2009 Itec Dome to Dome

With a shortened revised route and with just under 1200m ascent over the allotted 91km’s the Dome wasn’t the usual flat race we’ve grown accustomed to. Having never done this race, I was pretty excited leading up to it but with a troublesome rib and not feeling 100% on race day I was concerned that my mate Craig Harvey may have to fend off the likes of Black Rock, Club 100 and Supercycling just to name a few on his own.

7 days prior, I rode the route with my good mate Ian Jones (http://twitter.com/IanJ001) to see what surprises lay ahead but also to see what gear ratio I might opt for and what wheel set I might use in case the wind came in to play. Preparation, perfectionist, that’s me I guess…

So an early start, 06h05 we were off. As usual, a few attacks early on going up Malibongwe and with 1 Club 100 rider getting away but other than that nothing exciting or threatening in the first 15km’s. I wasn’t concerned about the early movers because I knew the section up past the Cradle, Sterkfontein and the stretch past Mogale City and the run in towards the end was going to be tough. Approaching the Cradle up towards Valverde, everything was back together, Jacques Fullard (Black Rock) slid off the front to soften up the wheel suckers. At that stage I felt like one and the thought of abandoning the race came up more than once. Only after about 35km’s I started feeling good. The attacks continued up past the Cradle from Supercycling and Black Rock. With only Craig and me representing Bulk Pack we once again had to be very aware as to when a move went. They say the best form of defence is to attack and with a few kicks up towards Sterkfontein I decided to have a dig, taking with Alwyn Dippenaar(Supercycling), Jacques Fullard and Werner Moolman (Mr. Price) but with no cohesion we were pulled back quickly.

The drag up past Sterkfontein towards Mogale City was pretty sedate and once we “summited” Jeffrey Kriel (Club 100) shot off the front and tried to get something going but to no avail and was swallowed up. I immediately countered and soon opened up a 20 second gap but after a couple of km’s I was back in the pack. The pace really slowed up and with another bump up on Hendrik Potgieter I decided to go again and opened up a healthy gap of 35 seconds. It was fun while it lasted because the turn off the N14 back towards the Cradle saw me shooting off in to greener pastures. A bunny hop with half pike over the curb had me off the road and back in the group and nothing serious from here on in. Approaching the finish we had a fairly large group 35+ and with 4km’s to go Black Rock and Club 100 were jockeying for position to try lead out their sprinters. Not being a natural born sprinter I had a dig with 3km’s to go but all in vain. With a recent visit to Dr. Tabata and with 1km to go I had another dig. I was trying to upset the rhythm of Black Rock and Club 100 and get Craig to the line as fresh as possible and if I could hold them off to the end it would have been a bonus but with 100m’s to go I was back in the pack and my race was done! Jacques Fullard took the honours followed by Jeffrey Kriel and sealing the podium off Craig Harvey.

For me it was a pretty good race and I’m happy with my performance, suffered the first 35km’s or so but after that it was all good and lots of positives I can take out of it. A podium one day would be nice but my natures not to race the last 100m’s, I like to get involved right from the start and if I can get my team mates on to the podium that’s all that matters. Sunday (20 September 2009) see’s me at the Tshwane Mayoral Ride, a later start 11h10am, 8x10km laps round the Union buildings, could be the Lone Ranger with Craig waiting for a sports pass. Should be fun.

Later,

Vets 30+ Results:
1. Jacques Fullard (2:21:43)
2. Jeffrey Kriel
3. Craig Harvey
4. Gavin van Aswegen
5. Stefano Madies


Photo by ©Michelle Cound