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Road Race - 66kms (two 33km loops), undulating/hilly course.

I was feeling good about this race. Despite having only done one solid hills ride recently, I have done a lot of strength and endurance work lately and feel strong as a result. The terrain today suited me, so I was keen to make the most of it. The starting field was about the same as yesterday, with one or two additions and subtractions and my plan was fairly similar too (kind of boring, I know). The weather wasn’t quite the same though with some ominous looking clouds in the distance and slight morning chill to the air, but I paid no attention to that minor detail, to start with.

The race started slightly uphill going out of town and everyone took it at a civilised pace, which was unusual (but I wasn’t complaining!). Mel made a little faux attack down the first descent and I stuck on her wheel for the practice of it, even though I could tell she was just having a bit of fun. Sally seemed strong and keen to do some work. But oddly I felt strong too, and capable of doing a more comfortable pace at the front than in the bunch. So when it came my turn to do some work I almost shirked it, but then with a call of ‘do your turn’ (or something) from behind me, I had a go and did. And what do you know? I could do it just fine.

That kind of became the way I rode the whole race. Sure, I rested within the bunch in places (hey, someone had to give, in order for Lorraine to show off her star mountain-goat legs!). And I tried to be judicious about where I did that - namely the descent on the highway leading back into town before the portion of the course that involved Pump Hill. But somehow I still had pretty good legs each time I went to do some work.

The field broke apart both times we did Pump Hill, with Mel and Sarah taking off like rabbits out of a gun, and with interesting results behind them. Both times I cracked a bit, although I recovered better from the first time by TT’ing Bec and myself back to the ‘chase group’ behind Mel and Sarah. The second time I didn’t quite manage to TT myself back on - I got within about 30 meters shortly before everyone kicked for the finish and was finally thwarted by the cars that had gotten in my way on the descent back to town on the back half of the course.  (I ended up crossing the finish line whilst overtaking three cars!).

The race was made particularly interesting by the portion of driving rain that occurred - leaving us all soaked through, and also leaving little rivers of water and mud to negotiate in its wake. I wasn’t impressed, as my fancy new shoes got all muddy and wet, but I managed to talk myself into thinking that the rain was good for me and that I loved it - and I really genuinely did!  I would have liked to have been there for the final push to the finish… but not being there has taught me a valuable lesson, so that is worthwhile in its own way.

Overall I had a really enjoyable race, and one of those ‘I love this sport’ kinda days

Final results:
1. Sarah-Jeanne Fraser (Eddy Hollands Bicycle Services/Energy HR)
2. Melissa Hoskins (Plan B)
3. Rebecca Halliday (Fleet Elite)
4. Sally Robbins (Plan B)
5. Liz Leydon (HubRacing)
6. Lorraine Hartland (South Perth Rouleurs)

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