#s2d13

photo c/o Judith Cahill @actionpactpix http://actionpactpix.blogspot.com

Here's a small tale of my race yesterday. I always find it difficult where to start. Do I begin at km 0, or the days leading up, or just at the base of the final climb where the racing really starts. However, as you all know this report is more than just a single race (at least it is for me), and so it really began at some stage in February when I was allowed back on the bike and was still learning to walk. I will spare you the great lengths of my journey, but needless to say that Giro night-time ergos, 4-5 days of hydrotherapy a week, countless pilates sessions, physio, and massage filled my days and weeks for the last 13 mos. If you focus on the process, the the outcome will come. I strongly believe that you can give yourself every chance in a race by preparing well. With the exception of some nasty saddle sores over the past 3 weeks (and on race day), I have to say I was as prepared as I could have been (with minimal racing). In the end my 8th position was good. Not what I hoped for, as I went into the race believing I could podium - if you don't, why bother turning up on the start line. The race itself was a strange affair. With a new format (graded masters), and many riders I knew nothing about, it wasn't until the first hill that I could take stock of who was climbing well. The eventual winner Steven Payne, and Julien Fleurus (big guy) were solid. I opted not to show myself at the front as I had no idea what my form would be for a 10km climb at the end of 95 kms of racing. Now I use the term racing loosely, as it was like 2010 ToB (M1/2/3) which was slow as for the first 20kms until another grade passed us. This time it was Masters C who were actually racing. It appeared that everyone was willing to wait until the final climb to race. Nothing much happened en route - boring really. A training ride for most people. In the process of the longer climbs we managed to thin the bunch, so by the time we hit Dargo there were 12 riders (of 25 starters). Payne was up the road with an opportunistic attack 5 km before the final climb into Dargo, and the rest of the field was content to stroll through Dargo. It was that easy we had an organised nature break 20kms into the race, and I managed to have my customary on the bike wee not once, but three times. 3l of water will do that to you. Having raced in 2011, the final climb sorts the chaff from the hay. I was a front runner for around 2kms, but knew that due to legs (perhaps I would have been better off on a compact for the first 2-4kms), I could not sustain 115% of FTP. So I let three riders go up the road. I yo-yoed with some others who I dropped, then caught me (all on compacts!), and I held my place on the road for a long time. I passed countless numbers of riders from Masters C, and other races and focussed on the numbers. In the end the outcome in terms of measurable power was all that I could have hoped - but the result was not. I nearly gained a spot in the final km as I pegged back a guy up the road on the 17% wall, but he saw me coming. Despite sprinting at the end I settled for my spot on the road. Power up the climb was 15% more than 2 years ago and I was 2-3kg lighter (different race, different weather), and 10 minutes quicker. There were just guys who outclassed me on the day, and probably had more racing form which is hard to get from training alone. In some ways I'm disappointed I won't race Bright this year (as I think I could match them on tawonga), but am looking forward to my offie and surgery to have these screws and plates removed. If you're curious at what I was racing with look here and here. If I haven't thanked each and every one of you personally just yet, I will in the coming weeks when I see you. Your support has meant the world to me, and hearing about your achievements and stories while I was out of action motivated me to plan comeback 1.0. Comeback 2.0 will be even bigger, and I look forward to riding and racing with you all in 2014.

photo c/o Jo Upton @jouptonphotog http://jouptonphotography.com.au

Linky to Strava

postscript - couldn't have gone much harder (some proof below - see 5-50min power is year best and came on the final climb)