Carnival City Classic: In the move

I’ve never raced the Carnival, so I wasn’t sure on how hard yesterday was going to be. Previously I did this race in 2006 with Michelle, all race prep for the Argus at the time, so for me it was a walk in the park, but things were different this time round, racing for Bulk Pack, you’re always expected to make the racing, close any move that goes up the road and we were also desperately looking for a good result. A pretty flat course with just over 600m of vertical ascent over the allotted 100km. Pretty much the same as the Fast One. It was a tough weeks training for me leading up to the Carnival, but I was feeling good throughout, so I was hoping Sunday I could make things happen for the team.

Our group (VA’s) got off at 06h50 and the first two kilometers was somewhat idle. I immediately went to the front to pick up the pace and tried making things a little hard for those who were hoping for a nice 15km warm-up. Once that was done, the attacks started. The first 50km’s was very flat and to get away was going to prove to be very hard. That didn’t stop us from trying. Mark Ramos and Ilidio Pinto both from Bulk Pack Trek were mixing it up early with the boys (Club100, Bi-Steel, and Bright House). Covering attacks and trying to create something and hopefully get in a break and force a few of the other teams to chase and tire their legs out and then leave the 2^nd half of the race up to Craig Harvey (Bulk Pack Trek) and Marco van Biljoen (Bulk Pack Trek) to attack and try get away. With nothing really coming off in the first 50km’s except for some confusion between Marco van Biljoen and the race commissaire. Marco was apparently DQ’ed for dropping back to the support vehicle and handing over his arm warmers and then in chasing back to get to the front half of the group, he crossed the white line. Marco took this up with the race commissaire and after a “few” words were exchanged the commissaire agreed that the decision was a bit harsh and the DQ was turned in to a 1^st warning. With that said, the first real break of the day came, no surprise, Marco van Biljoen put in a BIG effort taking 2 riders with him and opening a gap of around 25 secs to the chase. This forced Harmony and Club100 to do the chasing and once again it felt like we had control of the race. The break lasted for 20km’s and after the break was pulled back; I had a little dig and tried putting more pressure on the other teams. It didn’t last long before my move was pulled back.

Marco again pushed hard up one of the drags eliminating any thoughts of a counter by the other teams. This is when I decided to have another dig; taking Gary Rabie and a Fit Rider with, we soon had 20 secs on the group but with no real cohesion coming from Gary our break was short lived. Once we got pulled back Craig Harvey shot off the front taking a Harmony rider and another rider with. Once again we were in the move and once again the leaders were pulled back after just 10km’s or so. With 20km’s to go I decided to head up the front and drive the pace real hard and prevent any attacks from coming and with a little glance back I saw no one was on my wheel and soon opened up a little gap of 10 secs. I decided to keep driving and soon my 10 secs became 30 secs. I thought if I was going to get caught it would be the perfect launch pad for Mark, Ilidio, Marco or Craig to have one last dig to the end. My solo was perfect, 12.5km’s and with 7km’s to go I thought this was our day and with the rest of the Bulk Pack riders getting sucked along, Club100, Cyclelab and Harmony were trying to pull me back I started cramping in my left calve, still I thought it was enough to tire the rest out but once again bad luck struck and Marco punctured with 5km’s to go. With a fast finish Cyclelab were heading up the front with 2km’s to go. Craig Harvey and Mark Ramos were in perfect position and I was still hoping we could pull something off. My legs were toast and with my calve, sprinting wasn’t even an option, not that I’m a sprinter. With a 500m uphill drag to the finish; I thought it was perfect for Craig. Unfortunately we just missed the podium and had to settle for 4th (Craig Harvey).

Good positive racing from the chaps and having all of us in a break and making the breaks at some point in the race things are looking good, but we’re still seeking that podium spot. On flat races like these it’s hard to get rid of the wheel suckers and with 1km to go you see guys that you haven’t seen for the past 99km’s which is very frustrating, but hey, I guess that’s racing for you and it’s all about who crosses the line first. Most probably the best race of the season for me so far, it really felt like the team gelled well together. This week see’s me take a week off the bike to chill and catch up on a few things.

Later

Vets 30+ Results:
1. Gary Rabie (2:20)
2. Alwyn Dippenaar
3. Martin Van Wyk
4. Craig Harvey
5. Erich Meintjes

Ride for Sight, a boring day in the saddle

So I woke up this morning with a pretty sore stomach and puffy eyes. The past few days I haven’t been sleeping well, got sun burnt and been skipping meals. Didn’t have breakfast before the race, not the brightest thing to do considering that today’s race is a little longer (116km’s) than the usual one day races, so preparation was not quite there for this one.

The race got underway with Johan Pretorius (Club 100) and Werner Moolman (Mr-Price) pushing hard up the first drag and opening up a small gap of around 10 seconds in the first 3km’s. At this stage the guys were not too concerned about the move as it was still early days. They were later joined by Marco van Biljoen (Bulk Pack Trek), Johan Labuschagne (Cyclelab), Alwyn (Cyclelab), Danie Mare (TCS) and a Harmony rider at about 10km’s. I just didn’t have it in me in the first few km’s or make that first 60km’s. The body was not interested and with not much happening attack wise I was somewhat relieved that I wasn’t called upon to cover any real big attacks. So with Marco in the break we (Bulk Pack Trek) were happy with the situation. At this point the race was pretty much set and sitting 5th wheel for most of the time in the chase, I was happy to watch the chaps roll through in an effort to try close the gap to the leaders. Most of the work was being done by Club 100 which I found strange as they had a man (Johan Pretorius) upfront in the break. With the km’s ticking over and Donovan Jackson trying hard to motivate his men to chase and the gap at 1min 20s we picked up one of the first riders, Danie Mare (TCS) who dropped off the lead group going through the bumps out towards Heidelberg and then later Johan Pretorius (Club 100) and Alwyn (Cyclelab).

I was feeling good on the bumps and with the only real “climb” of the day (1.5km at 4%) David Labuschagne (Cyclelab) put in a BIG effort, trying to split the bunch up a bit. He was closely marked by Craig Harvey (Bulk Pack Trek) and they had a slight gap on the rest but later gave up as there was no point in trying to close the gap down with their riders upfront. The race came together with about 10km’s to go which saw David Labuschagne and myself jump off the front opening a small gap of around 5-10s, but all in vain. The last 2km’s is always fast with everyone trying to enter the S bend first. Werner Moolman for one last time tried to go and I quickly hooked his wheel. Coming through the S’s in 2nd position I noticed Moolman struggling, I immediately reacted and tried to go but misjudged the sprint and had to settle for 12th.

Not a good first 60km’s for me but one positive I can take out of today’s race was the climbs/drags, I felt really good. An excellent effort by Marco van Biljoen who was in the break for 100km’s. Still no podium for us, but things are looking good, so maybe next time. To sum it up, the race was boring, sitting and watching the chase for 100km’s is kind of like watching paint dry, but a good effort by Club 100, Donovan and the boys! Next weekends the Carnival, another fast one with a few kicks here and there; hopefully my race prep is a little better.

Later

Vets 30+ Results:
1. James Louter (2:42)
2. Mark Davel
3. Donovan Jackson
4. Tijl vd Winkel
5. Koos Klopper

Emperors, from good to bad

The 2009 Emperors Classic was presented with a new route. Instead of heading out towards Bapsfontein, through Tembisa and up 3 steps (Allandale), we headed out on the N12, N17 towards Nigel, back up through Springs and home. The first 25km’s would be the last 25km’s coming back which had a few drags leading to the finish.

As always the pace was furious right from the start, flat and fast, so this was expected. 12km’s in to the race one of the riders (OB) ripped his pedal off his crank almost taking Craig Harvey (Bulk Pack Trek) and myself out and then proceeding to swerve back in to the bunch while trying to maintain his balance. Don’t know what happened to OB but if I can help you in any way, your pedals on the N17 somewhere.

Climbing on to the N17 there were a few attacks going off the front but nothing serious. At this point in time for a break to succeed would prove to be very hard; the wind was a little stiff coming from the front and on a flat route like today it just seemed impossible to stay away. Coming off the N17 we hit Heidelberg road, this section the road surface was very rough and this was one of a few drags (2.5km at 2%) nothing serious. Here Johann Pretorius (MTN/Club 100) started driving the pace with me firmly stuck behind his wheel, trying to keep the pace high and eliminate any wheel suckers early on, but to no avail, my legs were still asleep and with a good push I thought they might wake up. At about 40km’s we hit the only real climb/drag of the day (1.5km at 4.5%). Thought I’d give it a dig here and launched off the front and started opening a small gap but my legs wanted to know nothing. I was shortly joined by Johan Labuschagne (Cyclelab), Jacques Fullard (Team Focus) and Craig Harvey (Bulk Pack Trek) who comfortably rode me off and then getting swallowed up by the pack. This was the break of the day and at this point I was happy and comfortable with the situation and it felt as if Bulk Pack had control of the race, sitting 3rd, 4th wheel in the chase both Marco van Biljoen (Bulk Pack Trek) and myself knew that if the leaders were caught we’d be fresh enough to jump off the front to try create something, but things took a turn for the worst at 25km’s to go.

Having finally caught the break after some time, we joined up with the 50km fun riders, Bulk Pack Trek first lost Marco van Biljoen to a puncture, then 5km’s later 2 riders (Craig Harvey/Mark Ramos), crashed and had to chase hard to get back in to the group. I had my work cut out; the pace started heating up amongst the fun riders, so concentration was vital. Coming off the N17 and back up Rondebult, with 14km’s to go I found myself in a 4 man break with Johan Labuschagne (Cyclelab), Team Focus and someone. I thought this could be it to the end but with the wind hitting us from the front and the cohesion not quite there our 5 minutes of glory was a thing of the past and with 7km’s to go the hard efforts started taking its toll.

At the end it came down to a bunch finish with Jacques Fullard (Team Focus) showing the rest a clean set of heels. A pretty easy race with only 600m’s of climbing over the 100km’s but tough to get away with it being so flat so a bunch sprint was always on the cards. Some bad luck for us but we were in the mix and trying to make the racing hard and that’s what counts. Next weekend see’s us at the Liberty which should be interesting considering there’s a kick or two with maybe a little bit of wind here and there.

Later.

Vets 30+ Results:
1. Jacques Fullard
2. Jeffrey Kriel
3. Hansie Joubert
4. James Louter
5. Gary Rabie