Published by Tristan on 20 Nov 2010 at 08:06 pm
Treading water in the deep end
Another weekend; another early start. James, Mike and Greg were around just after 730 to load up the Falcoon for the drive to Otaki. We met Chris, Janine and Andy up there to compete in the Kevin Smith Memorial race.
This 52km handicap race would be my first time starting in Scratch. I’ve been in no-mans land the past few races stuck between B grade and Elite and the realization had dawned on me that the only way I was going to improve was jump into the deep end and try to keep my head above water with the quick boys.
Our 12-strong Scratch bunch were let off 15 minutes after Limit – enough time for the Limit riders to complete a full lap of the 7.4km circuit and lap us before we’d even started!
When the gun went we got straight to business, and other than some mis-direction at the first turn, the pace was high and consistant.
The course was a fantastic undulating route on traffic-free back roads. The lap started with a power-climb followed by a long kilometer of false flat and it was no secret that this is where the move would be made on the final lap. Based on the pace and my heartrate on the first lap I wasn’t sure I’d be there on the final lap to worry about the move.
To my surprise as the laps counted down, the rain started, and riders were dropped I was still there. I certainly missed more than a few turns at the front, especially on the false-flat where I lacked the horsepower to roll over the top of the other boys. But I held on, and that felt pretty good.
On the final lap we caught the large Break group just before the start of the power climb – not ideal for me as I knew Andy was going to attack on the climb to ensure the large bunch didn’t get a free tow to the finish line. I made sure I was near the front and got ready to eat shit. I held on for the climb and most of the false-flat but when Andy attacked on the last lump I dropped the wheel infront of me and ended up off the back with Chris and a couple of Break riders who had managed to hold on.
We tried to get back to the leaders along the fast flat section but to no avail, and after a long pull on the front my legs were pretty poked. As I rolled off the front Chris took advantage and took-off taking the rest of the group with him and leaving me riding solo. Thanks buddy :-P
Up front Wheelworks riders Greg, Andy and Mike were still being chased by Findlay but unfortunately coming into the last downhill, wet corner Findlay overcooked it and slid off onto the grass shoulder. The three boys finished up in that order for a clean sweep.
Thanks to Rachel Anderson-Smith for putting on a great race in memory of her father, and to the many volunteers who gave up a day’s riding to stand in the rain holding back traffic. I remember the day Kevin died – I’d left work and rode past the ambulances on Brooklyn hill oblivious to the heart attack he’d suffered.
I won’t be racing Taupo but will be up there to help feed the boys at Kuratau so look for a race report next weekend.
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