Day 3 : Hunter Valley - 51 km
A Lost Opportunity
Leaving the start (Flow Magazine, 2014) On arriving at Briar Ridge Vineyard after a 20 kilometre warm up ride from our accommodation, the news that greeted us was slightly unwelcome. The race organisers had cut the course by 12 kilometres, due to the overly muddy conditions of some of the trails. This would have been great news to most riders, considering the mud-fest the day before, but this meant that my endurance strengths would be less likely to come into play at the back end of the stage. Despite my disappointment, the good news was the sun was shining and the rain was being kept at bay.
The start involved an early pinch climb, a few hundreds metres into the stage, a rapid descent and then approximately five kilometres of climbing. Despite a good warm-up, I felt decidedly average and quickly lost ground on my rivals.
The start involved an early pinch climb, a few hundreds metres into the stage, a rapid descent and then approximately five kilometres of climbing. Despite a good warm-up, I felt decidedly average and quickly lost ground on my rivals.
The early leaders (Flow Magazine, 2014) At the top of the climb my sunglasses had steamed up to the point I couldn't clear them. We passed the lookout and were soon descending down the Great North Walking Track. The problem was I just couldn't see, but I somehow clumsily survived the ordeal. Once released onto some open track, I realised I had lost large chunks of time on those ahead.
I was able to work with others on the short bitumen section, and as we negotiated the Aberdale State Forest Roads, I tried to swap turns with Ben Jacka, who was looking comfortable on his home trails. I eventually lost his wheel and found a new partner in John Elliott, sitting one place behind me in the Masters 1 Category. This proved a fruitful partnership until I took a bad line into a corner, unclipped in a gully and the following crunch (I found out later) was John Elliot launching over the bars. His rear hangar bent, meant I lost his support for the rest of the ride.
I closed and passed other solo riders, including Craig Barnes, who exclaimed his day was pretty much done and he had no legs to follow. I rode alone to the finish, through the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, a strange and eerie place reminiscing days long since gone.
I was able to work with others on the short bitumen section, and as we negotiated the Aberdale State Forest Roads, I tried to swap turns with Ben Jacka, who was looking comfortable on his home trails. I eventually lost his wheel and found a new partner in John Elliott, sitting one place behind me in the Masters 1 Category. This proved a fruitful partnership until I took a bad line into a corner, unclipped in a gully and the following crunch (I found out later) was John Elliot launching over the bars. His rear hangar bent, meant I lost his support for the rest of the ride.
I closed and passed other solo riders, including Craig Barnes, who exclaimed his day was pretty much done and he had no legs to follow. I rode alone to the finish, through the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, a strange and eerie place reminiscing days long since gone.
Coming into the finish alone (Flow Magazine, 2014) This turned out to be an enjoyable day, in terms of riding, but disappointing in regard to the result. I finished sixth in Masters 1 and 47th overall. The Top 4 riders in my category all finished ahead and I now trail Alex Kooijman, in fourth by over a minute.
Tomorrow's final stage will be a power day, incorporating bike paths, stair climbs, Glenrock MTB Park and a beach section, before finishing the event at the spectacular Nobbys Beach Reserve.
Tomorrow's final stage will be a power day, incorporating bike paths, stair climbs, Glenrock MTB Park and a beach section, before finishing the event at the spectacular Nobbys Beach Reserve.
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