go back with Mark, Shu, Cathi on Thursday night.
Great value and the dishes we ordered were pretty good.. 6 large dishes of food and rice for $68.00 4 hungry cyclists well fed !
Will be going back after track on Thursday. They shut at 9.30pm.
They also have a good supply of cycling mags so not a bad place to hang out waiting for you take away either.
cycling mags? who are these people?
There are 16 million bicycles in Beijing…..
Just an interested bystander really…
Great read.
I was intrigued by the tactic of the SW Club. Maybe them trying to chase down the breakaway with their solo rider in it was not the wrong move. The fault could have been with the solo guy… if he had played the ‘Policeman’ and sat on the back, not contributing to the break, then either:
1. He would get towed to the finish and have the freshest legs to win.
or
2. The break would realise what he was doing and stop working for fear of giving it to him. In which case the peleton with the rest of the SW riders could have a crack at the win.
Chess on wheels alright!
Couldnt agree more. My impression riding in the chase group was that the SW riders were riding as individuals as there was no discernable coordination of effort among them in the group.
The only reason why the breakaway held off the peloton for 57km was the fact that Keith made sure all 7 of us worked as a team until the 2km mark. There was acknowledgement of the great effort we had all made together to that point and then the last 2km was “all bets off”.
Mike from SW showed tremendous strength to sit 400m in front of the 6 chasing riders – impressive but if you’re not pulling away, then there’s really no point using your energy riding solo for such a long distance.