A couple of the SPR team that went to Kalgoorlie for the Goldfields Cycle Classic on the long weekend have written some reports from their time on and off the bike! Thanks to everyone for making the great weekend possible, with extra special thanks to Andrew Ballam for all his behind the scene work and our volunteer drivers – Shaw, Cathi, Brodie and Suzie! I’m still waiting for Mike and Amanda to write something about their big podium finishes…

Check out all the smiling SPR riders on the highlights video.

Graham “Giro” Hoskins:

Perhaps I can I start by asking who it was that successfully lulled me into the false sense of security that persuaded me to participate by telling me “the road between Kalgoorlie is nice & flat”?   Pffft.  Flat schmatt I say to you!!   OK, OK, so it was not “hills” in the same sense as the Giro d’Italia or even our Sunday Hills rides, but to repeatedly arrive at the next far away gentle summit with your legs (not to mention your feet and back) screaming at excitedly you in anticipation and eagre expectation that what followed that summit would be an equally long gentle downhill to provide some respite…  only to peak it and see not only that there was no solace to be had, but in fact there was yet another hill in front of you… followed by another then another then another rolling off into the distance for as far as the eye could see!  It was enough to make a grown man cry…  well almost.  I held it in.  Just. And I held on. Stronger. Wiser. Tougher!

Emma Molloy: taken from her excellent blog Emma Molloy: My Cycling Adventures

This weekend I participated in the Goldfields Cyclassic. It is a handicap road race with two days of racing. The first day is from Kalgoorlie to Menzies, which is 132km. The second day is from Menzies to Leonora, which is 105km. The race originated in 1928 so it has a long and distinguished history. It is also the richest handicap race in Australia, with $40,000 in prize money across the two days.

In a handicap race, the lower (slower) grades start first and the higher grades start with a time delay. If the handicapper gets it right, the higher grades will catch up the lower grades close to the finish of the race, and the whole field will come together. In the races this weekend, there was 8-12 min between each grade off the start line. On Saturday, all the grades came together and there was a bunch of around 50 people sprinting for places at the finish. On Sunday, C grade caught D Grade, but A and B grade didn’t catch them.

Another feature of the race was the sprint points. There were 3-4 sprint points each race, where the riders in the lead group could compete for sprint prizes and a sprint jersey.

I was racing in D Grade. On Saturday, I stayed with the D Grade peloton until the first sprint point, which was 16km into the 132km race. I had been feeling not that great, probably not fully warmed up as it was a bloody cold morning. I saw a few people going for the sprint and I thought “oh really? No thanks”. But the problem was that most of the bunch picked up the pace, and those of us that didn’t – got dropped. There were a couple of other guys with me, so we worked quite hard together to try to get back on, but without success. As the kilometres went on, we picked up a few other riders who had dropped off D Grade, and we grew to a large bunch of around 12 riders.

It was great to have a group to ride with, as there was a cross head wind on Saturday which would’ve been miserable by yourself. Actually I was pretty miserable even with a group. At the start when we were riding hard, I wasn’t enjoying the pace because I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep up. Then, after I got dropped and our group grew in size, it became easier. People were doing longer turns on the front at a slower pace and there were more people to do turns. Then I had too much time to contemplate everything that hurt – my bum, my feet and toes, my hands. The roads were made of coarse bitumen so they were quite rough and unforgiving to ride on. And the scenery didn’t help – unchanging woodlands under a dull grey sky the whole way. The most exciting things we saw were a mine site and an abandoned house. That was it for 132km. Saturday was definitely a day where I struggled mentally and didn’t enjoy myself.

After my race on Saturday, I had no expectations or plans for Sunday. In my warmup I felt like crap, my quads were quite sore. But at least the sun was shining and it was warm. D Grade started off quite quick. There were a couple of little hills in the first few kilometres, and a few gaps formed in the peloton. Then the gaps became a split. I managed to bridge over to the front half with a couple of other guys, and that was the last time we saw the other half of D Grade until after the race. In the front half of D Grade we were left with about 25 riders, so it was still a big group and it was a strong group. We were doing rolling turns and I was working hard but coping. There was a head wind, so it was hard at the front for a minute or so, but then you would get a good recovery until your next turn. This continued on quite well until the wind changed direction and became a cross head wind. Then I found I was working hard on the front, plus working hard in the “recovery” lane of the pace line, and only getting half as much recovery time. I was working hard but coping. I didn’t know how long I would be able to keep going at that pace, but I figured I would just keep going until I couldn’t anymore.

When gaps started to open in front of me in the paceline and I couldn’t close them, I knew I had reached the point where I needed a break. I pulled out of the paceline the next time I got to the back and sat on the back of the group with another guy to recover. It is still hard to keep on the back of a paceline, particularly in a crosswind, but not as hard as doing a turn on the front. I managed to have something to eat and drink and my heart rate gradually lowered. When the moment presented itself, I felt up to joining in the paceline for a few more turns. This continued for some time, I would do a few turns, then rest for a bit. I managed to stay with the group past the first sprint point at 40km. Then we got word from the support vehicles that C Grade was only 2km behind us. We kept working together but we were all mentally preparing ourselves plus getting in some more food while we could.

When C Grade passed us, I got on the back of the group okay. I stayed there for a couple of minutes, maybe. Enough time for me to think “yep this is fast but this is okay so far”. Then I dropped the wheel in front, or maybe we went up a slight rise. All I know is that suddenly there were two bike lengths between me and the peloton. I was trying hard to get back on but just not getting there. I looked around and there were a couple of guys behind me. One of them came to the front but he went past so fast I just couldn’t get on. Then that was it, it was me and one other guy, with 50km more to go.

We worked together well, swapping off turns and working at a similar pace. Then we met up with another guy, then two more, and we had a nice little group. We worked hard on the front and had a good recovery period before our next turn. We picked up a few more riders, and had up to eight. Coming in to the last 5km our pace picked up and we dropped a few people. Then we had a sprint for the finish line through the streets of Leonora, with crowds of people cheering us on.

My ride on Sunday was less miserable than Saturday, I think because I was working harder. It still wasn’t exactly fun. It was satisfying to see that my endurance training has established a really good base fitness and I felt better as the race went on. I also managed my food and hydration throughout the races really well. This was an event that I really wanted to do, so I’m glad I did it, but I have no intention of doing it again!

Well done to the organisers as it was a very well run event. And thanks to South Perth Rouleurs for an excellent weekend. The buses, bike transport, accommodation and meals were all well organised and it was a great, friendly, easy going group of people. Plus it was great to have people to commiserate with a debrief after the races.

Andrew Williams:

The Goldfields Cyclassic last year was my foray into road race. My only training was lots of Main 2 rides and predictably I was dropped from D grade 17kms into the first stage and less than 2kms into stage 2. I was determined I would come back fitter and faster and so, last weekend I lined up again in D Grade with 6 months of structured training under a great coach (thanks Toby), a faster bike and determination to at least finish with the bunch in Menzies.

I had a great night’s sleep at the Kalgoorlie camp school with the SPR bunch (apparently there was snoring but I didn’t hear a thing!) a good breakfast, 2 coffees and a really good warm up. Sitting on the line I felt that this was as good as it gets and I was itching to go. 3,2,1 and we were off. In the middle of the bunch of 40 and while the pace was fast I didn’t feel under too much pressure. We started rolling and there was plenty of rest.

Every time I got to the front I had Toby’s voice in my head telling me to get across and off the power quickly. It was all feeling good. Approaching the first sprint I found myself third wheel as the pace lifted. I was just starting to think that I might have a crack at the sprint, when 2 green flashes (Anke and Patrick) flew past me with Patrick taking the sprint I think.

Everyone grouped up again and we kept rolling through. The kilometres flew past and the rests got shorter as more and more riders fell away. 2nd sprint and this time I just sat in the bunch and saved my energy.At about 45kms the first of 3 shallow uphills started. By this stage we were down below 20 riders and I was struggling to hang on and a gap developed. About 200m from the crest the commissaries and spares vehicle overtook me. Over the crest and I was determined to get back. It took a kilometre or so, but I was back on and settled. Next uphill and same thing, only this time it was a bigger gap and a convey of 6 or 7 vehicles went past. Once over the crest I hopped from vehicle to vehicle (I did feel a bit pro!) until I was back on again.

Third uphill and I was off the back again. I remember one of the SPR buses going past and encouraging me to close the gap and get back on but there was nothing. My back was hurting from the cold and my legs just didn’t want to go around. I was devastated. I had failed in my objective of hanging on.The speed came off and I was really struggling mentally. I tried to hang onto a number of passing riders and groups but couldn’t. Brian and Michael came pass and yelled at me to hold the wheel. Every time a gap appeared they yelled at me. I needed it! I was cold, my back was seizing up and I was struggling to turn the pedals. By the time I got into Menzies (one of the last riders) I had convinced myself that not only was I not going to line up in stage 2, but that road racing wasn’t for me. I rode through the finish line and towards the SPR buses. All I remember was someone helping me off the bike and Andrew Ballam taking my bike. I got warm clothes and sat dejected in the bus.

Back to Kalgoorlie, a quick shower and off to dinner with SPR. I cannot overestimate how supportive this wonderful group of people is. After much swapping of war stories, a good meal, a few beers and a massage from the magic hands of Cathy Dixon, I was feeling much better and though I might as well give stage 2 a go. After all I could always pull out and jump in the bus couldn’t I?

Day 2 and an early start to drive back to Menzies. I had just started to warm up when someone came past me and told me they were calling for me at the start. I still had 15
minutes to the D grade start? Round to the start line and apparently I had been put down to E grade and had 30 seconds to the start. Crap.

We were off in a much smaller group that included Gary and Steve. Thankfully the pace was slow as I had no warmup! We rolled through steadily for the first 30 odd kilometres. Then suddenly there was a gap and a gent in a Hall kit and I were off the front. We looked at each other and put the hammer down, taking 2 to 3 minute turns on the front. After 20 or so minutes of this D grade caught us and we both jumped on and stared rolling through. I was sitting comfortably until C grade caught us. The pace lifted sharply and I was off the back again, but at least I knew I was sitting in 2nd place in E Grade at that stage.

I rode solo for a while and then a group of D grade riders caught me and I jumped on and stayed with them to the finish. It was really cool to finish in a group (and not solo) and we made a sprint of it coming into Leonora. I hadn’t met my goal for the weekend but I had finished 2nd in E grade. It was pretty nice to be on the podium and the prize money was certainly worthwhile!

Dinner at the pub that night with the SPR crew was so much fun and it was great fun traveling back to Perth with the SPR buses on Monday. I will be back faster and just maybe, next time I will finish with D grade, but if not, I will be secure in the fact I rode one of the most awesome races there is, supported by a great bunch of SPR people with some great memories and so many laughs my abs hurt.

Particular thanks must go to Andrew Ballam for all his hard work, Cathi for her magic massages and to Shaw, Cathi, Brodie and Suzie for giving up their long weekend to support us.