Race Results

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Two races, two race reports, what is happening here? With Nick out there on Saturday taking plenty of photos free for everyone, I figure I might as well offer my ramblings free for everyone as well. Gallipoli cup is one of Counties Manukau Club's largest known races of the year, and the only one left running from Admore hall, featuring Twilight Road and the traditional Parish Line road finish. 2009 was my 3rd edition on the start line of the 80km handicap and I was looking forward to being able to better my previous two years results by not getting dropped by my start group up Twilight on the first lap (2007) and being able to finish without cramping (2008).

Weather conditions were ideal for bike racing. That is hard bike racing. Strong easterly/tending south-easterly breezes held the rain at bay for the afternoon but provided some decent head and cross winds for the flat open parts of the course. The handicap bunches were fairly large with up to 20 riders in each starting group, we started 32 minutes back from the limit bunch and took some time getting organised and rolling through. The first time up Twilight shed a few numbers and we were a bit slow in getting regrouped and rolling again over the other side. As predicted the head and cross winds of on the back half of the course shed a few more as with the 2nd and 3rd repeats up Twilight road till we were down to around 8 riders going over the top the 3rd time.

The break down in the group through riders dropping off and not rolling through as efficiently as we could have resulted in the scratch bunch catching us up the short steep climb on Brookby road before the flats. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship, I tagged onto the back of the scratch bunch with Colin Cornberg (who was lapping through like he should have been with them all along). I managed a turn or two along the flats but the legs and heart was on limit by the bottom of Twilight road. Loosing pace with them on the climb, I was able to ride up to a couple of riders going over the top and we rode through catching ones and twos and eventually a bigger bunch just before the finishing straight.

I was pretty happy with my final result, while disappointing not to get to the front of the race and not being able to keep up with the scratch riders up Twilight, it was good to finally finish the race this time around. Maybe 2010 will allow things to come together at last.....