Those that have raced the UWCT course or come along for a Saturday morning practise will have an appreciation for the difficulty we faced on day 4.

▪ Lapping the usual Saturday morning loop for 8 laps is tough

▪ Riding up the extra climb to the amphitheatre 13 times is really tough

▪ 14 laps, or 115km, with 13 climbs averaging over 42km/h is brutal

By day four of the Tour it was down to 130 starters with lots of tired legs amongst the group. The additional climb (to the usual saturday morning loop) along the steep goat track (near the Quarry Amphiheatre)  was as much about fitness as it was about positioning. Some laps I got it right and was able to enter the climb in the first third, sit in the pack over the hill and be rewarded with a comfortable ride. Some Laps I got it wrong with no way through and I had to dodge wheels, missed gear changes or dropped chains. The group would string out along West Cost Hwy and I had a few nightmare full gas efforts to get back to the bunch, that was not something I could do 13 times.

The first half of the race was solid, I managed to miss a pretty large crash at 50kmph on lap one with a bit of skidding and evasive manoeuvring, you’d think that riders at this level wouldn’t touch wheels or swerve for no reason, but it happens, I think small movements add-up as they ripple through the peleton, in fact, it happened on each stage. I maintained a good position for the first five laps but slipped back once or twice over the next few laps and noticed how much smaller the peleton had gotten, it must halved between laps 6 – 10.

The second half of the race was a bit less hectic with fewer riders but was no less difficult, my legs were fatiguing and the climbs were getting harder each lap but it was great to see the remaining SPR riders, Dave Hind and Jono Bolton looking so comfortable. If you ride with these guys on a SPR route, you’re getting to ride alongside (but probably mostly behind!) some genuinely gifted cyclists capable of mixing it with Australia’s best. I tailed off the back of the group along west coast hwy on lap 13 leaving me a lap’s worth of TT effort, the SPR members standing at the top of the amphitheatre were encouraging as a I rolled over by myself for the last time…..I appreciated the support!

I finished the stage 4min+ behind the peleton, lost over the last lap, but i was happy to hang on for so long and to complete the tour, final results show how difficult those 4 days were with 77 finishers of the 150+ starters!

Strava – Stage 4 – Training Peaks

I’ve learnt some great race craft, more about how my body works and what i need/shouldn’t do whilst preparing for riding and racing, overall, a great experience that I’m sure will assist me in the future. Thanks to SPR for all the support and the Hall Cycle Training Team for providing the opportunity to race with a great bunch of guys.

I have to say thanks (once more!) to the teams sponsors!

Logic Networks Australia – Respiratory West – Industry Mates – Steadyrack – Momentum Health Solutions – Muzz Buzz – Terrain Dynamics – Unicorn Brewery – Hall Cycling Training