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It is a week after the Canberra Tour and I am still in the ‘should have, could have, would have’ mindset. Should I have gone with the attack at the top of Mt McDonald, could I have dug a bit deeper on the Three Sisters, would I have won my first tour if I were more experienced? I found it difficult retelling the race to family and friends last week. Those who were following my progress across the weekend were curious to learn what happened and how exactly did I lose a 94 second lead.

I started drafting this blog at 5:30am on Monday morning. I had been kept awake at night replaying the races in my head. There are a lot of ‘what ifs’ from the three-day, four stage event. But I hope that I will soon be able to move past all that and be happy that I took a stage win, a second, wore the leaders jersey for a day, and finished the tour on the podium. This time last year I was a triathlete and somehow convinced my coach to let me enter Womens B Grade. I won that and then somehow convinced my coach to let me switch sports. A year on I was only 16 seconds shy of another tour win in Womens A Grade.

I am not a climber so went into the tour with the sole goal of winning the time trial. I was a guest rider for Team Suzuki and with one of their star riders on a break from training we were left without an obvious GC rider. Our coach John Forrest decided we would wing it for a bit. We had some ideas but results in the first stage – a 50min criterium – would determine our plan for the weekend. With one lap remaining the experienced Bron Ryan took the lead and I found her wheel as planned. With 350m remaining she signalled for me to go left and I launched my sprint a little prematurely. I later learnt she just wanted me to sit on her left. Amateur. Despite gapping the field into the finish straight, I was passed on the line. With the generous time bonuses on offer I started day 2 second on GC with a 25sec buffer and only 5sec behind tour leader Loren Rowney.

Part of me wanted to be racing B Grade. Shorter races = fewer hills. I had to survive a challenging morning 110km road stage if I wanted to have a crack at the TT that afternoon. At one point during that race I asked a teammate if there was a time cut-off because I was struggling. In the months before the tour I suspected our coach wanted to kill us in the hills around Cotter and Uriarra. We had motor-paced every meter of road between Stromlo and Tidbinbilla and were well prepared for our home tour. I knew the hills I usually got dropped on during training, and had my fingers crossed that the bunch would stay together so I could have another crack at a sprint. I was second-wheel leading into the home straight but made the mistake of trying to take the inside line around the last bend. Meanwhile half the field went wide and I sprinted to seventh. Top-six were awarded time bonuses so I just missed out. This bumped me back to fifth on GC and with 20sec to pick up in the TT.

I had three other housemates racing so there was a bit of trash talking before and during the weekend. With two in Mens A and one in Mens C there were people coming and going and eating and resting at all times of the day. Housemate Ben Hill somehow convinced me to let him borrow my TT bike. This was dependent on the time gap being sufficient to let me get it back for my start. It was a nervous wait in the week before the tour for the start times to get posted. He was off at 3:10pm, which gave him 1hr23min to finish before I required my bike. Luckily for him I am a ‘W’ and right down the bottom of the list. He got 12th in the TT on my superfast Orbea Ordu and finished the tour in 8th so I will claim some of that. I picked up the 20sec required and rode a bit extra into my competitors to find myself in the very unfamiliar position of leader going into the final stage.

Team Suzuki had two cards to play in the final 80km road stage with junior Allison Rice second on GC and 54sec back. Every other team were over a minute down so we had a fair idea what their plan would be – attack and drop me. Before the race there were three points where I suspected it could be game over – Pierces Creek, Mt McDonald and the Three Sisters. They were all climbs and I knew if I got over with the bunch then there was a chance I could stay in white. We recruited NTID training partner Ailie McDonald to help keep everything together and she did a fantastic job in the first real break of the race.

I barely just survived over the first KOM at Pierces Creek. I was dagging off the back on the return trip up Mt McDonald. And then the attack happened and when Grace Sulzberger rode away I was poorly positioned and took too long to decide what to do. Only VIS rider Kendelle Hodges was prepared to go with it. Bundaberg Sugar rider Zoe Watters asked if we were committed to the chase. Hmm. Good question. I had hoped the bunch would just chase the pair down but once we got our act together, only four riders were prepared to drive the bunch so we made up little ground. I had spent myself in that chase and when we reached the first and hardest Sister I was really struggling. I thought that was it. The bunch rode away. The race convoy started to pass. But my coach decided I still had something to give. He yelled something from the window of our team car and I started to chase. It was a solo 10km time trial hoping that the bunch would catch Grace, and I would catch the bunch. Neither happened. But I had done enough harm minimisation to prevent anyone else jumping ahead of me on GC. Teammate Allison Rice rounded out the podium.

RESULTS

1 Grace Sulzberger 7:40:30

2 Rebecca Wiasak +00:16

3 Allison Rice +00:37

4 Gracie Elvin +00:39

5 Loren Rowney +00:44

Photos By Greg Long

Q. Shane, congratulations on your gold medal in the sprint at the Commonwealth Games! What does it mean to you to win gold for your country?

A. After crossing the line a very happy feeling, and when standing on the podium watching the Aussie flag go up and the National Anthem playing, a very humbling feeling and proud moment.

Q. How much confidence does this win give you going into the track season in Australia, and further ahead, London 2012?


A. Well as they say you are only as good as your last race, so from that for the coming season and London there is still a lot to work on to improve. Of course getting a lot more confidence just from racing at a high level leading into the season coming off the Commonwealth Games.

Q. After your unfortunate relegation from the Kieran final, you broke the Games record in your first qualifying heat for the sprint. Were you tearing up the boards in anger, or just had great form going into it?

A. I am very proud of the way I turned things around into a great performance to take the Record and Gold medal in the sprint after disappointment in the Keirin on the same day and only hours later. I can honestly say their was no anger involved in my performance only motivation and enjoying the competition.

 
Q. Given the events in the Kieran, are you happy with how your Commonwealth Games finished, or do you still feel like there’s some unfinished business?

A. I am very happy with my games with gold in the Sprint and Games record, especially winning the Blue Ribbon event!!

Q. Back home, the media & general public seemed to be right behind you and felt you were harshly treated. Did you have any idea of the support you were receiving from back home while you were competing?

A. I was not aware that I had so much support after the Keirin. Since being home though every one has been fantastic and very supportive and I am very appreciative for this from Australia.

Q. With all the reports about the Games village and facilities putting the organisers into the spotlight, can you give us an insight into what it was like to be there competing, and how you found your whole Games experience?

A. The games experience was fantastic, I have to say that India did a fantastic job to make us all feel comfortable with their short time limit to have the village finished. The people in India were lovely and I felt my games experience will be one I will remember forever in a very happy and positive way!

 
Q. Prior to the Games you spent some time racing kieran’s in Japan. We hear stories all the time about how intense the track racing is over there, can you tell us what it’s really like?

A. Yes intense is a pritty solid word and sums it up well. I guess it's kind of like tennis where you travel from competition to competition just in Japan we get locked down in the Track for 4-5 days without internet or cell phones because of all the betting. It is a very fun experience and I really enjoyed living in Japan and learning their culture. I look forward to going back their again one day.

Q. With all the travelling you do and time spent away from your family, how do you deal with these pressures? And what’s your phone bill like!?

A. Phone bill is gigantic!!!! I wonder if Vodafone might be interested in a sponsorship (that would help out heaps ;-) It does get very tough being away from my wife and 2 year old. My wife is very understanding and supportive of me doing my sport and understands the whole having to travel and to make teams and keep improving, also financially! I wouldn't be able to do what I do and also keep improving without my wife and son's support!

Q. Looking ahead, we have big events like the Track World Cup and Austral Wheelrace being held on your home tracks. Have you targeted any races in particular this summer?

A. This summer I am looking forward to the Melbourne World Cup being my last race for the year and hopefully finishing with a good result. I am also looking forward to the break post World Cup Melbourne as I haven't had one for almost 3 years!! From January 2011 I will be doing the Australian Titles in mid Feb (that is if our Baby doesn't come during that time as my wife is due around that time) then going onto the World Championships in late March.

 
Q. How do you train for these big events, and more specifically, how do you practice the sprints?

A. Many hours in the gym, on the track, ergo and road bike. All of my training is based on sprinting of course but through out the year the combinations of track, gym, ergo, road change depending on what racing is coming up etc.

And finally...

Q. If you could be any Sesame Street character for a day, who would you be and why!??

A. My son loves Eelmo so i'll go with him, he is a pretty cool character!

 

To keep up to date with Shane's racing this Summer, visit his website & Twitter

 Q. Vino, thanks for taking the time to have a chat ahead of the Tour of  Hainan . Will you be targeting the race win for this event, or are you using it as preparation for the Asian Games?

A. Le Tour du  Hainan  est une course importante en Chine et je ne vais pas là pour faire de la figuration. Mais ce sera très important en effet pour la préparation des Asian Games. Je vais y trouver mes repères.

Translation : The Tour of Hainan is an important race in  China  and I'm not going there to make up the numbers. But it will be very important indeed for the preparation of Asian Games. I'll find my bearings.

 

Q. How do you feel your first full year back in the Pro Tour has gone?

A.Je me sens comme un junior! J'ai souffert à certains moments mais je suis surpris de voir que je récupère bien et vite. Ca m'encourage à continuer encore un peu.

Translation : I feel like a junior! I suffered at times but I am surprised that I recovered well and quickly. It encourages me to continue a little longer.

 

Q. How have you found the reaction to your return? Have most of the guys in the peloton been positive?

A.La réaction du public a été merveilleuse, tout le monde m'a vraiment encouragé. Dans le peloton, ce fut pareil, on est une grande famille, on se respecte beaucoup. Mon retour a été regardé avec curiosité puis avec respect quand j'ai montré que je n'avais rien perdu de mes qualités.

Translation : Public response has been wonderful, everyone was really supportive. In the peloton, it was the same, we are a big family, we’re very respectful of each other. My return was watched with curiosity and then with respect when I showed that I had not lost any of my qualities.

 

Q. How important was winning Liege – Bastogne –  Liege  this year to you as a professional making such a high profile comeback?

A.Ce fut un grand moment de ma carrière. C'était le signal que Vino était de retour parmi les grands.

Translation : It was a huge moment in my career. This was the signal that Vino was back among the great.

 

Q. There was a lot of negative reaction from fans after your Liege –  Bastogne   -Liege win, as you had previously been such a fan favourite, were you surprised by this?

A.Je n'ai pas entendu autant de sifflets du public que les journalistes ont raconté. En tous cas, je n'ai pas pris ça comme une attaque contre moi. Peut-être que le public était tout simplement déçu que Philippe Gilbert l'enfant du pays n'a pas gagné?

Translation : I haven’t heard so many whistles from the public as journalists have told. Anyway, I didn’t take it as an attack against me. Maybe the public was just disappointed that Philippe Gilbert didn’t win in his childhood country?

 

 

Q. Stage 13 of this years Tour de France saw a lot of attacking and counter attacking. What did it mean to you to get the stage win after everything that had happened before this moment?

A.C'était un sentiment de bonheur, comme un retour aux sources. J'étais à nouveau accepté au Tour de France grâce à cette victoire. C'était une nouvelle reconnaissance.

Translation : It was a feeling of happiness, like a homecoming. I was accepted again in the Tour de France thanks to this victory. It was a new recognition.

 

Q. This year during the Tour we saw you in a different role, riding for Contador. With his switch to Saxo Bank next season, will we see you leading the Astana team?

A.Je serai un des leaders avec Kreuziger. Mon rôle ne changera pas beaucoup, j'avais aussi beaucoup de responsabilités cette année et j'ai montré que je savais les assumer.

Translation : I will be one of the leaders with Kreuziger. My role won’t change so much, I had a lot of responsibilities this year and I showed that I can assume it.

 

Q. Do you feel you will be capable of pulling on the yellow jersey?

A.Pourquoi pas? Quand on n'essaye jamais on n'a jamais rien. Le maillot jaune serait un rêve qui se réalise.

Translation : Why not? When you never try you never obtain anything. The yellow jersey would be a dream coming true.

 

Q. When you decide to retire from cycling, do you think you will have any regrets?

A.Je n'aurai pas de regrets car on a toujours ce qu'on mérite. Le plus grand regret sera certainement de ne pas avoir pu partager la suite de ma carrière avec mon ami Andreï Kivilev. Il est parti trop tôt et chaque fois, je pense à lui, à ce qu'on aurait fait ensemble.

Translation : I won’t regret because we always get what we deserve. The biggest regret will certainly concern the fact that I won’t be able to share the rest of my career with my friend Andrei Kivilev. He left too soon and whenever I think of him, of what we would have done together.

 

Q. When you were growing up, what was the best piece of advice you ever received?

A.A l’époque de l’URSS on nous apprenait de toujours croire en nous et de ne jamais baisser les bras.

Translation : In URSS times we were taught to always believe in ourselves and never give up.

 

And finally,

 

Q. As someone who has experienced the highs & lows of the cycling world, is there any advice you can give to the younger riders about the demands of being a professional cyclist?

A.De toujours croire en soi, de toujours croire que tout est possible. Pour ça, il faut savoir oser et ne jamais s'endormir. La remise en question est toujours un bon service qu'on peut se rendre.

Translation : Always believe in yourself, always believe that anything is possible. For that, we must dare and never fall asleep. To challenge yourself is always a good service you can provide.

By  Myfanwy Galloway

Amongst all the buzz of the Australian Cyclones 2010 media call at Stromlo Forrest Park, CyclingTribe blogger Rebecca Wiasak and myself had the pleasure of catching up with Canberra cyclist Michael Rogers ahead of his World Cycling Championships campaign which kicks off on the 30^th September with the 45.8km Individual TimeTrial. Although 2010 will mark Rogers’ 14th start donning the green and gold jersey at a World Championships, the prospect of riding for his country in his own backyard has seen him more motivated then ever and I have no doubt that we can expect big things from Rogers over the course of the next week. Somehow between talking to news stations and posing for photos, he managed to have a quick chat to us about racing, partying and his real job!

MG Yet again we are seeing more Canberrans represent Australia at Worlds, why do you think Canberra seems to have a knack at producing champions? Is it the terrain? The training?

MR I just think it is the environment you know here and it’s always had quite a strong cycling presence and obviously we have the Australian Institute of sport, a bunch of experienced people... and a lot of good coffee shops!

MG (laughs) yeah – always helps!

MR Yeah

MG And i’ve noticed that you’ve competed in every World Championship since 1997, first of all congratulations – that’s no mean feat! - Including junior World Championships, sorry! Have any been stand out? Or how does this one compare competing on home soil; is it extra special for you?

MR Yeah obviously when I won my World Championships in 2004 and 2005, I also got one in 2003 – they were obviously highlights so far! And I’m kind of looking for something special in the next week; I’m pretty excited about that.

MG Is your whole family coming to support you? Your brothers Deane and Pete are obviously champions in their own right– both very successful cyclists (Deane competed in the 1995 World Championships, and 1994 Junior World Championships, whilst Pete represented Australia in the 1999 World Championships and 1998 Commonwealth Games), how was it growing up in such a strong cycling family?

MR Yeah I mean we are a pretty cycling rich family, you know, it was kind of bred into our generation, like for instance my kids and my brothers kids, so it’s going to be pretty cool and it doesn’t happen all the time you have a World Championships in Australia so it’s certainly something not to be taken for granted.

MG So have you got your girls on bikes yet?

MR O they’ve got bikes yeah, they’re pretty good yeah, and they’re only little ones of course.

MG Champions in the making?

MR Yeah, I suppose that’s a decision they’re going to have to make, I’d actually prefer them to play tennis but...

MG (laughing) Don’t do this to yourself!!

MR (laughing) yeah, it’s a hard road but, nah its good fun.

MG And you’re living in Italy, why did you choose Italy as a base? Because obviously the Australians have got a base there, Cadel lives around there.. What makes Italy so great?

MR It just so happens that the first team I rode for was Mapei and they were based there, and then I met my wife Alessia and... Now I’m in deep, yeah!

RW I know the Quon boys always love it when you come home, there’s a few going down there next week, do you expect them to be pretty rowdy?

MR Yeah, they’ll be making fools of themselves no doubt, it’s going to be fun

MG You’re going to have a big cheer squad that’s for sure

MR Yeah everyone is pretty excited

RW Have you got a leave pass for the after party?

MR Yeahhh, for sure!

MG Are you going to come back to Canberra for a bit after Worlds?

MR Yeah, just for a couple of days, got to go back and be a farther (laughs)

MG (laughing) Yeah, go back to your real job!!

MR Yeah, we stay enough on the road as it is, I mean I’d really like to stay but...

All Photos credited to Myffy Galloway - Visit her site @ http://myfanwygalloway.com/site/

 

 

--- GO DODGER!!!!!!!!!

 

By Jarrod Patridge

Q. George, thanks for taking the time to have a chat with us, how are you recovering from your Tour of Utah injuries?

By Jarrod Patridge

Q. Marco, congratulations on winning the Individual Time Trial at the Italian National Championships on the weekend, can you take us through the ride and your emotions when you knew you won?

A. Every year from 2005 (first year I have done the Giro, since then I have always done it), I have performed well in the nationals TT; I am able to carry on the form from the Giro, and  I have learned how to finish well, recover freshness, and keep training for the specific event. Every year I have used different approach (racing in 2005 Switzerland, 06 Dauphine, 2007 Philly week, 08 2 races in Germany, 09, only Philly, 10 Ster Elektro).

So every time I won I have the feeling that everything came into places like in a perfect puzzle.

Q. You have won this title a staggering five times now, how do you maintain your motivation to try and win it every year?

A. I won in the Olympic four years from 05 to 08 3 times out of 4 and I wasn't selected for Beijing. So I promised myself I will win all of them until 2012 and then I want to see how could they leave me out if they will.

Q. As an Italian, what does it mean to you to wear the tricolore in time trials for the next year?

A. It means I am the stronger Italian TT and that's a big results in one of the leading country in cycling.

Q. We saw you on the podium wearing a Bike Pure band, can you tell us how you became involved with Bike Pure and what it means to you to race cleanly?

A. I came into Bike Pure after my win in Tour of Ireland 2008. Racing cleanly means a lot to myself. I want to be healthy and be a model for the young generations. They need clean models to grow and develop good values.

Q. There is a theory that Pro cyclists are convinced by Doctors that doping is required less to gain a competitive advantage but more to safely prepare the body for the efforts demanded in the Pro Tour and season long campaign. Can you share your thoughts on this?

A. I believe that naturally the body is able to keep you safe more than any doping form, that on the contrary pushes your body beyond the genetically determined limits.



Human body is able to adapt naturally to the demand of a pro tour season.

Q. You have a reputation for being very specific about your training, can you give us an insight into things like your training load, what you concentrate on and some of your numbers, such as Watts?

A. I am really specific and I know from the numbers and my feeling if I am progressing or not. I concentrate on maximum power average on different times : 20', 30' , 5 ' and so on, depending on the race I am going into. And on the ability to make this numbers after, for example, 4 hrs of training.

Q. During the off season, do you try any other sports to stay fit?

A. A bit of swimming and functional movement.

Q. As you're so strong in a time trial, do the team look to you to be a leader in a Team Time Trial?

A. In Team Time Trial we have usually lots of strong rider, and I can add experience to pace correctly to ensure that we start fast and don't drop going to the finish.

Q. It's a common feeling amongst most of us who ride that we can close our eyes and feel the sensation of being alive and free that comes with simply riding along a beautiful road on a bike, alone or otherwise. Could you please share something of what the feeling of simply riding a bike is for you?

A. When I go training I don't have the feeling. I am driven by the goal of the training and listen to my body. The road where I train on are not often nice because of the traffic and that makes it more difficult, but when I go into a mountain, training becomes an ascetic experience.

Q. Can you tell us what your proudest moment on the bike has been?

A. Winning the final TT in Giro 2008. And I would say my performance in stage 8 Giro 2010 (strade bianche Montalcino)

And finally...

Q. If you could have the power to read minds or to see into the future, which would you choose and why?

A. Dalai Lama, because I simply like his attitude.

http://bikepure.org/ 

By Jarrod Patridge CT

Q. Rui Costa, congratulations on your awesome ride in the Individual Time Trial at the Portuguese National Championships on the weekend! Can you tell us a bit about the ride?