Ewyn with Coach Bob

Ewyn Carter race report on his Sam Miranda Handicap victory

by Ewyn Carter

“It’s a wonderful thought, that some of our best days on a bicycle haven’t happened yet. I woke early on Sunday morning with this at the front of my mind as I watched the gum trees in a paddock sway, in a somewhat moderate breeze, with thick grey clouds above.  The forecast was for pretty heavy rain in the wine-growing region of Wangaratta. But, as I stepped outside to load up the cars, I couldn’t smell the distinct freshness that rain brings to the country air and was confident that we would get a dry race. Personally I don’t mind wet races as riding skill and a bit of concrete in the morning beverage can give a rider like myself a crack at a result.  I’d been moved from the Limit group after the Melbourne to Ballarat and placed firmly into the middle of the 14 minute bunch. I was relaxed and excited as we entered the Sam Miranda Winery for our warmups and pre-race rituals.

As I watched a big bunch of Limit riders leave the start line I remembered my experience in this group. They moved me to a rye smile. It’s crucial in a Handicap to get your bunch working together from the gun. The 14 minute bunch proved this to great effect. I sat there on the line observing the riders in the group and was seeing a lot of familiar body shapes to mine. This was going to be a power and speed race. Sure enough from our start gun we flat shifted from first all the way to sixth within the first 500metres! This was on. I only had seventh left, next stop seizing the engine block. We were motoring. 45km/h. Heart Rate 160. Game face. Concentrate. Remember Handicaps are a game of survival.

There was no rest bite, our pace line was amazing. It was like being in a Team Time Trial. I have no idea how many started in our group, as I was concentrating that hard on keeping my form and breathing as consistently as possible. The entire group were working. We continued this for an hour! One of my big things in a race is eating and drinking. Don’t get me wrong; these two things are pretty good off the bike too. But during a race like this it is crucial to stay on top of your energy source. Because we were setting what felt like a land speed record, all I had time for was water for the first hour. This was messing with me a bit, as I was worried I’d missed my boat.

After riding the day before in the ‘Strade Nero’, I’d taken note of the course and memorized some indicators for today’s race as to the location of impending climbs. As I’d mentioned in my previous post about my Melbourne to Ballarat, racing towards the stars on steep climbs doesn’t fit in my resume. Saturday’s race up the iconic dirt section proved this as I got shelled quicker than a prawn on Christmas Day.  Thankfully this climb wasn’t on the cards today. However there where two Cat 2’s to conquer and I knew if I got over these in an isolated group before Scratch I could ride the remainder of the course and line up the drag race possibly for some sort of result. The first climb of the day was approaching so I moved to the back of the group to try and reduce my Heart Rate and try to recover before the climb begun. Starting a climb with a high heart rate would have spelt the end of my day, as the more suited riders in our group would have gapped me and that would’ve thrown my cunning plan right out the window.

After the climb we caught the 18 minute group who had started before us! This was surprising to me as I thought they and Limit would have been together with our catch coming in the back half of the race! It was interesting to see how our group approached the one ahead. A few from 14 minutes said we should hit them and break them up. So that’s what we did, ramped it with about 25 metres to go and passed, pulling seventh gear, my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest, this was one of the harder races I’ve competed in.  Our attempt at disorganisation didn’t work and what looked like the entire 18 minute bunch joined ours. This was a more desirable outcome for me as the pace making was now being fought out between more enthusiastic 18 minute riders and about half of the 14 minute guys who looked pretty cagey for a gutter session on the headwind return home. Now was my opportunity to eat and drink properly. New teammates, fresh attitude, chase the Limit group, stay away from the “Scratchier” groups, focus on the finish.

My near death experience in the Ballarat with the kids wading pool sized pothole was nothing like the near miss moment in today’s race. We where cruising along nicely as a bigger group and I was munching on some energy bars when the rider in front grabbed a whole lot of brake and threw in a swerve to finish me off. My front wheel clipped his rear in the classic half wheel move. For those of you who haven’t experienced said move, don’t.  You have no control, and I was sent to the left of the road onto shale gravel. I used to ride Motocross and felt my front end start to lose grip in the classic low side off. I was determined to keep the thing upright and counter steered with my upper body. Which would have looked strange. The fact that there where 30 riders in tight formation would have been strange enough for the Angus Cattle at the side of the road let alone one re-living his motorbike bandit days. I re-joined the group in the position I left and tried to take stock of the damage. That Russian Judge I’m sure was hiding in the scrub with his ten-card ready to pounce had I hit the deck. He’ll get his chance one day, and that’s cycling.

We crested the final Cat 2 and started our run home. We caught the Limit group with about 35km to go, without much fanfare. The bunch was now about 50 strong. Perfect for a sit-in sprinter. This was panning out nicely compared to the first hour!  I had now completely relaxed and felt as I did in the Ballarat, all good signs including ticking off a near miss moment. We continued on our way to the finish and at 10km to go got the 2 minute time gap to the chasing group. We where going to stay away. I was now completely focused on the finish. I had ridden the last 3 km beforehand in warmup and had noted the last kilometre. I had four monuments to climb before the top step of the podium. We reached the right that would take us to the line. The peloton was at least fifty and my chance at victory would have to be taken early from the front. There were a few trains forming and I found what looked to be the strongest. I grabbed their sprinters wheel. First monument. The train ahead of me started pulling hard and I held strong as we moved threw the bunch on the long straight. The run into the finish was technical with a little right left flip flop and than about 150 metres to the line. I had it in my head to be first into these and run apex lines threw both to hold any challengers. So with about 250 metres left and 100 before the right I went full noise. Grabbed the right apex. Second Monument. Straight lined for the Left apex. Third Monument.  Wide line the exit like a race car. Rip it to the line like the Ballarat. Fourth monument.

Again I’d like to express my gratitude to all those who helped to run this event, the Vic Police, CV, Sam Miranda and especially those who stood on corners, held signs and drove support vehicles.  While it doesn’t have the history of the Ballarat, this event is just as important to the growth of our sport and the more the better.

Second chances are rare and I feel very lucky to have won two handicaps at two attempts. I like to be challenged and am welcoming the inevitable cutting of my handicap time. Some shy away from racing higher grades for fear of being dealt a stiff competition hand. For me this makes me want to push the limits of what I’m capable of. A big goal for me is the Austral at Hisense Arena and the Criterium season here in Melbourne. I’d like to race against the Pro’s in the Super Crit at SKCC.  I suppose it’s a nothing to lose kind of attitude. I say dream big, have goals that look unachievable. I’ll put my hand up to join you.

Thanks for sharing the journey, see you on the pushy sometime.”

Ewyn Carter.