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!
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.
