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One day I hope that I will have learnt all the lessons there are to learn and actually win a bike race that doesn't involve just me and the clock. Until then I keep making mistakes and continue to learn from them. Often I realise I am not making the best decisions during the race. I know where I should be positioned, but cannot get there. I find myself in the wind and on the inside line around corners. I also brake too heavily approaching tight corners and have been known to struggle to clip-in on the start-line. Given, some of these are learned skills that will require more practice and time on the bike. 

Races like the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic should help. I was satisfied with my race in stage one but made no impact on it. Though at one point I was in fourth wheel and close enough to the front for Phil Liggett to announce my name. Win. The hotdog circuit plays to some of my strengths, with repeated sprints but the corners got in the way. We averaged between 52 and 60 seconds a lap so probably completed about 45 laps during the 45min race so that would be at least 90 sprints out of the corners. It was tough going. The commentators noted that some of the lap splits were just as fast as the men's support race. My average heart rate was 181, which included two neutral laps after a crash, and I reached a max of 187 at several points during the race. It was a rude introduction to the Bay Crits that I watched for the first time on New Years Day in 2010. That day a crash in the final sprint of the women's race held up the men's start when an ambulance was called onto the course. I thought it looked fun but never considered I'd be racing only two years later. Even watching the crashes have not deterred me.

In stage one this year I was caught behind two crashes, one which was on the final lap, and almost came down myself mid-way during the race when I was attempting to follow and travel at the same speed as Jayco-AIS rider Alex Carle around one of the corners. I failed. Though I did finish in a field of hitters when many didn't. In stage two I would be one of those to record a DNF after lasting a disappointing 15min with the bunch. I have a raft of excuses for the result but won't bore you with them. Bottom-line is 17 women managed their bodies in the 40-degree heat and finished the race.

I considered that my rest day and was hopeful I would be able to redeem myself in stage three at Portarlington. I almost but not quite achieved redemption, being dropped from the bunch when I lost control on a tight corner with less than three laps to go. I was then pulled from the course when only 17 of the 51 starters remained. I guess that was progress, but it was still a DNF. I spent most of the race being an observer from last wheel, passing riders as they fatigued. You get a good view of the race but you are not in the race.

Stage four saw us leave Geelong early to join the Team Suzuki convoy to Williamstown. Last year I watched this same stage on a poor quality feed on the internet and had been warned about the roundabout which we approached from the right side, which was the wrong side. Word on the street was that the pace would be on from the gun so I ensured a hard warm-up on the ergo. Despite my best efforts to get to the race start early, the other teams were already assembled on the side of the course, which meant I was lined at the back of the bunch – again. I assumed my position at the rear of the field and stayed there for most of the race, digging deep on the straights each lap to make up maybe one or two places.

My parents had driven from Geelong to watch and I didn’t want to record my third consecutive DNF so was determined to finish so their trip wasn’t a waste of time. Dad kept yelling out ‘one more effort’ as I turned the bottom corner each lap where I would drop back about 10 metres and then fortunately chase back on. When the lap board came out to indicate five laps remaining, I was relieved but knew that my race was not done yet. With what I thought was a lap and a half to go I had a crack and moved to the front of the chase bunch to make life a little easier and hopefully still be there coming into the final corner and sprint. When I passed the start-finish line and we still had two laps to go I realised that I had miscalculated and would not in fact be able to ride the front for two laps. Rookie error. That was pretty much my race over but I managed to stay mid-field and finish in 13th, which would be my highest placing for the week.

I have been reassured by friends that even Chloe Hosking only finished one Bay Crit on her first attempt, so by my calculations and based on her progression in this event, I should be able to win a stage in six years time. Today we move to Ballarat for the Australian Road National Championships where I will race the criterium, road race, and time trial. I hope I am a fast learner.

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The BMC Racing Team will send a 10-man lineup to one of the oldest races in Belgium – Friday's Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen.

Kristoff Seventh In 2010
The 196.8-kilometer race that was first run in 1908 features 16 laps of a 12.3 km course and is one of the few that permits 10 riders. "It's a typical Belgian race – flat with some cobblestones," BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said. "We'll be looking to Alexander Kristoff for sure. But if there's wind and rain, it can completely change the complexion of the race. In that case, (Marcus) Burghardt and Michael Schär are strong in those conditions, too." Kristoff, seventh here a year ago, will look to continue his recent success that includes a runner-up placing Sunday at GP de Fourmies. "I am hoping for a good result again," Kristoff said. "I will try to get the right position and start my sprint around 200 meters. At Fourmies, I went too soon and had to use too much energy at the end."

BMC Racing Team Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen Roster (Sept. 16):
Chad Beyer (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Chris Butler (USA), Alexander Kristoff (NOR), John Murphy (USA), Taylor Phinney (USA), Tim Roe (AUS), Michael Schär (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI), Simon Zahner (SUI).

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Another Italian race, another lesson or two learnt and an Autogrill. Thursday the 2nd was Republic Day in Italy, hence the public holiday and a reason for a bike race. The scene, 12 laps, 8 of which was on a short flat loop with a few dodgy corners, followed by 4 laps on a larger loop that had a nasty 2.5k broken road section thrown into it and to top it all off the final lap involved a climb to the finish line of 2k.

 

Unlike Australia where you show up to a race perfectly timed an hour out to fit all your normal routines in, here in Italy you get there within 3hours just to be time conscious. First up my team mates and I joined all the other teams in a camp like atmosphere dining hall to chow down some pasta. Then it was onto the team bus where I floated around thinking about the race and taking amble time with pinning on my number to my jersey (good time passer) and soon enough at 3pm it was time for a bike race.

 

The race unofficially started before ‘go’ was even thought about being said to get good position on the start line.  Once we all were settled and everyone had marked her territory the peloton and myself waited another 15minutes for I assume is mental preparation time… The race eventually started and all was tame for the first few laps and I felt good. After 3 laps that feel good feeling vanished. I was suffering stomach cramps. I’m not a cramp sufferer in a race I never have been so this was a new one for me. I thought my race was over at 4 laps, but with a quick word to our team leader a bit of ‘tranquilla’ time at the back and then see how I feel in the next few laps. I suffered a lot in the following laps but at lap 7 I was back on. The race spiced up in pace and with entering the final 4 laps of the big loop it was on like Donkey Kong. With the peloton staying together we hit the last 2k climb to the finish with speed and that’s about where it finished, every girl and here bike clawing up the steep ‘need a 27 tooth cog’ climb. Rasa Leleivyte (Vaiano Tepso Solaristech) took the win. Results went down to top ten…well that’s all I could find, I reckon the 15^th-20^th bracket I fell into.

 

The lesson of the week went to what I drink before the race. The cramps was a result I discovered of downing a few bottles of Gatorade supplied by the dinning hall before the race, I wanted to make sure my hydration safety cap was on. However consuming too much led to mineral salt overdose thus my introduction into the other extreme of the cramping world, lesson noted.

 

After the race it was onto the showers …once they had been found then it was time for a quick Aussie catch up pointing out our highs of the week. The in form Rach Neylan (4^th in todays race) and I discussed the joy of discovering that to get internet on your phone is only 3 euro a week, good bye mindless reading of Italians magazines at the café!

 

Then it was off home but not before the Autogrill. This could be best described in Australian terms as ‘the best bakery in town’ kind of place. Every Autogrill is close to the same in Italy and stocks a healthy supply of focaccias and all other bakery type items, when your on the go it’s the best choice. I now have what I regularly get down pat, placing my order as if I was 13 years old again telling my mum what I want in my happy meal.

 

Finally it was the second good bye to everyone you knew from the race and it was back on the road again. Lucky this time it was only a 2hour drive. 

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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

Reigning World Champions Josephine Tomic and Sarah Kent teamed with Kate Bates to claim the first gold medal of the opening round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics at Melbourne's Hisense Arena. Compatriots Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard also lined up in the rainbow stripes and put on a spectacular show to win the Madison.

 

 

After breaking the all-comers record for the fastest time on Australian soil in qualifying with a time of 3minutes 24.244seconds for the 3000m distance, the women's trio shaved a further five tenths of a second off that mark in the final, crossing the line in 3minutes 22.171seconds.

 

 

In a nail-biting final against the German trio of Charlotte Becker, Lisa Brennauer and Madeleine Sandig, just four-hundredths of a second separated the two teams after the first kilometre. But the Australians picked up their pace over the final few laps to finish almost a second ahead of their rivals winning in a time of 3minutes22.171seconds.

 

 

"That time at this time of the year is pretty good," said Tomic, 21, "We were quite a few seconds ahead of where we have ever been at this time so that shows there are really good things to come for next year and the world championships."

 

 

For Bates, the 2007 points race world champion, the win marked her return to international track cycling. After the Beijing Olympic Games she focussed on road cycling until a crash in 2009 almost ended her career. But she fought back from a serious hip injury and decided to return to the track when the teams pursuit for women was included in the program for 2012 Olympic Games.

 

 

"In a way this is like my first World Cup, a new event and a new feeling after a little bit of time away so I am a bit reborn, but my birth certificate doesn't say that though," said Bates, 28, who took gold in the scratch race at last week's Oceania Championships in Adelaide.

 

 

"It's a whole new skills base and I have the world's best to learn from so I am really looking forward at what is to come and even though they are eight or nine years younger I can't have better people teaching me.

 

 

"With the incredible depth we have in Australia, tonight I am taking the place of a current world champion in Ashlee, so I certainly need to keep on my toes not just fitness wise but skills wise."

In the Madison reigning World Champions Meyer, 22, and Howard, 21, were the only team to take two laps in a sensational display in front of a home crowd.

 

 

The Dutch and New Zealand teams set the pace early in the 160 lap 40km race, but a calculated move from the Australians at the midpoint saw them take their first lap on the field.

 

 

New Zealand counter attacked to regain the lost lap and the lead. But recognising the threat from their trans-Tasman rivals the Aussie pair launched another attack to claim their second lap.

 

 

At the end the Australians were one lap up on ten points, New Zealand's Aaron Gate and Myron Simpson placed second with (14 points but a lap behind and the Netherland's Nick Stopler and Peter Schep (10 points) claimed the bronze medal.

 

 

West Australia's Meyer, who has been battling illness, was eager to perform in the rainbow jersey on home soil.

 

 

"I came in today feeling a little underdone, but I still mentally wanted to perform well for Australia, and I wanted to do it for Leigh as well" said Meyer.

 

 

"We have a bit of a presence now in the world in the Madison, in that we've got a style where we are taking it as one of the stronger teams in the second half of the race where we try and take laps," said Meyer, who with Howard claimed the world championship in March in Copenhagen in similar style.

 

 

"We have that presence now, and the confidence so when it does happen, we really push hard to make it happen and at the moment it's working for us," Meyer added.

 

 

In the men's team sprint, Great Britain's of Sir Chris Hoy, Matthew Crampton and Jason Kenny, recorded the only two sub-44 second times of the day on their way to winning gold.

The trio's time of 43.829seconds in the final was too good for New Zealand's Edward Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster who crossed the line in 44.339seconds.

 

 

"Tonight was a good performance but not an exceptional one and I think a low-43 would be looking to win the world championships, so we probably have got another half a second to come off that hopefully," said Hoy, 34, the triple Olympic champion, who now turns his attention to Friday's keirin.

 

 

"I would like to try and dominate the keirin tomorrow and stamp my authority on it, that's the aim," Hoy said adding, "If you win then that's great but the important thing is to dictate the race."

 

 

Team Jayco-AIS' Daniel Ellis, Shane Perkins and Jason Niblett (44.545seconds) won the bronze medal ahead of Germany's Rene Enders, Stefan Nimke and Michael Seidenbecher (44.938seconds).

In the women's team sprint, China's Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie set an all-comers record of 33.240seconds, on their way to upsetting Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton and Jessica Varnish (33.562seconds) in the final. France's Sandie Clair and Clara Sanchez (33.655seconds) claimed bronze over Yvonne Hjgenaar and Willy Kanis of the Netherlands (33.644seconds).

Reigning world champion Kaarle McCulloch was joined by Team Jayco-AIS team mate Emily Rosemond and finished sixth.

 

 

After the first three events in the men's omnium, the flying 200m, points and elimination races, Australia's Scott Law (32 points) is in eleventh place.

 

 

With the aim to complete the sixth events with the lowest points total, New Zealand's Shane Archbold (13 points) leads reigning World Champion Ed Clancy of Great Britain (19 points), with Canada's Zachary Bell (21 points) sitting in third. The omnium continues Friday with the individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial.

 

 

The Melbourne World Cup is the first round of the 2010-2011 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics series and will feature more than 300 cyclists from 41 nations in action in 12 events over three days of racing. For more details please visit the event website www.trackworldcup.com.au Results and official start lists are available at www.tissottiming.com.

 

 
By Jarrod Patridge

Q. Pat, congratulations on winning the Tour of Gippsland! Is this win the highlight of your career? A. Thanks, it is definitely my biggest win so far but I find it hard to define the highlight of my riding career to one single moment as I have had some very exciting experiences over the years. Living in France for a year and winning a Coupe de France (French Cup Race), Junior Worlds in Verona, Italy, finishing top 5 twice in Top Rated World Level races in Italy are a few of the great moments in my time as a racing cyclist.

Q. Did you feel like you had good form going into the Tour?

A. Tour of Toowoomba was my last race and winning that gave me great confidence, I came into Gippsland with the desire to produce some good results but at the same time being flexible knowing that I have a very good team and that anyone in the team was capable of riding for the GC win. My early results in the Tour confirmed my form and that is how as a team we decided to ride for me for this particular event, however at the very next event we quite possibly will be riding for a completely different rider in the team.

Q. You were in yellow for a long time, and consistently placed highly in each stage. Can you tell us how you fought off all the challenges from guys like Joe Lewis?

A. Yeah, it was a journey in fact, with the gap to the rest of the field being so tight, but, as a team my Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans team mates remained focused the whole tour and that made things much easier for me. We talked our plan and did our best to execute it. I held the jersey not only because of my stage results but more importantly because of the great camaraderie shown by my team mates, without them victories in the Tour of Toowoomba and Tour of Gippsland would have been unachievable. For each stage of each race, each rider has their duties for the day. We had riders that were asked to go with the attacks and break-aways, other riders were asked to protect me during the stage and some riders in the team were given free status, meaning they could go with breakaways, protect me or try and win the stage.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about Patrick Jonker’s influence on the team, and over the course of this race in particular?

A. For sure, Pat made a huge influence from day one, we all at Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team have the utmost respect for him. He brings so much to the team, not only tactically but also psychologically. Whenever there is a problem during a stage race he finds a solution, not any solution, but more importantly the right one and so far with his leadership and guidance, we as a group in the team are making few errors, that is thanks to him.

Q. We heard over the weekend how you had considered retiring earlier this year. Can you take us through what drove you to that point, and what triggered this strong comeback?

A. I had returned from Italy in October of last year, after spending two big seasons in Tuscany. I had come very close to reaching agreements with Italian Pro Teams, but they fell through and after racing at 100% for seven months, two years in a row and to finish over 40 top tens, but never once see the top step of the podium hurt very much and fatigued me mentally to the point where I needed a break, I needed to remember how to enjoy cycling rather than racing as a chore. I decided I would do Tour of Bright as preparation for my final race, The Australian Open Road Championship, in my home town. However, the form and hunger for results returned and after finishing 3rd overall at a very successful Tour of Bright I was contacted by Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Management and I accepted their offer of a spot in their Team. But the strong comeback has been triggered by the extremely positive impact that Patrick Jonker has had on me and the consistent backing from my team mates in races, Camo Peterson, one of the most underrated cyclists getting around has been huge in the vital parts of both my tour victories and consistent support from Freiberg, Gillett, Pearson, Hepburn, Roe, Dyball, Law, Tompson, Mowatt and Pryor has made even the most difficult days of racing this season enjoyable! I thank them for reminding me how to enjoy the amazing sport of cycling again! 

Q. After such an awesome result, do you feel you can back this up as the year goes on?

A. I'm very happy with the success that I have had so far this season but I won't get ahead of myself, this is a long season and many races are still to be run. I don't have any pressure on me after these results, as I am confident that if I am unable to fulfill the leader role that any one of my team mates can step up to the plate and assume that role. I hope that season 2010 continues with further success for my Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team.



Q. Considering your current form, what are your plans for the rest of the year?

A. I will initially ride Tour of Geelong followed by Murray River and Tour of Tasmania, they are all important races on the Australian domestic calendar. 



Q. Do you think your role in the team will change much due to this success?

A. I think the great thing about Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team is that every rider in the team is willing to sacrifice their own personal ambitions to help gain team success, no matter who it may be for. We will head to the next race as we have for all the others and that is united and focused on working together towards one goal.

And finally...

Q. If you could be any fictional character in the world, who would you be and why?A. 'Puss in Boots', I won an award for 'book week' in grade 2, when my Mum had handmade the exact copy of the 'Puss in Boots' outfit and I wore it in the competition. Wish I still had it, it was truly the coolest thing I've ever seen!

Pat would like to thank his sponsors:virginblue.com.au
scienceinsport.com.au
rbsmorgans.com.au
meridabikes.com.au
2XU.com.au
PegasusCycling
Mullins Lawyers
BlueScope Steel
Ausenco
CorpNet and
Brisbane and Westside BMW

Follow Pat in his upcoming race via Twitter at http://twitter.com/shawry_07