Geelong World Cup, 2007

Geelong World Cup, 2007
My first race for the 2007 season was the Geelong world cup, held in Victoria, Australia. After only being back on the bike for 6 weeks I was certainly a little apprehensive about my level of fitness but definitely very excited to be back racing again. The forced rest for 3 months certainly made me realise how much I loved racing and as soon as the doctor gave me the “all clear” I was so motivated to train hard and start racing again.

I joined the NSW Institute of Sport team for the Geelong world cup, with fellow 2005 and 2006 worlds team mate, Nat Bates. Being unsure of my current form, my goal in the race was to look for opportunities to try and get into a small break and to support my team mates. Fellow Victorian Institute and Carnegie member, Peta Mullins was also racing with me.

The international women’s field for the first world cup for 2007 was first class with numerous Olympians and world cup winners out to try and secure UCI points. I was certainly a little nervous as I warmed up and looked dubiously at the black clouds forming. The weather was supposed to be 33C with no rain but thunder around 10am confirmed that rain was on its way.

The race was 120km, consisting of 8 laps with a 1.5km climb per lap. The circuit was almost the same as previous years but was reversed in direction. Also, the finish had been changed which eliminated 2 very dangerous corners within the final 800m. This year the final 3km was completely straight with a gradual downhill section only 600m from the finish, so it was going to be fast, if it came down to a field sprint.

My legs felt surprisingly good and in the opening few kilometres, I rode near the front and settled into the race. Suddenly, the rain started. Racing in the rain is never fun. Grit and oil flicks up from everyone’s tyres and finds its way into your eyes, mouth and makes you look like you’ve been playing a footy game.

An Australian company, Gravity Zero, had given me some brand new carbon wheels to use in the race. They had an innovative hub that almost completely eliminates the initial lag that happens when pressure is applied to my pedals. I was keen to experience this latest technology and give valuable feedback to the director of the company. However, with my pre-race nervousness I had not thought about the approaching rain, and had dry weather tyres pressure in my tyres. As the rain started, I felt my tyres start to slide about. There was a sharp turn and steep descent before the 1.5km climb which was covered in a greasy slippery oil. At least 20 riders, including me, lost control as we rode over this oil, and slide out across the road. I hit hard on my right side, and took skin off my hip, calf and elbow – not a good start to the race.

With panic that my race was over in the first 5km, I jumped back on my bike and started chasing. The peloton was about 1km in front of me, but fortunately, with so many girls crashing, I caught back on by the end of the first lap. My whole right leg ached but the pedaling action helped loosen the stiffness and I soon forgot about the discomfort, as I was more focused about my lack of tyre traction.

For the next 2 laps, I slide around the corners and prayed that I would stay upright. I had virtually zero grip on the road and it was quite scary as I felt my wheels slipping on the corners. Whilst I was focused on not crashing, my team mate Nat, got into a break of 3 on the next lap. I moved to the front and helped slow down the pace and hoped this would increase her chances of the break staying away until the finish. A group of 8 more riders crossed to the break and this was a missed opportunity for me. It is always better to have two team mates in a break to increase the chances of a win. Soon after, I saw Sara Carrigan (Queensland Institute) attack and thought this was my ride across to the break. With only 80% fitness, I had to dig deep to get to her wheel but she sat up as soon as she saw that she wasn’t alone.

For the next 5 laps, there was no action in the peloton. The break was 3mins ahead and as each of the major teams had a rider in the break, the peloton was content to roll along. Fortunately, the rain stopped and a hot north wind developed, and soon dried out the roads. The wind became increasingly strong and I chose to conserve as much as possible by staying off the very front.

On lap 7, Team Tmobile got to the front and decided to bring back the break. They wanted to set up a field sprint for either Oenone Wood or Ina Teutenberg. Within 1 lap, the 3min gap was swallowed up and the race was altogether with 15km to go.

My lack of fitness was starting to show as I struggled to hold a wheel. Up the climb for the 2nd last time, I was gapped from the front group. I didn’t have the strength to chase back on. I finished in 54th place, with a small a group, about 4 minute behind the winner.

On the penultimate lap, 2006 World Cup winner, Nicole Cooke (Raleigh Lifeforce) attacked on the climb, with Oenone Wood (tmobile) and Nicki Eggerd (AIS) going with her. They held on to slim gap all the way to finish, with Cooke taking line honours, ahead of Wood and Eggerd.

Now it is back to Melbourne for me to pack my bags and head to San Francisco where I join my new team, Webcor Builders Cycling team. Stay tuned for news about my new bikes, new team mates, new training ground and new sponsors.

Happy pedaling.