Sunday, 25 August, 2002        Victorian Road Race Championship – 108km – 4^th

Conditions: 16ºC sunny, mild southerly winds

The Victorian Road Race Championships were held in Dookie, North Eastern Victorian on a 36km loop that we raced 3 times.  For winter, the weather was perfect, without a single cloud in the sky.

My legs felt great today, with yesterday’s time trial opening up everything well.  The course was a square loop and was almost completely flat.  There were two minor rises in the terrain but I was in the big ring all day so it was definitely a flat course.  For those that know my riding style, I prefer to spin rather than grind up a hill, so for me to be in the big ring – they certainly weren’t steep climbs.

The race started sedately and after 20km I wanted things to liven up a bit.  I attacked at the base of the 2^nd climb, with Claire Baxter going with me, and Liz Tadich, following alone soon after.  The 3 of us rode at 50km/hr, working really hard.  However, the peloton caught us within 10km and we had regrouped as we rode through Dookie to get 2 laps to go.

The pace steadied again, and peloton became passive.  When we got to the first of the hills again, I attacked and went alone.  Baxter worked hard and caught me within 2km, with the rest of the peloton enjoying the ride.  Liz Tadich attacked on the 2^nd hill, with Baxter and I, again going with her, however, we were caught within a few kilometres.  The race was a little frustrating, because without a strong wind and any notable hills, it was hard on a flat course to shell the weaker riders still hanging in the bunch.

On the final lap, again Baxter, Tadich and I were aggressive and got a gap on the peloton, but the remains of the peloton were prepared for the attack and fought hard to get back on our wheel.  Unfortunately, it was going to come down to a bunch sprint.  We turned into the main street of Dookie, with the finish line about 700m away along a wide street.

Suddenly, a truck pulling a trailer drove out of a side street in front of us, heading slowly towards the finish line.  Our peloton, now into a full sprint, were either going around the truck or were drafting on his wheel.  I had been on Tadich’s wheel down the right handside of the road and thought I saw the truck put its indicator on to turn right.  I veered left so I wouldn’t get side swiped, and was soon on Baxter’s wheel.  I headed left to go around her but she also headed left, closing out the gap.  With only a few metres to go, I looked up to see Liz sprinting down the right side to take out the win from Emma Rickards and Claire Baxter, while I came in 4^th.

It was certainly an unexpected finish with a truck in our midst, but fortunately no-one was hurt, and who knows how the truck made it past the officials.

Next week, I fly to Queensland for the National Championships, where I’ll be competing in the time trial, road race and criterium.  Fingers crossed for nice weather and favourable results!