Stage 3 – 60min criterium – 30 June 2002 Conditions: steady winds, 23C, sunny, There were still 95 girls in the race so it was really important to get to the front and not get stuck down the back where it is harder to ride.  The clockwise course was about 1km long and was designed like a U, with 8 […]

Stage 2 – 20km (12 mile) individual time trial – 29 June 2002 Conditions: strong SW winds, 23C, sunny, We had a 25min drive to the start of the time trial course.  The riders started in reverse GC order with the first rider heading off at 9am. The course was challenging and quite technical due predominantly to the winds, two […]

Solano Classic 2002 – California, USA Stage 1 – 100km (60mile) Road Race – 28 June 2002 Conditions: moderate winds, 25C, sunny, Today was my first race with the Verizon Wireless-Cervelo team.  The team is based on the East coast of the USA, and will race predominantly on the east coast, however we decided to open up the season with […]

Stage 5                                   Cooma Criterium                                                   30.0 kms Start 5.30pm With the final criterium left, Melchers and Arndt were only separated by 1sec.  It was going to be a fast and furious final stage.  The pace was on from the first lap.  I struggled to get my foot in my pedal and rounded the first corner almost last.  I fought my way […]

Wednesday 6 March Stage 4                                   Adaminaby to Cooma                                          87.15 kms Start 10.30am Today was another warm day and with 5 girls within 38sec of Melchers the race was still heating up for a grande finale.  The riders were aggressive with the first attack only seconds after we started out.  The course was predominantly uphill for 30km during which time there […]

Stage 3                                   Tumut to Talbingo                                                  50.5 kms Start 1.00pm We finished stage 2 this morning at 11.15am and had only an 1hr 45min to recover for the next stage.  The weather was heating up and although the stage was only 50km it had a few tough climbs to test out the tired legs. As we headed out of Tumut, […]

Stage 2                                   Tumbarumba to Tumut                                          69.1 kms Start 9.30am We had two stages today, so it was important to “leave some petrol tickets” for the afternoons stage.  We headed out the road at 9.30am today.  As the green flag dropped, signifying the end of the neutral zone, a rider swerved near the front of the peleton and about 15 riders […]

2002 TOUR DE SNOWY Monday 4 March Stage 1                                   Khancoban to Tumbarumba                                  76.1 kms I rode as part of the Australian National Team consisting of Margaret Hemsley, Kim Shirley, Amy Safe, Emma Rickards and Vanessa Crawford. The first stage started at 10am.  It was already warm and the climbing would certainly heat things up.  After listening to the local […]

Shelby Criterium: Shelby, North Carolina – 20 April 2002 – 10th Conditions: light wind, humid, 90F, (about 30C) Petra and I drove from New Jersey to North Carolina (about 650 miles) to ride in the Shelby criterium, followed next week by the Xcelerate Twilight criterium.  We are staying with a host family, Rebecca and Tim Plonk, along with their twin […]

National Club Criterium Championships – 2nd Location: Mooloolaba, Queensland Conditions: slight wind, sunny, 25C Course: 800m technical anti-clockwise loop I woke up feeling really tired and low in energy.  I was also more hungry than usual (if that’s possible) and ate a huge breakfast to try and fill up the empty spot.  I jumped on my bike after breakfast and […]