Time to race again! Back to Adelaide, it seems like yesterday we were here for the tour down under races. During our time here previously as a team we enjoyed the Corkscrew climb for some training at a leisurely pace, this time we would be racing it full gas, stage 1 was set to be a ripper! Climbing legs at the ready we descended upon the town of Tanunda with a field of 72 women, tensions were high as it had been a long break between races on the calendar. There are a lot of new strong teams appearing on the start lists for the series in 2015, a good step up for the Aussie NRS. The route took us along the rolling roads familiar to many cycling fans from the Tour down under; up and over Checkers hill, descending down Gorge road before making a sharp left turn up the well known Corkscrew climb, with a final descent into Athelstone. The pace over Checkers put some hurt into a lot of legs, good for the power houses of the peleton, although short and sharp enough for a large bunch to regroup on the fast descent. Travelling along Gorge road was super fast, and it was certainly time to keep close to the front. I had two choices at this point, wait for the climb, and give it all I had, see if I could climb with the best, or go early get a head start on the Corkscrew. I saw my chance when Jessica Munday(Highfive) attacked on an uphill section and pounced across. After looking behind to see a gap, I knew I had to commit, and rode with Jessica Munday and Rachael Ward (BSS) on my wheel. As we hit the steep climbs of the Corkscrew I could see the peleton in spitting distance behind me, and my heart sank, my legs were burning now! All I could do was suck up the pain as the lead riders came past, and dig in to keep on their wheels for as long as possible. After passing me Ruth Corset(Total Rush) attacked, with no one else able to follow. I sat behind Jenelle Crooks (Specialized SA), keeping pace with Ellen Skerrit (High Five) up and over the climb. Flying down the descent Ellen and I caught back to Jenelle, and the three of us were setting up for a sprint with 1km to go, but where was the finish line?? We could see Ruth up ahead, with a camera motorbike, but no finish line, surely that was way more than a kilometre! We then saw Ruth turn across a traffic island in panic, there had been no visible corner martial but the finish line had been a right turn at the bottom of the descent, the first five riders up and over the climb, we had all missed it! Had the marshal been asleep?? How had we missed the turn? So focused on the race for second position and how we were going to get to the line first, we had only followed the pink jersey 15 seconds up the road in front, and missed the final corner to lead us under the banner. That was it, race over, four of us grouped together and rolled across the finish line, of course long after half of the field that had correctly turned when they saw a franticly waving corner martial. In the end we were given bunch time so started day two 26 seconds down. Time for some aggressive racing, in attempt to claw back some seconds where we could. Stage 2 was wide open, and after the disappointment of yesterday our team was feeling motivated and ready to put it all out there! The course was a lumpy 20 kilometer circuit we would complete four times. Each lap the field started being whittled down as the short punchy climbs and dead roads relentlessly tired our legs. Attacks never seemed to gain much ground in the first three laps. While the rest of my team were policing the peleton I found myself sitting amongst the wheels thinking about where I might be able to force a split, and hopefully the winning move. Before the KOM hill there was a short punchy climb that seemed to make legs suffer, and I saw it as my chance to pounce. On the final lap I was feeling good and executed my plan. Jumping onto Kendelle Hodges (high 5) wheel as she launched an attack at the base of the climb,and then accelerating past her. Over the summit of the climb a looked to see a gap and carried on steadily wondering if others would bridge across. However, I found myself in a familiar situation, solo. That was it, 7km to the finish I had to commit and give it my all. I set into time trial mode over the rollers, then a left turn into the windy roads to the finish. Time checks announced that I had a 30 second lead. It was enough! If I could hold on the chasing peleton might just not manage to reel me back in before the line. I was right, finally that elusive stage win was mine, and it felt so good crossing the line first! 12 seconds up my sleeve going into stage 3 I now sat 8th on GC, hopefully I could gain a few more seconds over the next two days. Stage 3 also began in McClarenvale, this time a 10km lap, which we would complete 5 times. It was set to be a short and fast stage, again with some rollers, but this time the roads were smooth and more forgiving on tired legs. The race pace was high from the get go and many attacks were flying. Our team aim was to make the race as hard as possible, to tire the other riders, then see if we could force a move to stick in the last lap. The Holden girls rode superbly, and were constantly on the attack and driving the pace, Specialized were keeping the pace high to prevent attacks making ground, and High 5 and Warmall were also being aggressive. In the last few hills after a cluster of attacks a small group of us had a gap to the main field, but before long we were reeled back in, and a reduced peleton of 30 girls crossed the finish line together. The sprint was hectic, with people ducking and diving, and touching wheels all over the place. The fight was won by Kimberley Wells ahead of Nettie Edmonson and Georgia Baker, a day for the sprinters. One more stage to go, we were ready to go down with a bang, last day, we had to lay it all on the line! The final stage was a fast 4km kermese type circuit race. Our plan was to be super aggressive again, put pressure on all of the other teams and try and force a break. Gaining time would be a hard task, but certainly not out of the question. Lap one was neutral and then we hit it Holden were on the front attacking straight away, setting pace and counter attacking continuously. The riders were all taken by surprise, and the race was immediately strung out. Passengers were being shelled from the back of the race right left and centre in the first two laps, and my legs were screaming holding on to the fast pace set by my team mates. Each time I was thinking another attack needs to go now, bam one of the girls was accelerating from the bunch once again, putting pressure on the race. About 30km into the stage there was a touch of wheels, and like skittles half the peleton went down. Shannon from our team was taken down from behind, and was pretty bashed up, her bike was unrideable and that was unfortunately race over for her. This was right at the point when the race was splitting to pieces, many people were in a whole lot of trouble, and our plan was taking effect. However it was not to be! The race was neutralised after the crash, and we rolled round the course for two laps. This allowed all of the peleton to recover and come back together. Now we were half way through the race, and all the hard work done by our team had been largely nullified. Still we had to use our frustration to keep that pressure on, still 8 laps to go, 8 laps to hurt some legs. With four laps to go I saw my chance and attacked on the climb gritting my teeth all the way to the top hoping to create a small group. Attack after attack continued to go, with small insignificant breaks gaining a little ground, but nothing was going to get anywhere without a big fight. There was one point during the race that the holder of the Yellow jersey was sitting in the third group on the road, but somehow managed to claw her way back to the front group and hold on to her lead in the end. Chapeau to her for her grit determination to hold on to that jersey! The pace was fast leading up the draggy climb to the finish, and I found myself out of position in the final corner, gritting my teeth and surging past every wheel I could I managed to cling onto 7th place, not quite the result I was hoping for, but I was very happy crossing the finish line knowing that each member of our team had given every last ounce of energy and determination in an attempt to achieve our goal of gaining time on the leader board. Racquel our track superstar came away with the most aggressive rider jersey for the day, certainly well deserved and not a bad consolation prize for the team for giving it our all! There can only be winner, and next time it might just be one of us! Arriving back in Brisbane just as Paris Roubaix was starting live coverage at home, we raced back to catch the end of the race. 260km of pain and suffering! You could see the hurt in their faces so vividly. One day there might just be a race like that for the women, here's hoping it's in my time as a cyclist! |
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