Stage 2 – 20km (12 mile) individual time trial – 29 June 2002
Stage 2 – 20km (12 mile) individual time trial – 29 June 2002
Conditions: strong SW winds, 23C, sunny,
We had a 25min drive to the start of the time trial course. The riders started in reverse GC order with the first rider heading off at 9am.
The course was challenging and quite technical due predominantly to the winds, two sharp corners and a few nasty hills. Straight off the ramp, there was an 800m gradual uphill climb followed by a short descent and sharp left hand turn. The next 5km had gradual undulating hills but with the cross tailwinds it was really fast. At the 7km mark, we did another sharp left and had two long unforgiving hills to climb over. At the bottom of the 2nd hill was the 10km turn around mark.
I didn’t have a good day out today. I certainly slept well, and ate well (never an issue there), but I didn’t do my usual rollers warm up (as we didn’t have any with us) so I hadn’t lifted my heart rate enough. Also, I really suffered in the wind today and just had no strength. My results reflexed how poorly I felt, finishing 31st, 4mins 24sec down on Kimberly Bruckner, who narrowly beat Bessette and Arndt – another clean sweep by Saturn. My result today lowered my GC position to 30th.