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 back on if we flatted.

The loop was essentially a square loop with dead roads, cross and headwinds and a number of short steep power climbs.  The hot conditions made this stage more difficult than it normally would have been and I started to feel the heat by the 3^rd lap.

After the 2^nd lap, we decided to focus solely on the Under 23 jersey and not also go for sprint jersey.  The front group was reduced to about 40 riders and the heat caused the race to become a natural attrition event with very few attacks happening.

I was still suffering from stomach cramps and knew that with the hot weather I had to conserve my energy and look after myself today.  About 8km from the finish in the town of Portarlington there was a steep power hill.  As I approached this climb on the final lap, I stood up to stretch and both my legs cramped.  I had to grovel up this climb seated.  There was an attack half way up the climb and riding seated I couldn’t’ cover it.  I was soon dropped by 50m and spent the next 1km chasing back on with 2 others.  Once back to the peloton, I moved right o the front so if I cramped again I would have the length of the peloton to recover.

Judith Arndt (Nurumburger) attacked in the closing 3km and a group containing Margaret Hemsley (Nurumburger), Katie Mactier (VIS), Sara Carrigan (Power plate), Sigrid Corneo, Olivia Gollan (AIS), Liz Williams (VIS) and Maria Holden (T Mobile) went with her.  Margaret Hemsley counter attacked at the 1km to go mark, and gained a 5 second advantage that she held to take out the stage win.   Sara Carrigan and Katie Mactier took out 2^nd and 3^rd place, respectively.

Lizzie held on to her U23 jersey and I finished 9 seconds back in 22^nd place, in the main bunch.  Katie, Lizzie and I all remain in the top 20 in the general classification.