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Alex Carle CT Blog: Mersey Valley 2010
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever left for a race when it’s still completely dark.”
As far as I could remember, Laura’s comment was also true for me. And as it would turn out, this weekend would involve many firsts – both for me and the rest of the girls on the ACTAS/NTID team. To start with, this tour was the first time our team of 4; Laura Meadley, Sam Hemsley, Heather Logie and I had all raced together. It was Laura’s first time racing a tour whilst plagued with jet lag after using Patagonian hiking as her sole method of training for the 3 weeks prior to racing. For Sam; the team’s token ex-sprint kayaker, Mersey Valley was to be her first ever NRS race. And for Heather; ex-crazy enduro runner turned awesome mountain biker, this was quite simply her first ever road race.
Before any race, I like to spend a bit of time talking to my coach, ‘Pothole’, chatting about the courses, tactics etc. as well as asking him numerous questions that, really, I already know the answers too, but feel better when it’s confirmed by someone whose opinion I really respect. For stage 1 of the 2010 Mersey Valley Tour though, the most important question was how many coffees it would take for Pothole to make it to the stage. With the first rider away at 7:30am, it was going to be a very early start. We’d tried to come up with a few ways he could maximize his sleep in. But by the eve of the tour, with our number 1 suggestion being that he just stay in bed and have the athletes text him their results, we were forced to admit defeat and decided that all athletes and coaches would suffer through the cold Tasmanian morning together.
Once we’d worked through that dilemma, it was time to focus on racing. Being a keen TT rider, I was pretty excited for the first stage – a 15km out and back, pancake flat time trial. I also hoped I would have some form coming off the back of an AIS training camp I had joined in with for the past few weeks. So, with 45 minutes until start time and my iPod blaring I jumped on the ergo, ran through the warm up, got kitted up, found myself on the start line and 22:46 minutes later visited the line for a second time. It was a pretty uneventful ride (definitely not a bad thing!) and I was happy with how it had gone. Having raced the same course last year, I knew that for me it was simply case of finding a rhythm early, staying in the saddle and trying to hold a high heart rate. Thinking back over the race, I was happy enough that I’d checked most, if not all of these boxes. In the end it was enough to get 2nd. The win went to AIS athlete Shara Gillow in a time of 22:39. Rowena Fry rounded out the top three in 23:13.
So going into stage 2, Shara was defending the Yellow Jersey. The stage was a 58km road race with 2 main climbs – an early KOM, as well as the 6km, ~10% climb to the finish line. I knew it was going to be a tough afternoon! The field included many strong climbers, not least Shara in yellow, who is always very strong in the hills!
With our team plan sorted and all feeling ready to go, our team rode out to the start, signed on and rolled away to begin the stage. Unfortunately it was just minutes into the race when the first crash went down. Heather was unlucky enough to get caught up in it. Unable to continue racing due to some very misshapen handle bars, a bent hanger and a very sore body, Heather’s first road race was over before it had even begun. Luckily, she wasn’t too badly injured, and will no doubt be firing for the next NRS race (and with a home town advantage) – so watch out!
15km later and the again uncooperative Road Race Gods picked out another ACTAS/NTID rider. This time Sam scored a puncture. With a slight delay in getting a wheel and the fact that motorpacing back onto the bunch had been banned, Sam was no longer racing for the stage. But in true never-give-up Sam fashion, she continued on to catch several riders and finish the stage, ready to ride the next day.
The decisive break for the day came from Prime Estate’s Jenny MacPherson. At one stage, she opened a gap of over 1:30. It was a very strong performance, and one that definitely caught the attention of the bunch. Fortunately for us, we were able to get our stuff together and eventually caught Jenny on the final climb.
As expected, the final 6km of the race well and truly sorted the field out. I was very happy to get in a mini break of about 8-10 riders on the windy descent to the foot of the final climb. As I’ve learnt from other races, the position you find yourself in at the bottom of the climb is often closely related to where you will finish at the top. However, there was still the little matter of a whole lot of 10% gradient to take care of. It didn’t take long for the bunch to start to thin out. Once I looked behind me and realised there were only a handful left I attempted a bit of surge to try and gauge how everyone’s legs were feeling. That’s when I realised that Joanne Hogan was feeling particularly strong. She lifted the pace a little more and was able to get around me. Despite my best efforts, that’s where she stayed for the remainder of the climb. It was a very strong display of climbing and Joanne held on for a much deserved stage win. I came in second in the elites in a time that would secure me the yellow jersey. This was my first ever yellow jersey and I was extremely proud to be pulling it on for the next stage. Although I was 2nd in the elite category, U19s rider Jess Allen was second overall for the stage. In a very impressive climbing display, Jess won the U19 category and also claimed the Junior yellow jersey.
A big thanks must go to the girls on my team who worked hard early in the race to ensure I was well placed to have a crack at GC.
An 80km stage was to decide the tour on day 2. Starting the stage with a rider in yellow meant there was more pressure placed on our team than in previous stages. We knew that if we were able to force a bunch finish, or at least keep the main GC threats close by, we would almost certainly win the tour. Laura and Sam did an amazing job. They held great position for the whole race, having a strong presence in the bunch, and doing everything to shut down early breaks. They did their job perfectly and it was a privilege to be able to work with them for the tour.
Unlike the previous day, our team had not driven the course and as such was relying on course profiles. I’m not sure if it was my mind deliberately playing tricks on me, but the climbs in reality seemed a whole lot harder than the profile suggested! The pace in the hills on the first of two laps was on. The bunch thinned out, but subsequently regrouped just prior to the final time up the hills. This time up the climbs, it obviously wasn’t only my legs that were hurting. The pace was much slower and the bunch largely stayed together. It was a fast last few kilometers in which my team mate Sam was able to get back in the bunch. Despite my attempts to get a bit of a lead-out going for her, it turned out that neither of our legs were up for the task. However, the bunch finish meant that I stayed in Yellow and we won the tour overall. This was my first ever tour win and I am very proud to say it was the result of great team work by the whole ACTAS/NTID crew. Joanne Hogan finished the tour in 2nd, with Rowena Fry collecting 3rd.
As always, a big thanks goes to everyone who made the tour possible. Thanks to ACTAS and the NTID program who looked after our team, Pothole, Laura, Sam and Heather. Thanks also to Mick and Marcel who took all our equipment over on the boat, as well as everyone from the Mersey Valley Devonport Cycling Club who facilitated the race. And finally, thanks to my major sponsors – my parents.
Can’t wait to race in Canberra, my home town, for Part 2 of the NRS!
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