Mean weekend racing the Tour de Whaka and its 4 stages. The format changed slightly with the TT which was ment to be on Sunday being moved with the threat of really bad weather, and what a good call that was, as Sunday it pelted down for the XC race.
Carl's Weekend of racing: After the Hill Climb we both were winning I was up 15 seconds over Dirk and 45 second over Mike Northcott. We went started at the bottom of direct road and went to the top of frontal labottomy. In a hard training ride I usually get up the hill in around 15 and half mins, so i thought 14 and a half would be a reasonable time for us in the race but the conditions were perfect and I pulled out a 13.25.
The super D was from the top of Spit ends down Pondy dh into Pondy new and onto Rollercoaster. It was a huge 18min 30 secs with a 2min uphill in it, for me and Dirk that 18 odd mins couldn't seperate us. Both of us finishing on the same second. We were 2nd equal with Sam Shaw smashing us by 20 seconds.
On the TT of old chevy I was really nervous because my lead was only 15 seconds and I wanted more.
At the end, after Ra had talked us all up I pulled 12 second more over the 5km track to Dirk,
After day One I had 27 seconds over Dirk, 1.03 over Sam Shaw and Mikey Northcott 1.04.
Day 2 It was so wet and windy over night the tracks were very flooded but we still had a race to do.
Right from the start I wanted to push it, as it's so closer to nationals so I took off with about 4 attacks from the front few of us along the first few km of road, into the first single track there was a chain of 6 of us at the end of the track there was 4 and then the first hill there was just myself and Dirk. We had a massive battle all the way to the finish with me coming out on top and taking the win of the tour by 28 second.
Carl
Katies Racing: my first day of racing in the tour was a bit flat. I struggled to put the hammer down in the hill climb, and the nerves were definately high at the top of the hill with the uncertainty of my position. The beauty of a stage race was there were still 3 more races to go. A ride down Billy T was the chosen route to get to the start of the Supper D which is always good fun. We then got to enjoy some interesting 'banter' and stories at the top waiting for our turns. I spent most of my time however eyeing up food, although I was smart enough to ride up with a jacket in my pocket I forgot to pack in something to eat. Stage race nutrition = EPIC FAIL! I managed to score a few lollies thanks Sam and Nigel (mmm straight from a bikers pocket, with no wrapping...). The Super D was good fun and I was stoked to get to the end, to the tent area where my food was waiting... although instantly after consumption I wondered if I would regret eating that much during the TT which was fast approaching. Old Chevy is a testing wee track, requiring effort throughout the whole duration which made for a great TT and no regrets on the food front, I was much more comfortable than the stage prior where all I could think was FOOOD!!. I finished up the day with around a 1min lead.
After the racing we went out to the pig and it was great meal and evening, the guys spent the night on Carls case getting him geed up.
The rain set in over night and Sunday morning the XC race was still on. perfectly muddy and wet! There were no real climbs to seperate everyone up or gain big advantages but I hoped I would be able to extend my lead and find my race legs which were not all there the day prior (protest from the interval training during the week, or maybe just the hill climb, along with everyone else's :) ). I really enjoyed racing with a couple of the JNR guys especially if they were infront testing the puddles and not me, although I was the test rider for biggie on the lion trail. On the whole I felt a bit better during the XC race than Saturday, stoked to take the win. It was a great event to open up a get some race hardening before Dundein our first National round.
Katie
PHOTO/BEN FRASER Daily post
check out the Daily post write up. http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/jones-pips-peters-for-win/1231605/
No comments:
Post a Comment