Miss Universe, cricket and oh yeah… racing!
I’d like to start of with something I thought was really funny after watching the Miss Universe pageant last night. Ok, ok there was nothing better on tele! Miss Australia went into the pageant as hot favorite but didn’t even make the top 20. This was after she barred close to all for a magazine a week before hand and got fined for it. Although she was not disqualified the judges didn’t rate it and she was well over looked. Apart from being a typical hot Aussie I thought it was great that she went down like a true blue Aussie, it was either that or hit the cans a few hours before the shindig started. Keeping it real for the Aussie’s, no other country did that!
So last time I wrote I’d just come back from NYC. I had another two weeks at home in Nashie before heading to the Tour Cascade to start the second part of the season. I had another easy week on the bike before getting back into the serious training the following week.
Hop and I had visitor in town, Andy “Cush” Yee. Cush was pretty dam excited as his usual yearly trip includes a fortnight in Europe with me, followed by a stint in the States with Hoppy. This year he only had to make the one trip. We had some good times with The Cush including a night out in the suits and a 4th July celebration. For the suit night I headed to the op-shop to by a 35 dollar three piece, pin strip suit… Not bad I thought!
As for the 4th July we celebrated it Aussie style. We through a Barbie, put beer on ice and played cricket. Can you imagine the Yanks walking past seeing a game of cricket being played on their holiday! It was a great arvo and at one stage we had over 15 players on the field (I mean park with obticals in it, like ponds, swings, etc). I had a bad run and got a ball in the ****, re-opened my knee while diving to make it home and cutting my hand while trying to open a beer. To make things even funnier, we hand built the cricket bat. The handle was a carbon fiber seat post which I cracked in Philli week (but still usable for a bat) and a piece of 4*2 wood. We, or should I say Cush sanded it back and lacquered it while Hop and I went training each day. It ended up being a piece of art.
The next week, after Cush hit the road, I ripped into the km’s and hoped to try and get enough form for Tour Cascade. I knew I wouldn’t be on top of my game for this tour but needed the break.
Tour Cascade was actually a real shock to me, I had next to no form and finished 9th on GC. This was mainly due to the split in the cross wind on the first day, where there were 6 Healthnet, 6 Navigators, 6 Toyota United and me… I was slightly out numbered but didn’t have the legs at the end when we finished up a 2km hilltop.
The next two days were once again hilltop finishers but this time were both 15km long. The first day was no worries and finished in the front group moving up to 7th on GC. The second day I lost a bit of time when the front group split with 3km to go but held my position on the GC.
The next day things started to go slightly pear shaped. I had the worst Time Trial ever, more so than normal. Then somehow pulled out a good criterium where I led Hop out and held on for 5th. Hoppy was 2nd just behind JJ Haedo.
The last day though the legs were toast and I held on for grim death while the Navigotors vs Healthnet vs Toyota battle went on. All this while getting pushes off my faithful team mates Pete and Austin. While I was in the hurt box, my team mate Neil “Shirl” Shirly pulled off a stage win. He came back from a broken bone, sickness, a concussion at Philli to pull off a great win. You legend Shirl! It was a great performance by the team and our best race all year I reckon. A stage win, a top ten on GC, not one break without us in it and a really aggressive ride by everyone. It’s gotta be said though, those BMC riders need to head down to Ikea and buy a full size mirror and have a good hard look at themselves. It takes me a lot to crack but they saw more than just a crack after stepping over the line more than once. Though apparently its all about “team GC”, no one cares boys!!!!
Next up Hoppy and I are heading to Gastown and Boise criteriums. Unfortunately we aren’t doing Tour Toona seeing they won’t let a pro team enter a day late but will put 120 ammeters in the race. So it’ll be a bit of down time in Nashie for the boys.
Cheers Willo
5 commentsGetting through Beauce and finally a holiday!
G’day,
Half the year has flown by and its time to put the feet up for two weeks. This is one break I really needed, mentally and physically.
It’s been a while since I have ridden for myself, and as much as I enjoy it, it comes with a bit of stress. Theirs stress to get results, to stay up the front, and to not let your team mates down who have sacrificed their race for yours. Mentally I needed to have a few days off the bike and refresh the head. Physically I was absolutely nailed. My legs had had a gutful and were on the downhill slide. Though, I fought through the bad legs with one last effort, in Tour de Beauce.
Tour de Beauce is one tour I had enjoyed in the past, back in 2002/03 and was keen to get back there. I did remember how hard it is but I also enjoyed the race last time I was there. I have been a lucky one though, riding the two years that the race was almost rain free. Tour de Beauce, also known as Tour de rain was once again good to me and we had pure dry weather, I was one happy lad.
I arrived in St Georges, 100km from Quebec City keen for a good result but was unsure how the legs would pull up. I had just finished a 255km Philli, on the Sunday and two flights with no ride on the Monday. The first hour of the first stage was gunna hurt. My girlfriend Sophie was with me, out from Oz for a two week trip, and I was also keen to catch up with my good mate Harro. A few beers every night were in order to catch up on the past 9 months.
The tour went ok for me, but not brilliant. I missed the two major breaks on the first two days and gave away more than a few minutes to the front rivals. So I was behind the eight ball from then on.
The third day was a hill top finish were I held my own, finishing 9th. The next day in the TT I once again held my own, and even gaining some time back on some riders in the top 10. Not bad for someone who has nightmares about those TT’s. In the afternoon after the TT I managed a 5th in the criterium, but was disappointed after being marked heavily coming into the final laps.
The last two days my legs were definitely felling the season in them. I was not on my game and legs were screaming. Although I still had a go at moving into the top 10, but I wasn’t go far with the GC settled and everybody watching everybody.
In the end I was happy enough, finishing in the money everyday and finishing 13th overall with what I thought was average form. I was happier to get a rest from racing after a full race schedule. Also, hats off to Austin King, who rode like an absolute diesel doing an awesome domestique job. The team together rode fantastic at Philli too and I was so impressed with the boys.
My bike went straight to Philli where I was racing next and I went to NYC with Sophie for a 5 day holiday. I was pretty pleased about that. Apart from doing the usual touristy stuff we got to a New York Mets game, a broadway show, did a fair bit of shopping and a lot nice dinners. I really enjoyed both the broadway show, The Producers, and had a ball at the Mets game. I also caught up with my mate Andy “Cush” Yee who was in NYC at the same time for a few beers. He will be arriving in Nashville to kick around with me and Hop, later on today
From New York, I then headed to Philli for two days before returning to Nashie after being on the road for a month. I did a local race for Ken Mills not far outta Philli. After 5 days off the race was a shock to the system.
I am now back in Nashie and will be back into light training tomorrow before getting some miles in before heading to Tour Cascade in two weeks. Look forward to some interesting stories between Hop, Cush and I next time.
Cheers Willo
3 comments
Hittin the road and HITTING the road
G’day,
I had two and a half weeks home in Nashville, the longest stint I have in my pad all year. After Tour Georgia, the USA Crits and being on the road for ages I was a bit tired and needed the down time at Nashie.
After a few easy days and a lot of couch time I started to get back into the training. On top of that, Hoppy and I got to a few local races. Two weekends in a row Hoppy and I raced locally, and by no means were they easy races. It was great training, good miles, bit of coin and a few wins.
Training has been great with days hitting the 30 degree mark and enjoying the long training in the out back Tennesse country side.
We also got the chance to get into a few other activities while we were home. For the first time I went to a game of soccer, a friendly between America and Morocco, a fortnight out from the world cup. I didn’t really care who won so when Morocco scored the only goal with 2mins remaining there weren’t too many people impressed with me and Hoppy high- fiving each other and hugging when they scored.
We then hit the road again for a big line up of races. We raced Raleigh and Summerville in the first week, then Captech classic, then Philli week. After that we have a day off and start Tour Beause in Canada. I didn’t have the best run in the firstt two crits with bad legs and a mix of weather. My form wasn’t as good as it was but I deffinately have the miles in the legs and was hoping its came together for Philli week and Tour Beause.
The form then started heading in the wrong direction especially when I do stuff like dropping myself out training. It’s always the slow crashes that knock you around the most. After a last minute call to turn left I dropped myself in some gravel and opened up my knee. I had to get a few stitches but it just meant I could hardly walk and had to take a few days off the bike.
I had to sit out Captech Classic which was hard to take as it was a hard hilly criterium which would’ve suited me. I also skipped the CSC Classic and my first race back was Lancaster. After doing about 100km in 5 days I was a bit worried about going into this race, especially seeing as I couldn’t walk. Things didn’t get much better after 2km when I got caught in a crash and had to chase for 20km to get back on. The boys did an awesome job, to get me back in contact. I suffed for a while after that but hung on to finish 12th in a 30 up bunch kick.
A few easy day and the next race was Reading. After a few slow and boring days and the Day Inn, my knee was back to 100%, although still with stitches. The race finished with a 2km climb with 4km to go. It obviously split to bits and I finished 14th.
Finally, onto to Philli, the big one! I had good legs all day this day and the team rode awesome for me. After 255km it came down to a 35 rider sprint with a few fast guys still there. I was outta my league in the sprint and hung on for 15th. I was happy with that but the legs were great over all the climbs and day and would’ve been happier to come to the line in a smaller group.
Now I have just arrived for Tour Beause in Canada, a six day stage race. My legs are tired, form ok but need a rest. After Beause, I am going to have a week of the bike and have a holiday in New York, that will be my mid season break… Well deserved.
Cheers Willo
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Post Georgia crits
G’day,
After Tour Georgia the five day rest we had went pretty quickly. Before I knew it, Hoppy and I were back in the mini and back in Athens, Georgia for the post Georgia crits… The US Criterium series.
On our arrival to Athens, it had an unusual buzz then it normally does. There were people everywhere and lots of bike riders. Hoppy and I wasted no time going to the Karma Salon ( a Jittey Joes sponsor) arvo Barbie (as Aussie as the yanks are going to be). With cold beer, a hot Barbie, models and sun out it was a perfect afternoon.
Saturday night it was back down to business and at 9pm we started the infamous Athens Twilight criterium. The night before I went to a seminar/panel function and kept getting bombarded with questions or more like statements on how hard the Athens Twilight crit was. I just thought it was another bike race….. The build up was huge and sure the crowd was big, at least 20,000 drunken uni students to watch the event, it was a great buzz. I didn’t have great legs and after winning a sprint priem and having a few digs up the road I thought about pulling the pin as my legs were smashed. I hug in and went on to lead Hoppy out for the bunch kick, although I lost him with 1.5 laps to go. I had to have a crack myself and ended up 6th, Hop coming in 14th.
The next night was Roswell criterium. With a quarter of the crowd, but double the money, work that one out? There was a break up the road for the majority of the race and we had no one in it, so it was up to us and Healthnet to bring it back. After Pete and I pulled a few big turns I called it a day with a few laps to go and Hoppy ended up 3rd.
We then had two days off and I needed them, I had bad hay fever, sore legs and needed sleep. I enjoyed every minute of the two days off. We even got a chance to fit a team game of golf in, very funny.
Next stop was South Carolina, and the criterium was Waltersboro. I had real bad legs in this one but still managed to get amongst it. The whole team rode well together and got in every move all night. I got Hoppy on the wheel with 10 laps to go and coming down the back straight I hit out taking him into the last corner third wheel. Hoppy then drag raced the others to finish third.
The next night was the Greenwood criterium, and my legs were far from better. I had no kick what so ever and when I attacked it was as if I was in slow motion. I was hating every minute of it. To make maters worse it was a really dangerous finish and I had to take a lot of risks to lead Hoppy out. Also when your not traveling as good, the gaps are smaller and wind feels stronger. I had nothing and had to leave Hoppy with half a lap to go, he ended up 7th.
Spartenberg was the next stop and after setting an all time park up record in the coffee shop, 5hrs 20mins it started raining. We had to book out of our hotel in Greenwood early so that meant kickin around in a brew shop for hours. Three coffees, lunch, a biscotti, a game of slang scrabble, a lot of emails later we started racing… well the boys did, I took an RDO. Way too dangerous and wet for me. From the VIP tent the race looked tough and Hoppy finished 15th, with a few of the other boys in the top 30.
Finally after a week of being on the road we finished off with Aniston crtierium, Alabama. I was not too motivated and when our DS Jesse, rocked up, and told me how I looked, it backed up how I felt. Though once I through the leg over the bike I felt better. I got away with another rider for about 30 laps and picked up a few sprint priems before getting caught. 10 laps later, Richard England and I had another go to try and get across to Rapinski who was off the front solo. 10 laps later we were caught. I tried to give Hoppy a hand but didn’t have the legs. Pete Hatton was there to lend a hand and Hoppy once again finished third and Pete rolled in for a top 10.
Overall it was a good week, Hoppy finished fifth overall and I was 17th which is interesting seeing I finished in the points twice. Now we have a three week break before we head to Philli week.
Cheers Willo
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