KCC Masters rider, Peter Quibell, raced in Geelong in the Australian Veteran Cycling Championships last weekend.  Here is how his racing unfolded.

Last weekend I raced in the Australian Veterans Cycling Championships held at Paraparap near Geelong and hosted by the Geelong Vets. There were 175 riders aged from 35 to 88 from all over Australia. There was 8 in the 80 + age group which was terrific and 30 in my age group of 50 – 54  or as my kids affectionately call it “the old fart category”.

The Crit was on Friday which I did not enter as I have the bike handling skills of a wombat but by all accounts great racing was had.

Saturday was the 25 km Time Trial on a testing undulating and what turned out to be windy course. I was seeded last which I thought was quite nice and complimentary until I realised  the categories started from youngest to oldest  age groups  and the youngest of the age group went first so as it turned out I was last because I was oldest in my age group. Blast, oldest of the old farts category. Anyway I  rode a 36’ 25” for the 25km which placed me 4^th by nine seconds, just missed the podium. I was happy with my ride, as I gave it my all and that’s all you can do.

Sunday was the 70 km road race which I went in to make up the numbers. It started off at quite a civil pace until about 5 km in. Because I was out the back in the gutter once again I thought I may as well be at the front in the wind as out the back in the wind. Before I knew it I had a 200mtr gap and Gerard Donally crossing over to me. This was definitely not in the brochure. We worked our turns and another 2 crossed over. We stayed away for about 5 km’s until we were chased down. Oh well I thought done my threshold effort for the day now to go back to my customary role at the back of the bunch.

The pace stayed pretty high for the next 20 km’s with the typical surges up the hills etc and a few riders spat out the back. At about 40 km’ t another attack came from a few likely lads, Gerard and Co. which I thought would stick, game over. They stayed away for about 15km’s but then the bunch really started working and shut them down. Before I knew it I had attacked up a hill and was away by myself which was defiantly not in the game plan. Why did I do that I thought to myself as the lactic acid pooled and the pain increased. I had a 100  meter gap,  I thought the bunch were just toying with me dangling me out the front to suffer.

I just kept riding at threshold waiting for them to put me  out of my misery however the gap had increased to 200 mtrs.  The guy who won the time trial crossed over and we had about a 250 mtr gap and 10km’s to ride, the last 5 km’s slightly up hill and into the wind owie owie owie.[ouch, ouch and ouch again!].

Any way long story short we managed to hold them off and I came second, which I was out of the blue and I was totally over the moon about.

The training appears to have worked. Thanks Bob and Helen for the programs and advice.