Masters World Championships
Masters World Championships, Austria – August 2011
Kelly Cycle Coaching have been coaching Mark Cummings and more recently, his brother Youcef, in preparation for the Masters World Road Race championships held last week in Austria.
Youcef, who now lives in Oman, met up with his brother in Austria to fine tune their race legs about 7 days out from the main event. After settling in for two days and Youcef having done a warm up World Cup event with a frantic bunch of Italians, the pair woke up in horror, to find their bikes had been stolen. Not only their bikes, but every bike in the pension. Carbon race wheels, power cranks, very expensive cycling machines…..all gone!!!! Guttered and robbed is a word to describe how everyone felt. After two days of running around, replacement bikes sans the gidgets and gadgets of their former racing machines were found.
Mark's baby...gone!!
Race day for Mark Cummings….Here is what he told us:
Today was without doubt the most humbling bike race experience of my life.
First of all the result,well I didn’t finish last….but bloody close to it. On the positive side, I was the first Australian, being the only one in the race!
This time I warmed up properly( about 40 mins with some efforts) …..there is something perverse about warming up in 32C.
The 11 percent climb only 2km from the start was berserk again. To give you an idea off the start I was in a 53/16 gear and accelerating and jostling to hold my space. Twice I had ambitious Italians rub handlebars as we dived into the sharp left/ right corners before the climb…and then the climb. 3 ks @ 11% is hard anyway….but when you race it in the big chain ring you know it is going to be a long day in the saddle.
The guys at the front driving the pace were quick – like really quick. This time I was better positioned and a bit more aggressive,but I was seeing stars at the top…yep made it over the top in the main group which had blown apart….and then BANG….attack!….are you freakin kiddin?…We have 72 kms to go – please don’t attack just yet.
And the rest is history. I could not respond to the acceleration nor hold the wheel. I was totally lactated and wanted to spew and couldn’t get a bidon over my head quick enough. It was now 35C. I remember thinking….I cannot breathe, dead legs and I am in the hurt box big time.
I managed to “work” with some fellow flotsam and jetsom but the power lights were out. I rode to survive and to simply finish. The climb second time round felt like Everest! I even stopped at a shop on the second leg and brought a Redbull and water. I drank 5 bidons…just don’t think the heat suits me after coming from our chilly Melbourne blustery conditions?
Youcef Cummings
So I finished!!!! Would I do it again….absolutely! Forget the few super freak leaders – there are a lot of fit guys my age here that beat me fair and square. I will be back next year forearmed to race and improve. A fantastic experience even with my favorite bike being stolen!
Auf Wedersehen
Kumquathasen
