2009 Race for Victory

Having last done the race in 2005, it was pretty much a “new” one for me. The one thing that has never changed is the stretch through Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. A tough 26km’s with a few bumps and a final kick of 2km’s at a touch over 7% average. To make things worse, it rained the night before so the 400m dirt section was basically a mud bath (Not really) and the wind was also out to play on the day, so a perfect recipe for a tough race.

A small bunch of just over 30 guys made up the VA group. Present was BlackRock, BulkPack, Club 100, Jaco from TCS and a few others. The first 4km’s was neutralized until after the dirt section where we were treated to a flat and fast section heading out towards the drag up towards Walkerville. No major moves early on except for Gavin van Aswegen (Club 100) who slipped off the front taking with him another rider but had nothing more than 10 seconds to the peloton. We approached the drag up towards Walkerville so I decided to head up the front and set pace, I was also trying to get my legs warm for the onslaught through the reserve. At this point the group was still pretty much together but enough damage was being done and the group was starting to split. ¾ up Graeme Cronje (BlackRock) attacked and no reaction came from the peloton. To let a rider like Graeme go is always dangerous so I reacted taking with Craig Harvey (BulkPack), Gavin van Aswegen (Club 100), Jaco Ferreira (TCS), Jacques Fullard (BlackRock), Jacques Maritz (BlackRock) and Stefano Madies (Di Data). This was where the major split occurred and with the turn up towards the reserve a strong cross wind from the right introduced itself but with good cohesion between the escapees we were increasing the gap and the chasers according to race radio lost interest.

Entering the hills of the reserve, Gavin was setting a comfortable pace on the lower slopes which Graeme and I continued through to the steepest part of the reserve. I decided to have a dig for KOM followed by Stefano and at the time I thought I managed to get it and just ahead of Stefano and race commissaries confirmed this but only later found out that the KOM hot spot was further up the road which was taken by Jacques Fullard. With the accelerations up the final slope through the reserve the 8 man break was down to 5, losing Craig, Jacques Maritz and Gavin. Craig was just off and exiting the reserve I was told to not contribute hoping Craig would get back to join us but it would have had to be a BIG effort with Graeme, Jacques, Jaco and Stefano driving the pace with another cross wind hitting us from the right. BlackRock were in a strong position with 2 riders in the break and with 8km’s to go Graeme had a shot at getting away but Jaco covered the move. On entering the dirt section, Graeme drove hard and somehow my chain managed to slip off and I lost contact with the leaders. I tried to get back but to no avail and I had to settle for 5^th.

It was a good race for me despite the weather conditions. I always struggle to get in the groove in wet and overcast conditions. My forms great and coming along and my recovery at the moment is excellent. With no racing this coming weekend I have a tough week ahead on the steed and then it’s racing all the way through to the 94.7. Let’s hope the weathers good to us and the punctures are minimal this week. Enjoy it!

Later,

Vets 30+ Results:

1. Jacques Fullard (2:40:31)

2. Jaco Ferreira st.

3. Stefano Madies st.

4. Graeme Cronje st.

5. Jason Du Preez @49

6. Jacques Maritz @2:17

7. Gavin Cyrus Van Aswegen st.

8. Craig Harvey st.

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

2009 CANSA Lost City

An early start to the day, up at 03:00am, breakfast, packing and then driving through to Sun City for a 07:08am start. The VA group was well represented with all the BIG teams (Black Rock, Bulk Pack Trek, Club 100, Cyclelab and TCS just to name a few) making an appearance. Always good to have a strong field makes for hard and exciting racing. We didn’t have the numbers; Craig Harvey and I were the only ones representing Bulk Pack Trek so we had to be very careful and selective as to when a move went and make sure that if we followed it was an effort that would be worth it.

We finally got off and after 5km’s, Koos Klopper (Cyclelab) decided to spice things up and launched an early attack but with the route being so flat it was going to be very hard to stay away. Cyclelab had a plan obviously and once Koos was brought back David Labuschagne (Cyclelab) countered but was quickly swallowed up. After 20km’s Johan Labuschagne (Cyclelab) went and took Jeffrey Kriel (Club100), Hannes Botha (TCS) and Hennie Pelser (Speke/Bio-anabolics) with him. With the move going so early on, I didn’t think at the time it was a real threat so for me it was OK to let them go. The gap grew steadily and 40km’s in I flatted. Luckily Jaco was there riding support, so a quick wheel change had me back in the pack in no time. The gap grew with no one really committing to closing the gap. Craig Harvey then headed up the front and started driving to try bring back the break. I soon joined and shortly thereafter Black Rock joined. We started working well together and just before the first bump the leaders were caught. A few attacks off the front thereafter but nothing threatening.

The next big move of the day came up the 2nd drag just before the long decent down towards Sun City. Jaco Ferreira (TCS) the current vet’s South African champion slid off the front and started opening a slight gap on the group, with no reaction from the pack I decided to follow and chase Jaco, I knew if I joined forces with Jaco we could work together and maybe just maybe last to the end. We were later joined by Jacques Fullard (Black Rock) and a Di-Data rider and things looked promising, but with a slight head wind coming from the right it was a lot harder than what we anticipated and we we’re back in to the pack with 10km’s to go. Once again a few attacks off the front but all in vain. It was down to a sprint finish, which was pretty much guaranteed at the start of the race. Gary Rabie took the honours followed by Craig Harvey and Jacques Fullard claiming 3rd spot.

I always enjoy this race and even with the route being so flat with a few drags here and there it’s always a tough one. BIG gears ticking over, attacks and the wind really starts taking its toll after a while and 9/10 times it’s always going to come down to a sprint finish. To sum up my performance I was happy but still lacking a bit of power on the flats. A tough 2 weeks of training lined up and looking forward to this weekend. Cycling out to Bronkhorstspruit dam Saturday, water skiing, jet-skiing and some time off the bike to relax and reflect on the next 2 months racing.

Later,

Vets 30+ Results:

1. Gary Rabie (2:26:33)
2. Craig Harvey
3. Jacques Fullard
4. Jeffrey Kriel
5. Dippenaar, Alwyn

2009 EPR Cycle Challenge: Wind, drags and tiredness

So the EPR… Not one of my favorites, but I’m using these smaller races to find some sort of race fitness/form for the bigger ones lying ahead this year. Wind is always a factor in this race and with a course that provides ±1000m of ascent over 120km’s it’s always a tough one when you’re getting old, like me. The event (Start/Finish) was held at the Tarlton International Raceway, Magaliesburg, a 400m drag strip which provides for an exciting finish for both riders and spectators.

Smaller groups meant that we had to mix it up with the older men (VB’s) in the game who seem to mature like fine wine, also with some of the darlings in SA cycling, Toyota Cycle Lab Ladies Team, who were out preparing for the Tour of Ardeche (http://www.tcfia.org/GB/4-equipes/equipes.html) a 6 day tour which starts on the 8^th September in France, so good luck ladies!

It was a slow start heading out with not much happening. As I was using this race more for training and getting used to race pace, I decided to head up the front and set the pace for most of the way heading out and up towards the Cradle. I didn’t want to exhaust myself, I knew the 12km drag up past Magalies was going to be hard with attacks and possibly a group splitting off the front and lasting ‘til the end. This proved to be the case and with attack after attack and a gutter, I found myself battling to stick and had to bite the bullet for a while, most probably due to earlier efforts and tired legs. Finally 8 of us (Russel Lund, Attie Duvenhage, Gary Rabie, Carl Lotter, Shane Brown, Leon Olivier, 1 unknown and myself) got off the front and started working well together to open the gap over the chasing peloton. It was a tough ask, splitting the field at 40km’s with 80km’s to go and wind, I knew we were going to have our work cut out. What felt like a head wind from then on and at 60km’s the gap was sitting at 1m45sec and was slowly increasing. The cohesion between the 8 escapees was starting to fade and out of the 8 leaders 8 of us were skipping turns as the wind and rolling hills started taking its toll. Soon the gap grew to 3m45sec and with 15km’s to go, the lead group started attacking each other, with someone hoping to get off the front, but with the wind out playing no one was going to get away and a sprint finish was on the cards. Approaching Tarlton the attacks started again but once again to no avail and it all came down to a sprint with Russel Lund taking it for the VA’s followed by Gary Rabie.

Like I said, not my favorite race and a tough day in saddle with the wind playing its toll. One positive I can take out of my race is my power data. They say you only get your true data when you race and after analyzing my data I’m pretty happy with it, although I think there’s still room for improvement and considering I had tired legs I’m sure the numbers could have been better. Heading in to a rest week now and then Saturday 22^nd August at Suncity. The Lost City Cycle Classic, 103km’s, flat and fast and a full Bulk Pack team at the line, well almost. See you chaps then!

Later,

Vets 30+ Results:
1. Russel Lund (3:08)

2. Gary Rabie

3. Jason du Preez

4. Carl Lotter