Death Valley Time Trial??

Tom Lowry Memorial - Collie

It's amazing how much racing dynamics can change depending on the number of riders that turn up, the riders that turn up, the side of bed that the riders get out of, the legs, the day, the weather, etc...

The start of Sunday's race in Collie was frustrating. Despite the U19's being away in QLD for Nationals, we had a large field of 17 women, with several new faces fronting up, inlcuding SPR's Nicole Sloan. Jo Moore, Nathalie Laurendau, Linda Evans and Sue Johnstone were making their return to racing and as Sarah Kent is in between international gigs she was able to join us for the day. The field was made up by WA's regulars, Bec Halliday, Anna Kauffmann, Sarah Fraser, Danielle Longworth, Cherie Bonasera, Kelly Gray, Lorraine Hartland. I have to apologise for missing the others as I've lost my start list.

With a large field and great weather, I was starting to expect a great day. This explains the frustration as I was expecting the field would last a few more km's before the brakes were put on. But it wasn't to be and there are always a number of reasons why riders do not want to work at the front but I guess this only frustrates me more when I hear people complain about it and they aren't willing to change it, but seeing 10km/hr on a speedo in a "Premier" race is an interesting sight. Off the soapbox....

Towards the end of the first lap the two Sarah's put their foot down and really got the race going. Unfortunately, I've lost my list of excuses and can not tell you why I was not able to go with the move considering I was expecting it and 4th wheel, it's one reason why you shouldn't do anything at the start of the race.

I picked up Sue Johnstone and Kelly Gray in the chase to get back on the bunch. We worked together quite well and let me warn you, Sue Johnstone is a powerhouse. Unfortunately we lost Sue before the end of the 2nd lap and as Kelly Gray is unwell she pulled out at the end of the second lap. The other bummer was that for at least half lap I was dangling within a few hundred metres of the bunch, unable to shorten the gap.

So I finished the race on my own. I chased a few 'bunnies' which I was hoping were women that had dropped but they weren't. I finished 10th and apparently not too far behind the bunch. Some good time trial training I guess!!

Sarah Kent stayed away on her own. There were a few other attacks and bunches throughout the race, but in the end the eight women in the chase group stayed together. The SouthWest girls, Jo Moore and Linda Evans, did a good job in the sprint with Jo taking it out over Sarah Fraser.

Results
1. Sarah Kent
2. Jo Moore
3. Sarah Jeanne Fraser
4. Linda Evans
5. Bec Halliday
6. Nicole Sloan

Ready for Round 2

Why is it that a rest/recovery week goes so fast? At the end of our week off we met with our coach - you should always be worried if the coach has a smirk on her face when handing you the next round of training!! There are some intense sessions and long weeks ahead of us. It's also 'funny' that my work deadlines seem to coincide with major races, resulting in me being flat out at work and on the bike at the same time - not an ideal situation. Next big race - State Champs and that night I fly to the US to give various presentations. It's not all bad because I'll be holidaying afterwards!

Sunday we entered the Peter Clark Memorial race in Wangara, a bit of a pot luck race, only 1 week after the TdP. But, most of the girls who entered had also had light weeks and sore legs as they too had entered the TdP. Our main concern was the late registrant, Sarah Fraser. I think she may have been opting for the, I'll wait and see who enters or I'll wait and see if it rains, before committing. Well, committment is probably the wrong word because she pulled out in the first half of the race by jumping onto the back of B grade. After that there were a few attacks that got hauled in. Cherie Bonasera dragged the bunch around for the second half of the race and put a few surges in on the last lap. It wasn't enough to shake up the group and the race finished in a bunch sprint. I attacked at the bottom of the hill and got away for the win!!!