Fitchburg-lonsjo classic 2003, USA  26 – 29 June 2003 The day after finishing the Nature Valley Grand Prix stage race in Minneapolis, I packed my bike and flew to Boston.  I first met the Moran family in 2001, when I embarked on a 6 week visit to the USA.  I was now looking forward to visiting them for the third […]

The Land Down Under People I meet while racing abroad often ask me what is different about Australia compared to the USA.  On a few of my 5 hour rides I have had plenty of time to contemplate the differences. Here, I watch lizards scurry off the road and dodge squirrels and chipmunks instead of kangaroos and wombats.  I prey […]

1 June 2003 – Clarendon Cup, Arlington Today’s race was a technical 1km anti clockwise circuit with 5 corners.  The winds were gusting at 40km/hr which made it an adrenalin filled raced as we all braced hard to avoid getting blown off the bike.  On one occasion I was blown across a 3 lane street and almost into the barriers. […]

30 May 2003 – Captech Classic – Richmond, Virginia The Captech Classic criterium was held in Richmond, Virginia on a 1km anti clockwise loop.  The course had a 150m uphill drag to the finish line which tested the legs out after 25 laps.  The climb continued past the start / finish line for another 100m and steepened a little for […]

25 February 2003 – 120km road race – Lara Conditions: 22C, overcast and humid with morning drizzle Today was a 120km road stage, starting and finishing in Lara.  The decisive part of the stage today was a 1.5km climb up the Anike gorge at the 60km mark.  The road was only 7ft wide, was scattered with gravel and had a […]

24 February 2003 – 92km circuit race – 4 laps of a 23km loop. Conditions: 35C really hot Today we decided to contest the sprint jersey for Liz, while Katie and I would look for opportunities of getting ourselves into a break.  Emma who was out of GC would get water to us during the feeding lap and pace us […]

Geelong – Bellarine Tour 2003 23 February 2003 – 30km Criterium – Geelong Botanical Gardens Conditions: 28C I was riding the Bellarine Tour as part of the VIS team.  Our team included Katie Mactier, Liz Williams, Emma Rickards, Dellys Franke, Narelle Peterson and myself.  We met at 4pm at the criterium course, had our team briefing and were given our […]

Day 5 – Crown Casino – 12th January 2003 Conditions: 31ºC, sunny and hot, 10am Today was the last day of racing and I was hoping that everyone was feeling as fatigued as I was.  I could feel the effect of my work yesterday and needed a strong espresso to get myself going today. The circuit was a hotdog circuit […]

Day 4 – Botanical Gardens, Geelong – 11th January 2003 Conditions: Sunny, 25ºC, 5.00pm Today was a new tough hilly circuit held in Geelong’s Botanical Gardens.  The circuit was a 1km loop with a sharp downhill left corner after the start / finish line, over a speed hump, into a head wind along the back straight (but with great elevated […]

Day 3 (Australian Criterium Championships) – Eastern Beach, Geelong – 10th January 2003 Conditions: Clear skies, 25ºC, 6.30pm Today was a tough 800m hotdog circuit on Eastern Beach, held at dusk.  The hill overlooking the course was packed with interested spectators.  Each end of the circuit had a tight U turn, which unfortunately resulted in crashes in both the men’s […]