07/06/2009
A Grade Results
1st: Nick Aitken – 0:21:57, 2nd: Kane Walker + 1min 12secs, 3rd: Paul Richards +1min 2 secs
KOM: no change, Sprint King: no change
How B grade unfolded (told from webmaster’s perspective).
(ITT) – 16.21km / 0:25:38 / 37.9kph
1st: Jim Timmer-Arends – 0:23:31, 2nd: Simon Whitford + 1min, 3rd: Ben Dowsett +1min 2 secs
I took off at decent pace and after initial slow bit up a slope at 36kph managed to sit around 40kph. I caught the rider in front of me shortly after the turn into Brigalong road but it took me around another km to get the energy to pass him. I nearly went off the road on a sharp left hand corner as took it a bit fast in the damp. I began to run out of steam with 4 minutes to go (according to my computer) so slowed to 37kph. In the last km I sped up again and finished strongly up the final little climb. Official time 25:20 which put me in 5th fastest for this stage (though the results posted on the Internet have me at 25:30 in 6th).
How C grade unfolded
1st: Jake Laine, 2nd: Kevin Feely, 3rd: Judith Cahill
KOM: no change, Sprint King: no change
When all you get for winning the time trial is points and you don’t lose points for going slowly you have to make a judgement call. Can I finish in the top five and get points or should I save my energy for a later stage? I chose the latter. I was number 20 and when rider number 27 rode past me just before the line I knew I had gone pretty slow. I finished dead last. The young guy from Leongatha Jake Laine had done a time that would have placed him 5th in B grade. Simon rode well to finish fourth.
Stage 3:
A Grade Results
1st: Trent Williams, 2nd: Pat Lane, 3rd: Chris Joustra
KOM: Kane Walker leads, Sprint King: Kane Walker leads
Kane Walker leads race in 4:12:18
How B grade unfolded
54.58km / 1:28:24 / 37.0kph
1st: Michael O’Connor, 2nd: Paul Yeatman, 3rd: Phil Bechaz
Jim Timmer-Arends race leads race in 3:43:16
KOM: Dave Gaffa leads Sprint King: Michael O’Connor leads
I struggled a little on 1st leg, but got frisky on the way back. More hills than I was expecting – so much so that I was not looking forward to the return journey. The race was fast down hills and unenergetic up hills and along the flat. I felt good up the hills, but was too far back to get up front without going to the wrong side of the road. When a gap appeared and the bunch slowed towards the top of a hill, I finally launched an attack and kept launching attacks from that point (around 6 all up). Final attack happened at 1km to go (it wasn’t me, but I got his wheel) and I was in a good position for the sprint, though got checked by a rider sneaking up on the inside (who won). I came in second. Tomorrow I could do better as I am currently feeling good.
Overall, the rest of the bunch seemed flat and quite a few riders were all swervy up the hills on the earlier attacks (this apparently continued after I went up front) in the last 10 or so km.
Three hours after the race my legs got a little sore. I ended the day in equal 4th around 1min 50 behind the leader and 15 secs behind third.
How C grade unfolded (on the hilly road stage)
1st: Shannon McCurley, 2nd: Jarryd Jones, 3rd: Phill Camenzuli
KOM: Simon Baxter leads, Sprint King: Rob Monk leads
Simon Baxter leads race on 28 points
It was more hilly than most expected. Matt Kennely was allowed to drop back to C grade which was good cause he’s a good leadout man. He led me out in the first sprint but I went too early with Shannon on my wheel. She won it easily and I got 3 points for second. Nearing the middle of the stage I broke a spoke ending any chance of more points. At this point I thought any chance of an overall win were gone. I was a pretty depressing ride home. Why can’t they make wheels that don’t break when 95kg blokes peddle them?
Simon did well on the hills and picked up 8 points. Jarryd finished second by a tyre in the sprint. Shannon just got him this time. I was languishing in 5th place 13 points from the lead. The wheel breaking had stuffed me up or maybe the Cycling Gods were paying me back for doggin’ the time trial in the morning.
