For a warm up a few of the boys and I decided to roll out on the road whilst others opted to sit closer to home and be on the trainer. When warming up my legs felt ok but I could feel a little tightness in my legs from the time trial a day previous but soon that feeling went away. After getting back from the warm up roll and sitting under the tent the thing that we didn’t want to happen happened. It started to rain again and this time it was here to stay. Eventually the team rolled up to the start line with all of us trying to cramp under and tent or umbrellas trying to get out of the rain. We just wanted the race to start and after a few grumbles from the officials the race started.

At the start of the day we had a team plan to let a few people to get away up the road from our team so we wouldn’t have to chase. Unfortunately after 2km in we already one team member down with Munro having a bit of a mishap and falling off.  Unfortunately, he didn’t get back on. The plan worked to some extent and Scott road terrifically off the front for one and a half laps solo.

The first time up the climb the tempo was reasonably high to drop the people that couldn’t climb real well but lucky none of us were dropped.

Although personally I didn’t drop off, I felt a little fatigued going up the climb. Half way through the second lap we caught Scott and now the race was starting top lift its tempo until the Under 17’s caught us so we had to stop on the side of the road and go into a neutral zone. The second time up hill because of this neutral zone we had to sit behind the lead car until the 17’s pulled off to finish their race. Once again even though we were sitting on the back of the car I was still feeling in a state of bother thanking the lead car that there was no attacks being able to go away.  In the 3rd lap nothing really happened until Camden had a puncture just before the hill so we were one more rider down. Once we hit the hill straight away attacks were going off the front left, right and centre and at this stage I couldn’t wait for the hill to end. I couldn’t go with any of the attacks and got over with the second bunch about 50metres behind.

At this stage there was only 4 of us left; Hayden, Michael, Clement and myself. As soon as we got over the hill clement had a puncture and a bit of havoc was caused and chased for a least 10km to get back on solo. On the descent we caught back up to the break away and as soon as we did this I took on a gel (this gave me a new lease of life). At this stage we didn’t know where clement was until just before the hill when he caught back on. The final time up the climb I felt the best I had felt all day and I felt like I could go with every attack that went. I got to the top of the climb in the break away bunch consisting of Trevor Spencer, Love Dove, Cameron Parliviet and myself. At this stage I had a sigh of relief and I really didn’t know what had got into me.

Once again on the descent the peleton caught us and when I looked around I was glad to still see my team mates there. Throughout the last 5km, they supported me terrifically and it shows how much the team has come along since Bay Crits. At about 2.5km from the end the boys got me up the front and made sure I stayed there without anyone getting past. They kept the pace on until 800m to go then Michael pulled off I was sitting perfectly near the front. Going around the last corner I took it a bit too sharp and let Cameron Parliviet around me and he gained a little too much and beat me. The overall performance of the team was great with everyone contributing and executing their roles perfectly, and this contributed to the podium finish for the team.

WELL DONE BOYS.