Road Nationals
What a day! Close but no cigar folks. The race happened in 3 parts so I will split the blog post accordingling. This is easily the longest race report I have ever written. Probably because it was one of the most extraordinary races I have been part of. The course and the crowds where mind-blowing, for a race in little old NZ it was something else.
Act 1. The Early Break
Yup I was in it. Not but accident, not by chance but exactly where I wanted to be. Suicide in a race 180kms long with 11 accents of a 1.5km 10% wall? Actually no. I tagged onto a move with some more than handy bike riders and in the back of my mind I knew there was a chance that the chase was going to be pretty un-organised. This is NZ bike racing after all.. Anyway it did keep pressure on the pedals but actually took the sting out of the climb, as we where riding nice tempo. The course lay out means that rotating the flat sections really isnt as hard as it sounds and making the early part of the day pretty mellow. Yup I saw a bit of wind, but certainly a trade off I felt worth taking.
Act 2. Coming Together
So there was enough of a chase, only just though! By the time our group was picked up by the remainder of those in contention our group barely doubled in size! They had to work for it, meaning while the early break was not the tactical masterpiece it may have been, it was near enough a blank page restart. Race on with 60 kms to go! Little groups where coming and going and a very strong one slipped up the road containing Jeremy Vennell (my team mate) and Mike Vink (u23).. Once it was established I had to sadly watch it sail off into the sunset. Playing the ‘team mate up the road’ card I planted myself on the back and thought that my bid for the u23 title was over but was about to watch a team mate take out the elite prize. Had called it even in my head.
Well 2 laps to go I got a call I certainly didnt expect with the break still putting time into a pretty sporadic chase.. Jeremy was dropped and Mike was solo. The last time check we had was 1min 45 seconds… Suddenly there was life. I held fire as we hit the climb, thinking Jeremy may be dangling and all is not lost. This was quickly quashed by a time check and the fact we could now see Jeremy. So it was game on.
Act 3. Close but no Cigar.
The pace was ramped half way up the climb with only Josh Atkins, James Williamson and myself at the front. We rolled through the bell with the gap reduced to only 1min. We hit the climb again and soon lost Jeremy but could now see Mike on the climb. The 3 of us went over the top of the climb.. Gap slightly reduced but our wheels where coming off. Josh (who on paper had the hardest ride of the day; early break and made the final selection) was cramping and James was still there but with the elite title being ridden into his hands wasnt about to ride himself out of this move. We worked, gap was edged down to about 20 seconds with 3km to go. 10 seconds with 1km to go. We eventually lost Josh in the final flourish and I was 100% committed on picking up Mike, giving it full gas right into the home straight. Wasnt to be – 6 seconds on the line and the moment I saw Mike put his hands up I was as good as done. Jimmy whistled passed by easily to pick up 2nd on the day and the elite title. To me that wasnt at all important; I turned up and put up a fight for a jersey, it ultimately wasnt good enough but was one hell of a day!
While it is bitterly disappointing to miss out on a national title, its hard to hang over it to much when the race was both raced and won in spectacular fashion. Roll on more bike racing!
