For 2015 I was in Chemnitz East Germany, riding for Maxx Solar cycling team. Coordinating this with training in the locations of many Ironman Triathlon events was a highlight for me, and it was always motivating to watch other people suffer in between races! Training in different places all the time can be challenging when you don't know the roads and are out of your usual routine. But it can also be super fun to assess what’s around you and improvise to make your training as specific as possible to the up and coming races on your schedule.
This season I have ridden in so many places, climbed through high mountain passes and completed some of my longest rides ever. Having raced in Europe for three seasons now, each year I continue to learn and better myself. This year in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics I have noticed a big step up in the depth of racing in the womens peleton, and found it challenging and special to be part of. Racing the British nationals was certainly one of the season highlights, getting to go home and visit family for a quick recharge before heading south for final preparations.
We started the week with blustery winds, and drizzle typical UK style. As the week went on the weather improved and it was great to race in glorious sunshine around the famous Cadwell Park motor circuit This was to be the start and finish of the time trial course. The time trial was a challenging and technical circuit, I gave it my best on the day and finished in fourth place. Time to rest up and change focus onto the next challenge in two days time.
The road race was constructed to test riders on a course similar to the world championships with a steep cobbled climb we had to attack five times. Racing against Lizzie Armistead the newly crowned world champion and seeing the bullet released from the gun to ride away from the entire field, making it look effortless was frustrating, but very inspiring. To have raced against the worlds best for her to be a fellow Brit certainly does make me feel proud.
Cobbles were to be a theme for the season, with the next big race Thuringen. This was the season highlight race for Maxx solar, as it's a local UCI 1.1 world class race. I found out by personal experience that it is one of the toughest races too, especially during a heat wave. Ironman Roth was close to Nuremberg, and I relished the opportunity to train over cobbles in the lead up to Thuringen. In the old town there was a steep cobbled climb leading up to the castle, and early one morning I smashed out some hill repeats up the cobbles. It was an entertaining morning, with a few onlookers watching in bewilderment as I battled my way up and down the climb numerous times. Some Japanese tourists even found my efforts interesting enough to photograph me in action!
Thuringen threw everything at us! Thunderstorms, rain, wind and a heatwave! The most exciting day for me was the second day. We raced up the famous wall of Meerane multiple times. Gracie Elvin attacked solo early and managed to hold her lead to the finish and take the stage. It's amazing to be in races that are so dramatic, and that day I learnt how much the weather can affect a race! In the final lap as the peleton was chasing to catch Gracie, the heavens opened. Winds blustered across us, and suddenly you could hardly see two feet in front of you, the cobbles turned to ice and the race splintered after losing its momentum as a whole. I finished glad to have made it out in one piece and ready to start the next day.
One of my favourite races was Ardeche, this year was my third attempt, and therefore I had a goal to better my result of 20th place on GC from last year. Its as tough as they come with long stages and endless climbing and descending through the mountains. In the lead up I was based in Zell am See in Austria while the Ironman 70.3 championships were on. This is a cyclists paradise, and some of the best training roads I have encountered. In preparation for the long climbs to come in France, I set off up the highest passable road in Austria - the Grossglockner with a 23 cassette, and ground it out to the top at 2504m. It was a tough old day in the saddle, and there were some hairy moments on the blustery descent, but boy was the view worth it!
Just before leaving I witnessed the new Ironman 70.3 world champions run over the finish line to glory, the atmosphere was electric and I left Austria feeling super motivated for the up and coming race. Ardeche took place over six days, with seven stages. The first stage was flat, and the second day started with a morning time trial. From stage 3 we hit the mountains and barely a flat section of road would be seen from here. It was a gruelling 6 days, that challenged everyone’s physical limits and mental toughness. This race tests every part of you, and there is nowhere to hide, long climbs, super fast sketchy and technical descents, long commutes to stages and all in hot weather. I came 8th place in the time trial and was sitting in …. place on GC. Each day I gave it everything I had to maintain my GC position and on the last day my legs just said no! My feet were pushing the pedals with all the power I had, but once again the pace was fast early. This was the toughest fight of will I had, but it was to be my last racing day of the season, and I would push every last ounce of energy I had until I literally fell off my bike. My resolve paid off, when I made it to the finish just trailing the lead group. Happy with 16th overall, I had attained my goal of bettering my result of 2014 and had turned myself inside out in the process. A fitting end to the season was to visit the Champs Elysée in Paris in casual clothes! Now its time to go back to familiarity and the routine of work, training and gym in my favourite place, the Sunshine coast! Smiles all round!!