Nelson - Tour De Femme

Another year with the Waiariki gang back in Nelson for the road tours first up was the Tour De Femme and still to come is Tour de vineyards. Tour de femme was 3 days and 5 stages which Samara Sheppard and I represented Waiariki in whilst the guys supported from the sidelines.

Day 1

Stage 1 - 11km hill TT

I started off good, feeling strong really loving the steep part of the climbing. About 10minutes in got sharp pains under the rib cage, a result of shallow breathing it bloody hurt I started to back off so it would ease and before I knew it I had climb to the top. I was disappointed with my time and didn’t get to really thrash the legs as intended, but with 4 more stages it could still be accomplished.

Stage 2 - 48km 6lap circuit race

My legs felt really good and still relatively fresh from the mornings mere of a hill climb, although under the ribcage was still sharp. The circuit race went well and I managed to stay up the front of the bunch, close down an attack and move forward for sprints and give them my best attempt. The fast experienced road girls have little fear and will swing out and manoeuvre around bikes with ease, I would love to get into more road racing and learn this as I really did feel strong... so not yet a sprinter or roadie but will continue trying!

Day 2

Stage 3 - 70km road race

The course was really good, with lots of climbs to keep the legs burning. Again I stayed with the front bunch and felt strong like I belonged to be there and was not just hanging on for dear life. The last phase of training has been accomplished and I have a large base underneath me which enabled me to feel strong until then end which was a steep hill climb. Although it was a hill top finish the times were not individual and despite a large gap between riders everyone ended up with bunch time a bit disappointing and did not impact GC.

Samara and I having a chilly river dip to get ready for the 19km TT... well as ready as one can be.

Stage 4 - 19kmTT

I found it hard to get the intensity required for this effort as although developing a large base I am still missing the speed aspect but I got through it and finished managed to not loose too much time overall.

Day 3

Stage 5 – 80km road race

Today was the day to try some road racing tactics; I lapped through strong always doing my share of work, attacked the bunch and got away where Eloise Fry (a fellow mountain biker) and we stayed away for a bit it was early on but I wanted to string out the bunch a bit and wanted to have smashed legs at the end of the race instead of just sitting in the bunch until the finish. The race itself was full of various attacks, a few breakaways but in the end everything was closed down to a bunch finish, which kept GC basically the same.

Big thanks to Sam and the Waiariki guys. Sam has been the organiser, driver, strategist and recovery master (preparing ice baths, supervising our river recovery, and in the evenings massage!!). Whilst the boys have been yelling from the side line and always giving advice.

Waiariki Christmas Party

What can we say.... Pics Say all

Jane with Sam Sutton

Steve the Flat Mate

Will Flat Mate

Luuka Flat Mate

Tyler Flat Mate

Louise in Luuka Jones outfit

The Crew

Carls well Katies clothes

Good times after we went and did a spot of Karaoke at a local bar and then into bed for work at 7am. Training is at its hardest and we are feeling it big time but our testing is showing the hard work and we are both a lot lot stronger than when we got back from Canada... loving it cant wait for February 26th

Oh we are also .com now so www.carl-katie.com

Carl

Mid North Island Cup - Rotorua Round

Great weekend training, an endurance ride on Saturday followed by a Mid North island cross country round in Rotorua on the Sunday.

The track was hard with no rest - A very well run event put on by the Rotorua Mtb club.

• Open Mens 1st Dirk Peters, 2nd Carl Jones, 3rd Patrick Avery

• Open Women 1st Karen Hanlen 2nd Katie Oneil, 3rd Sonia Foote

Check out Rotorua mtb club website for full results, other events and news http://rotorua.mtbclub.org.nz/

Taupo Huka XL

It has been awhile since our last report post singlespeeds in this time we have put in a massive block of training and worked hard in order to earn some much needed money. We had a great physically and mentally demanding weekend at Thornton Beach, attending a development camp as part of the Waiariki Academy of Sport. Another big weekend has just passed as we competed in the Huka XL in Taupo.

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Thorton beach

The weekend went well in Taupo, we cruised down in the morning after a nice 4.30am sleep in and got in to Taupo just after 6 to be on the start line for a chilly 7am start. The event is enormous, with cyclist everywhere. Taupo is taken over and it is great to see the mix up with elite road and mtb riders, relay riders, people out to just complete the event and people out to have a good time. Some extreme bmxers at the end doing some impressive tricks off the ramp jump with Jed Mildon (fellow Waiariki athlete) taking out the competition and even pulling off a world first manoeuvre.

The race was hard for both Carl and I and not from lack of training, we have really been putting in the miles and pushing ourselves to our physical limits with our sights set on Nationals. Taupo was the 2nd to last day of our training block, so we went out put in a hard session and we are pleased with how we finished up and where we are at in the big picture.

Carl’s race had its ups and downs, the down came first at the start of the race but with his secret weapon (a full can of V???) he felt much stronger in the second half and placed 7th in a strong mens field. While my race went along at ONE pace, yes this even included the start line where I definitely was not keeping up, boy was I glad it was an 80km event. I finished up in 4th.

Arnika took out the women’s for her 3rd year running and Mikey claimed the mens Race. Other Bergamont riders also had some great rides in Taupo, Brendon Sharratt finishing up in 5th whilst young Frank Sutton also put in a great time.

3rd and 5th- Place Single Speed Worldchamps 2010

Race Week

Monday - converted bike to SS, helped Marcus take down Nduro marking and went for our very first Single speed mountain bike

Tuesday - 3hour SingleSpeed, Ouch - seamed like a good idea at the time

Wednesday - 2hour SS/run up hills due to being smashed from two days of Singlespeeding

16inch World champs - held in the afternoon Carl was up for it - made it to the second round

Thursday - too soft, took the Road bikes out for a few hours for an amazing 24km average - the word to best describe this is 'cracked'

• Sweeb Record $500 up for grabs for the winner - We gave it a go, the legs just didn't have it in sub 1minute efforts to even get close to the winning times.

Friday - Important race preparation - the paint Job by artist Michelle Bellamy http://www.bellamygallery.co.nz/

Saturday - Race day

• Final Race prep - more paint went on

• A crazy start that incorporated sailing & nas car - Carl and I came out ¾ of the way back, if only we had used our head and stalled/biked slowly by the gate

• Some hard single speeding with around 1000metres of climbing and 4 beers later (which were all kept down, not too easy when biking up hill) We were at the finish.

Carl finished up in 5^thish and I worked my way up the field to 3^rd place - pretty stoked achieving every goal set, skull/drink all beers, have fun, and finish top 20.

SCOTT MOTU 160 cycle challenge

I like the way this race is called a cycle challenge as it is one of the hardest races that I have done, with the combination of the distance, the terrain and the weather!

After over a month’s break from racing, and 3months since riding over 100km we decided that we would enter motu as every year we compete and it is a great event. Last year we took on the 160km, where I took the win and where Carl suffered from the motu weather conditions and ended up hyperthermic having to pull out after a great mtb leg.

The race kicks off at 7am in opotiki starting with a 65km mountain bike - The course follows the East Coast Scenic Highway out of Opotiki, turning right at Waiaua onto the Motu Road. The first 12km are on sealed road and the next 53km is on the winding, hilly Motu gravel road. Rain, mud, Chain suck, the fluL, flat tires and flat legs is a summary. Carl managed to get a flat tire before the first climb and had to do a massive effort to get back up there. He managed to catch back up and despite having another flat tire on the last descent down into motu he lead the motu 160 off this first stage. I also lead off the Mountain bike, although far from my fastest time on the motu mountain bike I survived and made it to the end.

From here it was over to the road bike for a 95km stage, which winds you up Traffords hill and then down the Waiweka George to Optotiki. Carl summarized the second stage as “got absolutely demoed”, he was unable to hold on after the work he had to put in on the mountainbike and After 45km he had absolutely nothing left in him having to pull the pin on the race.

I also struggled on this leg it was supper hard I had a few misshaps. I dropped my new garmin which I decided I was not going to leave behind so that was me turning around my bike and biking back for it. The next misshap was the wind up Traffords hill where there were insane 5km speeds, and even some walking. I did not walk myself however wished I had after getting blown off my bike and onto the road luckily an support crew car came through and not another so I could get up off the ground and back on the bike without being taken out. I hurt my back a bit so that didn’t make things very comfortable for the end of the road bike. I got past my Marina Fowel at the bottom of the descent she was riding strong and went on to take the win. I managed to hold onto second place but was completely smashed. I am happy with 2nd and the added bonus of $500 cash prize money. The mens 160 was won by Shem Rogers.

All and all it is a great event and well run. Richard and Elina Usher took out the motu challenge (the multisport event) with Karren Hanlen having an awesome race to finish second in the women’s.

World Champs 2010

Sitting in our motel bar scaming the last bit of internet to update you before I fly back to NZ can't wait to be home.

The last week in Mont Sainte Anne was a big one...

Team relay

First I started off on Wednesday by doing the team relay for New Zealand with Mike Northcott, Brad Hudson, and Nic Leary.

We had a bit of a mere in this race each of us are meant to do a hot lap of the track, 1st Mikey had mechanical problems so we lost some time there then brad had a good lap, Nic then had 2 crashes and then I had a hard crash into a tree at the bottom of a drop that I was going way to fast for, I wasted a lot of time getting back on track then running up a sand uphill then finding out i was in a massive gear and couldn't ride up the hill jumped off and got that down to a lower one whilst running up a hill, absolute night mere, got to the end off the lap with all my ribs and shoulder hurting and bloody tired and hot. It was probably the hottest I have felt in a race ever and the hardest I have ever gone in a race. Then it was on to the all important recovery for Fridays race.

U23 mens World Championships

I woke on the morning of the race to see an over cast day from hurricane Earl hanging out close by, for the Juniors in the morning i went and sat on a grand stand with Richard Anderson who had crashed earlier in the week and had a bad concussion and a suspected cracked shoulder. Completely gutted he couldn't race and we sat there watching the boys that were leading knowing that he had beaten these guys all season. What it could have been for him.

the cool temps stayed around until about 12 then out came the humidity and sun Quebec is well known for.

I had a really good start position of 30th and on the 4th row so had to start well, after about 30 seconds on the 2nd corner it got tight and I saw people going wide and around me strait into the 1st climb i was still been past at full speed I couldn't do much after running half the lap i got into it under the start finish line 1st lap and a half i was 4 mins down I was thinking WTF that was worse than the World cup with Nino and Absolon at the front. after that back to business i started feeling invincible after my peak fuel that Richard gave me and I went from 50th picking off riders each lap until the last 2 laps where I cracked and lost a few spots but sticking to 39th with dirk only a min in front of me in 36th.

The Winner again was Mathias Fluckiger from Switzerland same as my last year Under 19 in Rotorua the front 3 were Swiss, and now in my last year under 23 the same thing has happened again Swiss power dominated.

Now its time for a break off the bike before the next season begins, thanks to everyone that helped out throughout the year, Bergamont, the Waiariki crew, Bike Culture, Cycletech my family and Evan, and to all the people that helped us out over in Canada

Cheers

Windham World Cup

Carl

Sorry I haven't updated ya on the world cup race. I had the better start out of the kiwis, I was about 8 rows back, but Mikey and Stu jumped in behind me. Race started well then there was a crash that we all got on the breaks and everyone in front rolled away. We got to the 1st bit of single track and it was stand still then some walking but for me I ran and jumped over people pushed and shoved, still didn't do much I was 3 and half mins down on Nino and the leaders after 1 lap, how ever the track started to clear and I started to ride good only losing about 2 and half mins a lap to them (the best in the world). I ended up getting pulled with a lap to go. but was stoked not to be getting to smashed by the under23 winner I still got a hiding but got 75th ish over all in my 1st world cup and 13th under23

Shit Photo but still You can see how many in the start

Windham World cup

First World cup a scene we both could get used to...

Katie

Bummer!!! Race morning was running smoothy until warming up to the track where I found my gears were playing up, I tried to tune them but that was a no go. Sram managed to fit me in just before the start of my race to find a badly bent hanger, they bent it back as much as they could but warned me it would most likely snap. I didnt have a spear hanger as the one we thought would fit is for the 2009 bergamont not the 2010. To make matters worse the break would not line up again after sram worked on it (but when weighing it up I would rather have a some resistance on my wheel than no gears). I tried my best to get it to not rub but It didn’t come right so that was that and I had a warm up with the time left. Not the start I had intended on especially after the bike being fine the day before in my practice lap.

For the race itself I had a pretty good start position, and I started alright although could not get into my big ring and gears didn’t all work as flush as they should have. It was when it hit the single track and step climbs where riders were getting jammed up and riding was rougher than I would have liked considering it was playing on my mind that if I was changing rough my bike would not like it, as if the aggressive first lap was not hard enough on its own. I ended up going from an alright position to basically dead last on the first lap. With my legs feeling a heck of a lot better than my over thinking head I caught about 8 riders in the next lap and was just behind nic who wasn’t having a good day either. I was lapped out in 54th place.

Lots to work on ... but for now its time to have some fun in my last week left in canada :)

Quebec Championships Mont Sainte Anne

Saturday we raced the Quebec Championships in Mont Sainte Anne. Most of the track was the same as the track to be raced at the world championships, excluding a few bits to make the laps shorter.

Katies Race

I realized my race was going to be short, with only four laps of a track which was fast and not that long. This meant a hard start to get into the single track first, although this was my intention it didn't work that way and I hooked bars and got caught up a bit, I put my head down and began to chase back to try get to the front girls. My whole first lap was pretty messy after this, I managed to follow another girl off the track as the tape had been broken down and also drop my chain through one of the rough sections. Some how I regained myself and with legs feeling the best they have the whole time in Canada worked my way closer to the front. I ended up 1minute 25 of Rowena Fry however the results are a bit off at the moment and have her down as first when Lilly Matthews from Great Brittan had actually taken the win.

Carl's Race

All of us kiwis had to start at the back of all the Frenchies. I have been having good starts lately so I was eager to get another 1, I had a pretty good one but being a long way back at the start was hard but got up in the top 10 pretty quick. I had only done a few laps of the track so I was still stuffing things up but ended up having a good race finishing 4th to Raphael Gagne 3mins back. Got 150 bucks for 4th so again i can live another week with not a lot of money. I really love that track and the extra bits we didn't do in the race I went out and did yesterday and they are hard and really cool.

We are now down in Windham New York in a really big old house that is out of a horror movie and everyone is scared shit less we will post some pictures and we will get some picks from the race.

Carl and Katie

(Anyone who read the blog yesterday that was handy work Locky and Scott, it has now been corrected)

Bromont Canada Cup Final

This race was the final race to make the worlds team.

We had been in Bromont since Monday and rode the track quite a few times, we both mastered the track fast and started to get lines sussed the track really suited me with a steep climb that could be done standing.

I was called up 9th to the start line putting me in the second row, I picked my wheel wisely getting right behind Derek Zandstra. My start was unreal and straight away I was beside Zandstra I did not want to go infront of them so hung in with them up the first climb which boosted my confidence. It felt as though they were cruising until Mikey Northcott our National champion layed down an attack, from there the race was on full blast. This race I wanted to stay with mike and was giving it everthing I had to do so. On the first lap I could still see the front of the race only maybe 15 seconds down. After this stunner start I faded a little and it became a battle between the KiwisMikey Stu Houltham and myself, all within 30 seconds of each other the whole race. Coming down to the last lap I took off from Stu to put the chase on Mikey. I finished 10 seconds down on Mikey taking 10th place and 1st under 23 by a few mins.

I was really stoke with the race with some big names there and I also got 91 bucks for 10th and every coin counts when u living from a van.

So from then I was holding my breath hoping it was enough to prove myself to the worlds selectors, everyone was really supportive saying I have done more than enough... and last night I got the email saying im in the Worlds team.

Katie did not however end up with a result she was happy with, many things did not go as planned in her race. Katie's riding is the best I have ever seen, she is going mean fast on the techy sections and really fit and strong this race didn't show it but from here she will be focusing on the World cup at Windham. Katie still has one more year U23 and in the big picture has plenty of time. It is going to be good having two different peaks Katie the world cup and myself the world champs as we will be able to support each other and make sure the events run smoothly.

Carl

Disappointments of not making the world’s team and some good results in Ontario a 7th and a 2nd.

Whilst Katie is boosting down the High ways of Ontario I thought I would update everyone. As most of you know we have not made the New Zealand team to compete in the World Champs in Mont Saint Anne, Canada at the end of the month. We have been given the word from the selectors that the door is open till the 20^th and the race they are looking at is the Canada cup this weekend. We need to be less than 12mins down on a World cup winner to meet there criteria, so it’s a big ask but we are both up to it. We are backing off the training this week to try get a good result this weekend.

The race just been was an Ontario cup race and this is the province where most of the good guys and girls are from in Canada. We were hoping Derek Zandstra and Emily Batty would turn up so we could be gauged against them, Emily was there watching her partner Adam Morka the winner of my race and her brother, where as Zandstra a no show, however the race went on. The track was about a 2 and half min climb followed by lots of very fast slick flat and false flat single tracks and a few tech rocky and rooty sections with a 30second pinch climb at the end followed by a sweeping down. About 22min lap.

Carl’s Race

I started really well by the end of the 1^st lap I was still hanging on the back of the lead group slowly I drifted of sitting around 8^th and 9^th most of the race last lap I got up to 6^th to be past by 1 other chap about 4mins from the line and I couldn’t respond to his attack, I finished 7th I was pretty gutted to miss the podium by 1 spot but still very happy with how I went, 3mins 47 down on the winner, 25 seconds to the U23 winner and only 1min something to Mikey Northcott our National Champion who was 3^rd.

Katie’s Race

My race was the opposite to Carls, pre race my legs were a bit tight and I got pushed out by the locals on the start line, so when the race started with my heavy legs and being at the back meant for a poor start. I didn’t let it phase me and just waited for the climb to open up. It was a slippery climb on the good line so it didn’t help being in the rough even more loose line to get past the other riders and work my way to the front. I enjoyed the track and the race, and as usual I have come away with things to work on for the next race which is always good news because it’s the potential to get an even better result next time. By the 3^rd lap I got into 2^nd place and this is where I finished up, pretty stoked.

This week we will be focused on getting the best result we possibly can in the Canada cup in Bromont.

Carl and Katie

Regina

On Tuesday we went for our last ride on the awesome trails of Camore and were on our way to Regina. During our stay in Canmore we were fortunate enough to camp next to one of the organizes of a sask cup race held in Regina. We got chatting and it turned out we had definately landed on our feet the entire family was amazing, and invited us to stay for the week in Regina.

The week was great, Kim cooked awesome meals and kept us occupied while Jeramy took us biking. They had 2 kids which meant we got to play heaps of games as well in our down time (and everyone knows kids games are actually fun).

Regina is completely flat, the race on the sunday was held in a vallley, as they say you have to go down first in Regina to find hills. The track was really fun, and every one in this town is friendly and out to help you in whatever way they can.

Race day went well for both of us, taking out first in the elite women and men categories. The track was hard and hot with a 30 degree day which was even hotter with the humidity. The feild was not as big and stacked as the other races but it was still a really good training hit out, preparing us for the bigger races and getting speed into the legs. (also generally making us tougher especially with the heat).

We can't thank Kim, Jerramy and their family enough they have been great to us, Its been a really good week.

Big drive ahead of us, starting today 2600ish km, over to Toronto.

We are now in Fort Frances getting some free WiFi about to cross into the US

Will keep everyone posted

Canmore

For the last week we have been based in Canmore, a small town in the rockies where the Canadian national championships have been held.

We were unable to compete in this race due to being kiwis not Canadians but it was an impressive race to watch and we were able to get in some of the best training this year. Geoff Kabush and Catharine Pendrel dominated their races.

The riding in the mountains is endless, the terrain is technical and not surprisingly steep. The week has come to and end tho and we are off for our last ride early tomorrow morning before we hit the road to head further east and onto our next race in Saskatchewan.