Bromont Canada Cup

After taking more time than I had hoped to find a feeder, I only got a small warm up done before we were called up to the start line. They called us up on UCI (world) ranking, so I was called up on the front row as I have good points from our National Champs and Ocieania Champs.

It was 29degrees as we were standing on the start line and I knew it would be easy too cook your self in the race if you didnt watch it. I had a good start, leading up some of the first climb and staying the front five for most of the first lap. My legs started to feel a bit heavy as I started the second lap and I dropped back through the field, Stu and Carl (kiwi boys) both caught me and put a small gap in to me as I jammed and then dropped my chain. I kept fighting on and was able to get back to them after a while, with all three of us swapping positions until I found my legs and miss counted what lap we were on (thinking it was lap 5 when we were only on lap 4) With my legs coming back I made my move and got a good gap on the other two.

Once I worked out I still had an extra lap I had that (oh crap I hope I can hold this pace and not blow) feeling but thought too late now just keep pushing!!!

I pushed hard on the last lap and was able to hold Carl and Stu off, I also saw a few people either crashed out or were standing on the side of the track fixing flat tyres so I knew I could be moving up in the placings. I finished the 6 lap race in 9th, 1hr 44min (still 10min off the winner). I know a what I need to work on in the next few weeks to improve my speed and close that gap so it time to start sorting it out.

We will be staying in Bromont for a couple more days then heading up to Mt Saint Anne to do the Quebec chmaps race and look at the World Champs track.

Kelso

Race one of the trip done.

I was called up on the second row (funny how the Nat champs Top helps with that), I had one of my usual starts (yep off the front, with the field chasing me) and lead most of the first lap. Lap two a group of 4 of us formed and we started to clear out, almost half way through the lap I made a stupid mistake and went over the bars while burping my front tyre. I had to take it slow and easy to the tech zone so I could swap wheels, going from about 10psi to a wheel with about 40psi in it,Dam it. I rejoined the race in 8th-9th on the back of a group of riders. As we hit the big climb I rode past most of them and started pulling a gap, One guy decided he would stick to my wheel and we started to pull in the leaders until he did a short turn on the front and when I took the lead on a climb again he dropped off rather fast!?!. I spent the rest of the race chasing but wasnt making any head way as the leaders started attacking each other. As I crossed the finish line I thought I was 4th but it turns out one of the many riders standing on the side of the track during the last lap fixing a flat, was one of the guys ahead of me. I will take that, as it kinda happened to me earlier in the race! so third it is.

In the morning we are loading all our gear into the vans and driving up to Bromont to get ready for the Canada cup race on the weekend.

So Ive been in Canada for over a week now, Ive gone from having to work all day and then train in the cold, dark often wet and down right crap weather, to having tan lines and going through a bottle each hour of my ride. I had only been in the country 22hours and I started in a local club mtb race, After going the wrong way "4 times" I caught the leader with about 15min to go. I followed him for about 10min and then took the lead back, As we came towards the end I worked out where I was and opened up the sprint nice and early and took the win by a couple bike lenghts.

I spent the week training near hardwood hills and then headed into stay closer to Kelso where our first race will be, We race at 1:30pm Sunday/ 5:30am Monday and the track is pritty cool with a nasty climb at the start, some fast stuff and some good ol Canadian rocks!

Back on line and time to throw a few updates up so you all know just what I have been up to over the past week or so and how the rest of my trip unfolds.

Id just like to say a HUGE THANKS to Paul Swain, www.intripid.com My main man when it comes to me needing any thing sorted out with web site stuff.

After finding out earlier in the week that I have tonsillitis, I decided to still do the first round of the N-DURO winter series. It had rained most of the week and was showering off and on through out the day. I got off to an ok start up the road climb and onto the gravel sitting the front and taking a group of 6ish away early. After the first 15min the bunch had dropped down to 3 of us with me still on the front, we rode together for a while with the other two swapping around behind me. On the way up to pondies one of the riders dropped off as the pace I was setting on the climb had finally got to him. So just one to go, We stayed together until old chevy when I was able to get a gap on a small pinch climb and then slowly opened it up on the next few pinches. Once I was free I kept the pace on and rode to the end "loan ranger" finishing the 40km muddy race in 2hr 2min. I have to be happy with how I rode considering how I felt and Im still on the Meds for my Tonsillitis.

Fundraising for the Worlds

Michelle Bellamy has donated some of her prints as fundraising for my trip to CANADA as the last part of my build up to the WORLD CHAMPS. I am planing to go for a 7 week block with 6 races jam packed in this time.

The prints are high quality, limited edition (numbered) signed and framed, ready to hang! all you have to do is choose the one(s) you like the most, and contact me.
I am selling the prints for $500 each (framed remember!), They normally go for around $690+ in the Galleries. The prices on Michelle"s web site are print only (no framing).


To view the selection of images available click on the link:

http://bellamygallery.co.nz/Prints.html

Happy choosing

Tour of Tarinaki Day One

Tour of Tarinaki day one. On the way down last night I started feeling like I was getting the flu, it would be no surprise as the dude I work with has had a nasty one all week. So I woke up today not expecting too much. It was a chilly clear morning and we headed out for an early start. I got there a bit late so had no time to put on my queer-spares, got a quick warm-up and I was off. The TT was different from last year, this time an out and back. I finished it in 35th place, pretty good for a MTBer who usually has issues with TT's.

On the second stage (after a nice lunch and some catching up with fellow rider friends) we headed out for a mainly flat race. Soon into the race there was a 8 person break-away, so I put the gas on and chased down. I got a gap on the bunch with ease, and as I was gaining on the break I loked over my shoulder and Joe Cooper (the dude that won the TT by 20-30 sec) also had a gap and was chasing me. I waited for him and we worked together to get into the break. We worked in the break for a while until I noticed that my bars were coming loose. We had a good gap, but the bunch had been slowly reeling us in. There was no tec van behind the break so I had to drop off to behind the bunch where I tightened my stem, whilst going 45km/hr along very rough roads then jumped back into the bunch which had caught the break.

With 10km to go Gordy and two others made a break, and Gordy won the sprint for 1st. The bunch finished 50m behind and I think I was around 10th across the line.

Looking forward to a wet, thunderstormy day tomorrow, so hopefully I can keep this flu at bay.