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.

SPR had great success yesterday at the first Pickering Brook event of the year. Craig James picked up third in the C grade TT, proving to us all that his helmet is not just about good looks. Amanda Nabi got greedy… She smashed the TT to come in third fastest then backed it up with second in the Road Race. Thomas Lund rode well in A grade and Ben Jackson provided some SPR success in D grade too.

B grade men provided the usual thrills and spills. SPR made it into every break. Pete “el prez” Mah celebrated his birthday by forming the first break of the day. The attacks kept coming as the rain came down. Jules, Mark, Heiko and I all made digs to get away, but nothing stuck. Not suprisingly, Matty cleaned up the sprint to make it 2 wins from 2 starts this year but the crowd was disappointed with his modest celebration. I hope he writes us a postcard from A grade!

We’ve had a great response for the Goldfields Classic. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend.

For those still wanting to either come with other club members &/or stay with us, you have to pay via the shop by MIDNIGHT SUNDAY.

More information about our package can be found at the previous post.

We are still looking for 1 or 2 more “volunteers” who are willing to drive the buses to the race finish in order to get everyone back to Kal each night.

There has been a fantastic response to the upcoming Goldfields Classic race that starts at Kalgoorlie.

Like last year, the club is arranging it’s own transport and accommodation option for members. You can either choose transport and accommodation or accommodation only

The plan is to drive in hired minibuses with trailers for the bikes to Kal on Friday 30 May and return to Perth on Monday 2 June.

The accommodation is dormitory type based in Kalgoorlie. Linen is included but food will be do-it-yourself.

We hope to recruit one “volunteer” for each van who will follow the race to each day to pick up riders and return back to Kal to stay. These non racing volunteers will have their accom/transport package heavily subsidised by the club.

The cost for transport and accommodation option is $290 per rider.

The accommodation option is $120 per person.

Neither of these options includes race registration. You must do this yourself. Numbers are also limited for race regos.

The cost for a “volunteer” is $100.

For logistical reasons, at this stage we have limited space on the vans to 32 riders and 4 volunteers. At this stage it is first in – best dressed. Please visit the club shop and Pay via the PayPal link to secure your spot. Depending on response, we may be able to increase the spots available for the transport and accomodation , but don’t count on it. The accommodation only option is not limited.

I got some clarification about the teams component of this weekend’s Tom Lowry Memorial races at Collie from the Collie Cycle Club.

The teams competition only applies to Mens A & B grade and Womens A grade. It applies only for the Sunday Road race, not Saturday’s crit. The teams are 4 riders.

I’m not sure how many SPR members are lining up in club kit for Men’s or Women’s A grade, but I know we will get a good turn out for the B grade men’s race. If you are racing in SPR kit in any of the above categories on Sunday, can you email me race@southperthrouleurs.com.au or find me at the SPR tent prior to the race and we will arrange teams if there are enough numbers.

Safe driving down there and happy racing!

Heads up everyone… Another big road race on the calendar is almost upon us.

The 72nd annual Tom Lowry Memorial Race will be held by the Collie Cycle Club over the weekend of 3 & 4th May (weekend after next).

For the first year, there is a Saturday afternoon crit held on the local motor race track. Fast and Furious!

The strongest contingent of SPR riders will be there for the Sunday road race. The course suits all-comers… Undulations without large hills. A good course for people to start racing or to step up a division. As usual, B grade men will race as a team.

Entry’s close Tuesday night 29/4/14 at midnight. The link is here.

Collie is a long way to drive by yourself. We encourage people to car pool if possible. Please leave comments below if you have spare space or want to car pool down with other SPR members. If there is enough interest, we might even try to co-ordinate a convoy for Sunday.

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Building tradition is one of the underestimated benefits of belonging to a community. SPR is a young club, but one that prides itself on community. In a few short years we have developed many strong traditions; inclusivity, safety, women’s cycling and paying out committee members who don’t shave their legs…

Yesterday’s Good Friday ride will, hopefully, become another SPR tradition. About 20+ plus brave souls turned up to battle 150km or so in the hills. The ride had it all. Camaraderie, flats, KOMs, bonks, wicked descents, “hand of god” pushes and great times all round.

When I remembered, I pulled my phone out to take photos. Enjoy this and see you next year for the same!

Saturday’s UWCT race was a mix bag of emotions. It is difficult for me to describe the race with a cohesive narrative. The best I can do is list a few of the positives and negatives…

Positive #1 – SPR Support

Every time I came up through the feed zone, even after being dropped, I knew that there would be lots of people in green yelling support, urging me to keep going. There was nothing else like it on the course and goes to show what being in a great cycling family can do!

Negative #1 – My performance

I’ve got plenty of excuses for falling off the pace so badly. Take you pick…

“I was sick during the week” – true

“My brakes were rubbing” – already used that one

“Forgot to shave my legs” – no comment

“I don’t race well when Mercury is in Sagitarius and the humidity is between 25-35%” – Matty W has this one trademarked!

Not matter what excuse I used, there was only one reason why I couldn’t finish with the bunch. The others were just too fast! We had a small group of 20 riders starting. 2 got away early in what proved to be a race winning move. It ment with 18 riders left there wasn’t much space to hide. We did the first 5 laps (Strava segment Goater) averaging 41.3kph; much faster than I’d done on Saturday’s Bonner Laps. Strava says the 35-40s did it almost 6 minutes slower than us. I spent too much energy on those first few laps and paid the price later.

Positive #2 – Left from Rochdale into Stephenson.

The importance of cornering in racing is underestimated, especially on this course. The sweeping left hander at the end of Rochdale is crucial to get right as the hammer gets put down straight away on the incline up to Challenge stadium. I’ve been working on my corners, trying to minimize breaking and holding a good line and it payed off.Going around that corner at 53kph is a great feeling. Pity I was already dropped!

Negative #2 – Cramps

Out of all the ways to drop out of contention, cramps are the most frustrating. At least when you are dropped because of genuine pace, your screaming lungs tell you that you couldn’t go faster. Cramps rob you of that feeling. I started cramping after about lap 5 or 6. Just little ones that I could spin out. Things got really bad just when the heat came on in the kitchen. Going up Waldron for the first time, cramps attacked all parts of both legs and I lost contact with the bunch. Things got worse on every lap. It was so bad that I had to stop up Waldron on the last lap and get off the bike for a spell.

Positive #3 – Finishing

I did a lot of sailing when I was young. One of the old sea dogs told me that when the conditions get tough “if you stick it out and finish, you’ll beat half the fleet home”. I thought lots about pulling out. If there wasn’t the SPR crew to look forward to on each lap I probably would’ve. Seeing Paul Bakker standing on the side of Waldren sealed it for me. He’d cramped too and (very wisely) abandoned. I kept going and ended up finishing ahead of 2 other stragglers. I wanted to cross the finish with my hands triumphantly in the air but I couldn’t manage anything other than a shoulder slump and a shift into the little chain ring. I finished 10^th, about 8 minutes behind the bunch. That sounds better to me than 3^rd last!

It was a great way to experience racing at a level above what I’m used to. It was a chilling insight into how far off A grade pace I am. What would I do next time? I’m not really that sure. It is hard to replicate the intensity, both speed and duration, of that type of racing without getting flogged in A grade for a season. The old adage of “train hard, race conservatively” applies. Next year I’ll spend more of the Saturday Bonner laps flogging myself on the front trying to up the power average. Or maybe I’ll just be there on the side cheering South Perth riders on!

Most people that know me, including my family, friends, work colleagues and general randoms, know that I’ve been looking forward to the TOMR for a long time. That’s because every time I was asked what I was up to my answer usually involved training for it. Finally, after many months of dark, cold and wet winter mornings, the Tour of Margaret River had arrived.

I had impressed the racing committee enough to be selected for SPR team 2 and survived the cut during the reshuffle. Unfortunately, Mike Bonner, our nominated leader who we would work for to get the over 50s jersey, couldn’t start. At very late notice, Jim Flynn stepped in to join Matt Wardynec, Paul Bakker, Dale Groves, the unstoppable John Gilbertson and I. We were a good mix of youth vs wisdom, pace vs stamina and fuzz vs shaved.

The weekend started with the Team Time Trial; 2 laps of a 12.5km circuit out from Cowaramup that went through Howard Park Winery. The results of the TTT would determine our start category for the rest of the weekend. Despite a few half hearted attempts, our team never got sorted to practice before hand other than the one Saturday morning that Gilbo blew us all up so I was a little worried about how we would do. My worries got worse when I had my first mechanical issue of the weekend…

Every cyclist should have a mate like Tim. A few years ago, Tim was right into bikes and triathlons. Unfortunately, life has caught up him. His two young sons and crazy busy job has squeezed the cycling time down to nothing. It seems such a waste not to use his fricking awesome race wheels when the opportunity arrises! With his wife’s approval, I’d grabbed his DT carbon tubs for the road racing and his Zipp 808s for the TTT. Unfortunately, when I went for my warm up something was very wrong. It took a minute of me looking confused before some young punk from Giant Satalyst yelled “Your freewheel’s stuffed!”. Sure enough, the soothing “tick tick tick” was gone and my bike was turned into a fixie!

A quick pit stop later, I was up and at ‘em again, this time with my PowerTap training wheel. Yes, that’s right… I bought three pair of wheels down!

The TTT was a blur. I remember getting really worried when Gilbo got to the front as I knew it was going to hurt. We worked really well, pulling though turns and pulling off into the wind to protect everyone else. I was on the front when we finished and it felt great to power up to the line with the whole team behind.

To the organiser’s credit, there was live timing available on the web. After we had finished, but with most teams still to ride, we were sitting 5^th! Our plan was to be placed in the 11-20 grouping. Every time one of the faster teams finished and knocked us down a spot I sighed a big sigh of relief. We finished 12^th, two minutes behind the rampaging SPR 1 and a mere 21 seconds in front of SPR 3.

Saturday turned out to be a lot tougher than I was expecting. Once again, it didn’t start well. When I put on my one month old Bont shoes for the warm up, I found out that the ratchet clip from one was missing! SHIT! Even though I’d bought three wheelsets, I didn’t have a spare pair of shoes. I got more than a little panicked. Amazingly, Andrew Ballam had found it the day before and kept it safe. He even let me use the bolt from his spare Sidi’s and helped attach it back on! Champion!

There was two short and sharp races on the flat with time bonuses for both intermediate sprints and the finish. The first race followed a similar course to the TTT. The first half was nerve racking. I felt on edge as everyone swarmed, surging forward to catch little breaks and compacting up when no one wanted to work all while trying to stay left of the double white lines. In the lead up to the first sprint I saw Sam Luccitti bump bars with someone, break free then touch me on the other side. I touched bars again when going full pace 50 metres from the intermediate sprint finish with a HCT rider. Thankfully we both stayed upright but it’s not something I’m in a rush to repeat.

The pace settled a little on the second lap until the usual mayhem leading up to the sprint. With a kilometre to go, I moved up the outside and found Matty W who was tucked in ready for the final fling. I got him onto my wheel and went like stink from the 500m, hoping to put him just behind the leaders at the 200. It kind of worked but Matty could only manage 4^th on the line and I kept going to finish 7^th, just out of the time bonuses.

The second race of the day was a Kermese format that involved 8 laps of the Delirium 24 hour course. I decided beforehand to sit in and try and save energy for the longer and tougher Sunday road race. Plenty of people had tried unsuccessfully to get away in breaks on the first race. I figured that the same would happen in this one.

I didn’t go for the intermediate sprint but moved to the front just after when the sprinters were recovering. Very shortly after, a small break had formed with Sam representing SPR. We turned the corner and Pete Mah decided to bridge. I threw caution and energy conservation to the wind and went with him. Pete couldn’t quite make the gap but I got across just when Sam got flicked though for his turn. He smashed it but couldn’t hitch back on when he rolled off. Some of the big boys from the other teams made the gap and the group of 7 was formed.

The break was 20 minutes of seesawing emotion. I was at my absolute limit. I remember looking down at my heart rate and thinking that is was way too high. I also remember thinking that I should pull off, go back to the group and don’t waste energy for Sunday. I’m glad I didn’t. It felt incredible screaming up the home straight, helicopter hovering TdF style and hearing the SPR crowd yell your name for encouragement. That was one of my best ever cycling moments.

But I got duped into a beginner’s mistake. On the last lap, one of the others told me to do more turns. Fair enough… given I probably had done less than most of the others. I went to the front but no one came through. Everyone else knew that the break would stay away and were recuperating behind my wheel for the sprint. I lost their wheels when they attacked on a rise 1.5km to go but still managed to outsprint a guy named Deisel to come in 6^th, 17seconds ahead of the pack.

Sunday’s only event was the road race, 75km down Caves Rd finishing up a hill in Augusta. Luckily the howling breeze was mainly coming from behind. After a little confusion before the start, we rolled off and settled into a good pace. Gilbo again did more than his fair share on the front hoping to keep the pace high to give Jim Flynn a shot at the over 50 GC Jersey. Unfortunately, very few (including myself) were interested in expending energy before the hill finish.

The first half was spent watching for attacks. I was convinced someone would attack on the short but steep hill after crossing the Margaret River. At times a break threatened, once again with Sam up there in the action, but I think everyone agreed that the proper race would start at the bottom of the hill. It was special flying down Caves Rd in the peloton. It has been on my list for a long time but my wife, quite rightly, banned me due to the cars.

Poor Sam got into trouble again. On the outskirts of Augusta, he was on the front into a corner with plenty of gravel. His line took him right though the worst part and he slid out. No damage done and thankfully he made it back to the group.

I had previously ridden the hill while holidaying in Augusta early in the year. It’s about 2.5km long, averaging a steady 6.6% gradient. I knew exactly where it started and I was told the finish was just at the top. At the start I was third wheel, sitting just behind Andrew Ballam. A Gyros rider started aggressively and I jumped around Andrew to grab his wheel. He was too hot for me so I settled into my pace rather than red zone it and hoped he would pop further up. Unfortunately, he never did.

I was expecting a flurry of riders attacking past me but no one came. I just kept on going at tempo. Finally, a train of all the best riders came past. I jumped on but again it was too fast. Most surprisingly, it was also too hot for the top Avanti Plus rider who unhitched a bit further up from me. I slowly wound him in, timing my run to finish with a burst as we exited the trees where I thought the finish line was.

Except… the finish line was another 1km away, initially downhill but then up a progressively increasing incline. I tried to keep the hammer down to stay away from Avanti Plus but he and another rider got onto my wheel. Learning from the Kermese, I flicked them through for a turn before we could see the finish. They took the bait and I was in perfect position coming into the sprint finish. I waited and waited and waited. Finally we all stood and squeezed every last bit on power from the legs and oxygen from the lungs. I got around Avanti Plus but couldn’t pass the third bloke.

Another 7^th place, 39 seconds off the stage winners. Jim (13^th) and Paul Bakker (18^th) both climbed the hill really well. I finished 5^th in Category 1 and 59^th overall on GC, mainly because of the head start the team gave me from the TTT. Unfortunately, Jim was still 3 minutes off the Over 50s winner. Dave Hind, riding for Dome, must have smashed it up the hill to finish 12^th on GC. Anna Massey finished 2^nd on Sunday’s stage and 5^th overall to be the highest placed “Green Machine” SPR rider. For the blokes, Tom Barratt came 20^th overall.

Big thanks go out to all my team members, especially Matty W who kept telling me that I was fast enough to keep up with Avanti Plus, even if I didn’t believe him. Other thanks go to Tim for the wheels, Andrew for finding my shoe clasp, Pete and the other race committee members for all the organisational work, my friends for coming down to support and my wife for putting up with it all. I highly recommend everyone try to enter this event next year. It’s a great weekend away with something for everyone!

Post script:

I crashed riding to the start of Thursday’s SPR ride. I slipped on some water coming into the tunnel that goes under the freeway just north of the Narrows. Yes… the bike was fine and I only had some bark off. I rode awfully around the river. I couldn’t hold a wheel to save myself and was too nervous to hit the corners as quickly as you need to on a fast ride. Even El Prez Pete chastised me, quite rightly, for surging too much! It bought my bike ego back to earth after the weekend’s successes. Turns out, after xrays and an MRI, that I broke my wrist as well. Hope you all enjoy the next few weeks of riding while I re-acquaint myself with the wind trainer.