Arrived in Alice Springs Saturday noon, giving me enough time to get prepared and go for a small ride. Temperature was low around 17 but quit nice for a change. Stage 3 is a 300 m hill climb so I went over to get a feeling of the climb. The bets time is under a minute and not pushing too hard I did 1,25. (wonder what those guys are on). Lars was supposed to arrive Sunday, but had had problems with his flight so he was going to miss out on Day one, same for Richard Sinclair from ANZA who also had missed a flight. Raceday One. Bloody cold in the morning but at nine as the race started the sun came out. Two stretches comes into mind when riding MTB in Alice Springs. Peng san hill with lots of loose rocks that sends the bike in all directions. Second the last part of the downhill on the loose rocks down to Aoa´s resort in Chaing Mai. This training proved to be of great benefit. Pace was up to 40kmh on the tarmac the first 4 km, then some deep really looose beach sand very hard to ride, was soon to find out we were going to ride on a lot of that stuff. The rest was Peng San hill over and over again just much more technical and challenging in single trail format. They just went on km after km endlessly and really demanding without time to rest or refuel. Finished the 50km after 2.52 hr.
Day 2: Today was a double stage day First a 35km race that started as a pleneton ride through town under police car escort. As the siren sounded the race was on, first via some really dusty 4wd tracks where the only good spot was up front but unfortunately the places was taken so we had to settle in behind and eat a ton of red dust. As we went in to the single track Richard got a few places up in front of me and slowly got away for a while on the rocky trail. During a few of the stages I rode with the open female winner Jessica Douglas, she is one hell of a rider. Or riding machine, I saw her dropping so many boys, was like she use them to pace herself and after a while she just powers by. As she did with me a few times too. I was better on the technical by a hair but out on the flat she overtook again, she is a rocket. I was in a group of 5 with Jessica and another factory girl soon one guy made a mistake and we dropped him then the next guy made a pass on the girls . We rode on for a while and I could see we were closing in on Richard, as we had worked us all the way up to him he suddenly pulled over. His seatpost needed adjustment. The girls and I pushed on, Jessica made a move and went away, after while I passed the other girl and went on. I made good time but at 27 km on top of a steep short climb trail I had a crash that got me out of riding mode and I started to fool around, cost me a few places. Richard came up behind and greeted me with hello Singapore. Then he also whissed off. Finished 12th at the local Velodrome and Richard in 10 place. Lars came 7th in his class.
Later in the afternoon it was time for stage 3. The hill climb, 300meter up steep tarmac road much similar to riding the tarmac up to kent ridge, I did it in1,13 minute and finished 17in my group. Lars came in 13 and Richard came 2nd in our group on the crazy lactate hill.
Sun was out from the early morning promising a hot and dusty day. Before race start all riders was cautioned not to go max out on the first demanding 25km, else we would not be smiling when crossing the finish line. I went a bit slower than in the other stages. Richard went of in a pace that looked like he was set to win the stage, Lars was behind me, but 12 km in I heard his voice “what are you doing here, am I going too fast” a bit nervous if he would burn out too soon, Lars was riding strong and overtook me, I took up the chase and we kept a good pace and overtook a few riders. After some time I overtook him but Lars was right on my tail. 25 km in we entered a sealed bike park length 19 km I think. I was with 2 other riders and we agreed to help each other, as I looked back I was glad to see Lars joining the group. We did about 32-34 in average. The aussies are friendly when it comes to bike riding so whenever we overtook someone they were asked to get on the train. The good thing is you get to sit less time in front, but it can be a bad idea if you pick up and your closest competitors and let them sit on the train. At the 50km mark we went offroad again. Lars was no more in sight we must have dropped him on the road. No more drafting and all were on their own again. At this stage I was a bit tired but knew I had to push on. Suddenly Richard was at the trailside asking for a tube, I threw him my tube and went on. At 60 km my eyes was so dry one of my contact lenses popped out. First a long climb up a mountain ridge, and then some advanced downhills and up to the top again. Half blind I could not see properly going up, and on the downs I misjudged a bit. Out on the flat again with 2km to the finish line one rider overtook and I chased as much as possible, finished behind him after a fun chase over the local BMX track, just enough for him to push me from 12 to 13 in the overall standing. Lars again came in as 7thin his class.
On a side note we learned that the winner of the open male went out to have a close study of the last kilometer of the race course each day prior to the stages. That’s how the really serious riders do it. But then again top 3 were battling over seconds in each stage. And after 10 hours of intensive racing across 7 stages and 249km a mere 38seconds separated number one from number two in open category.
Day 4 individual time trial 23 km (Time for Lasik) Slowest overall rider started first the one minute later second slowest and so on. Had a good race, went fast despite heavy legs from yesterday as I caught first rider fast knew I had gained one full minute but no one should be allowed to overtake and all the faster riders would come from behind. Great technical trail and made no mistakes until halfway in when I lost a contact lens again. Vision blurry and could not determine distance properly, had to slow a bit on the most technical stuff. Kept on overtaking and finished strong as no 9. Average speed 19.6kmh.
Day 4 Stage 5 23km Night race with mass start
Was super dusty. I guess the other stages was just as dusty, but in the concentrated beam from the AyUp lights you could really see the amount of dust you were going to eat. Richard passed me early in the stage. I was still trying to get up to speed my legs was hurting. Finally got up on the big ring and started to overtake. Halfway in, a long row of 10 riders was riding way too slow, I started making noise and after a couple of minutes the noise began to relay up the row. Now riders started to make mistakes and it was possible to overtake a bit. As I was to overtake a rider I made a mistake and crashed giving the rider I just passed a chance to ask why I wanted to overtake since I was fooling around… Well, soon some riders crashed and I had my chance to get away and put the hammer down. Few more mistakes and almost ran out of steam but kept pushing hard. Towards the end a big chap on a 29er came up behind and after a while suggested I gave way as he knew this trail as the back of his hand, I let him pass and gave chase, up a steep climb he had a crash but was on the bike before I could pass. Few corners later he pulled over as he need to turn his handlebar straight. I passed him and he gave chase instantly. He mumbled something indicating he was ready to pass again. Well he was mistaken this time I went for it and upped the speed a few notches. Heard him say; mate you are charging, never saw him again. Finished the night race 3 min slower than in the morning as no 8.
Day 5 Stage 7, 40 km with mass start Race started with a short road ride around the event hotel before going off road in order to split up the group a bit, as toady also hosted a one day race ride for those who did not do the full five days. First we headed into the 23 km trail we did on stage 5&6 but this time in reverse which made it a whole new ride but I could still ride as a known trail so I quickly made up some time and caught 3 riders in a good pace. It was tempting to pass and push on but I held back as we were only 10 km in. Now we got caught by a group from behind led by Jessica who by now rode in the yellow jersey. I made a mistake in a switchback, the front washed out and I went down, the chasing group passed and I mounted and followed. Shortly the leading rider went out of steam and later other riders made mistakes or had small crashes indicating we kept a good pace and they pushed hard. Now I was left with the Jessica again, we kept a good pace and overtook a few more riders in the very technical single track. Trail went across huge rocks up and down cliffs, over stuff I would normally walk but we just rode it all. The size of cliffs and rocks and the technical level was just amazing. If one had the time to take in the scenery as well it would have been mind blowing, with 10 km left we changed places and stayed there until we got out in the flat trail where the lady with monster legs put the hammer down and I gave chase the best I could. The last 100 meters of the race was probably the most demanding and difficult as we had to cross a 50 meter wide dried out flood bed with very loose sand. A lot of riders crashed here or simply jumped off the bike and ran in the deep sand. I was in luck and kept a good flow across and finished super happy. It was all over. I finished 9 in the group and Lars finished 7 in his group.
I finished overall 10th in my class, something im quite happy with considering the hard competition. Pictures here http://www.rapidascent.com.au/Results/ResultsDetails.aspx?e=7&y=2011&bib=160
Lars and sealed it with cold beers at pool side at the hotel.
Would I do it again, yes. Would I do another stage race in Australia again under the same organizers absolutely YES. Was a great event perfectly run. Some video to follow later
Arrived in Alice Springs Saturday noon, giving me enough time to get prepared and go for a small ride. Temperature was low around 17 but quit nice for a change. Stage 3 is a 300 m hill climb so I went over to get a feeling of the climb. The bets time is under a minute and not pushing too hard I did 1,25. (wonder what those guys are on). Lars was supposed to arrive Sunday, but had had problems with his flight so he was going to miss out on Day one, same for Richard Sinclair from ANZA who also had missed a flight.
ReplyDeleteRaceday One. Bloody cold in the morning but at nine as the race started the sun came out. Two stretches comes into mind when riding MTB in Alice Springs. Peng san hill with lots of loose rocks that sends the bike in all directions. Second the last part of the downhill on the loose rocks down to Aoa´s resort in Chaing Mai. This training proved to be of great benefit. Pace was up to 40kmh on the tarmac the first 4 km, then some deep really looose beach sand very hard to ride, was soon to find out we were going to ride on a lot of that stuff. The rest was Peng San hill over and over again just much more technical and challenging in single trail format. They just went on km after km endlessly and really demanding without time to rest or refuel. Finished the 50km after 2.52 hr.
Day 2: Today was a double stage day
ReplyDeleteFirst a 35km race that started as a pleneton ride through town under police car escort. As the siren sounded the race was on, first via some really dusty 4wd tracks where the only good spot was up front but unfortunately the places was taken so we had to settle in behind and eat a ton of red dust. As we went in to the single track Richard got a few places up in front of me and slowly got away for a while on the rocky trail. During a few of the stages I rode with the open female winner Jessica Douglas, she is one hell of a rider. Or riding machine, I saw her dropping so many boys, was like she use them to pace herself and after a while she just powers by. As she did with me a few times too. I was better on the technical by a hair but out on the flat she overtook again, she is a rocket. I was in a group of 5 with Jessica and another factory girl soon one guy made a mistake and we dropped him then the next guy made a pass on the girls . We rode on for a while and I could see we were closing in on Richard, as we had worked us all the way up to him he suddenly pulled over. His seatpost needed adjustment. The girls and I pushed on, Jessica made a move and went away, after while I passed the other girl and went on. I made good time but at 27 km on top of a steep short climb trail I had a crash that got me out of riding mode and I started to fool around, cost me a few places. Richard came up behind and greeted me with hello Singapore. Then he also whissed off.
Finished 12th at the local Velodrome and Richard in 10 place. Lars came 7th in his class.
Later in the afternoon it was time for stage 3. The hill climb, 300meter up steep tarmac road much similar to riding the tarmac up to kent ridge, I did it in1,13 minute and finished 17in my group. Lars came in 13 and Richard came 2nd in our group on the crazy lactate hill.
ReplyDeleteDay 3: 77 km stage 4
ReplyDeleteSun was out from the early morning promising a hot and dusty day.
Before race start all riders was cautioned not to go max out on the first demanding 25km, else we would not be smiling when crossing the finish line. I went a bit slower than in the other stages. Richard went of in a pace that looked like he was set to win the stage, Lars was behind me, but 12 km in I heard his voice “what are you doing here, am I going too fast” a bit nervous if he would burn out too soon, Lars was riding strong and overtook me, I took up the chase and we kept a good pace and overtook a few riders. After some time I overtook him but Lars was right on my tail. 25 km in we entered a sealed bike park length 19 km I think. I was with 2 other riders and we agreed to help each other, as I looked back I was glad to see Lars joining the group. We did about 32-34 in average. The aussies are friendly when it comes to bike riding so whenever we overtook someone they were asked to get on the train. The good thing is you get to sit less time in front, but it can be a bad idea if you pick up and your closest competitors and let them sit on the train. At the 50km mark we went offroad again. Lars was no more in sight we must have dropped him on the road. No more drafting and all were on their own again. At this stage I was a bit tired but knew I had to push on. Suddenly Richard was at the trailside asking for a tube, I threw him my tube and went on. At 60 km my eyes was so dry one of my contact lenses popped out. First a long climb up a mountain ridge, and then some advanced downhills and up to the top again. Half blind I could not see properly going up, and on the downs I misjudged a bit. Out on the flat again with 2km to the finish line one rider overtook and I chased as much as possible, finished behind him after a fun chase over the local BMX track, just enough for him to push me from 12 to 13 in the overall standing. Lars again came in as 7thin his class.
On a side note we learned that the winner of the open male went out to have a close study of the last kilometer of the race course each day prior to the stages. That’s how the really serious riders do it. But then again top 3 were battling over seconds in each stage. And after 10 hours of intensive racing across 7 stages and 249km a mere 38seconds separated number one from number two in open category.
Day 4 individual time trial 23 km (Time for Lasik)
ReplyDeleteSlowest overall rider started first the one minute later second slowest and so on. Had a good race, went fast despite heavy legs from yesterday as I caught first rider fast knew I had gained one full minute but no one should be allowed to overtake and all the faster riders would come from behind. Great technical trail and made no mistakes until halfway in when I lost a contact lens again. Vision blurry and could not determine distance properly, had to slow a bit on the most technical stuff. Kept on overtaking and finished strong as no 9. Average speed 19.6kmh.
Day 4 Stage 5 23km Night race with mass start
Was super dusty. I guess the other stages was just as dusty, but in the concentrated beam from the AyUp lights you could really see the amount of dust you were going to eat.
Richard passed me early in the stage. I was still trying to get up to speed my legs was hurting. Finally got up on the big ring and started to overtake. Halfway in, a long row of 10 riders was riding way too slow, I started making noise and after a couple of minutes the noise began to relay up the row. Now riders started to make mistakes and it was possible to overtake a bit. As I was to overtake a rider I made a mistake and crashed giving the rider I just passed a chance to ask why I wanted to overtake since I was fooling around… Well, soon some riders crashed and I had my chance to get away and put the hammer down. Few more mistakes and almost ran out of steam but kept pushing hard.
Towards the end a big chap on a 29er came up behind and after a while suggested I gave way as he knew this trail as the back of his hand, I let him pass and gave chase, up a steep climb he had a crash but was on the bike before I could pass. Few corners later he pulled over as he need to turn his handlebar straight. I passed him and he gave chase instantly. He mumbled something indicating he was ready to pass again. Well he was mistaken this time I went for it and upped the speed a few notches. Heard him say; mate you are charging, never saw him again. Finished the night race 3 min slower than in the morning as no 8.
Day 5 Stage 7, 40 km with mass start
ReplyDeleteRace started with a short road ride around the event hotel before going off road in order to split up the group a bit, as toady also hosted a one day race ride for those who did not do the full five days.
First we headed into the 23 km trail we did on stage 5&6 but this time in reverse which made it a whole new ride but I could still ride as a known trail so I quickly made up some time and caught 3 riders in a good pace. It was tempting to pass and push on but I held back as we were only 10 km in. Now we got caught by a group from behind led by Jessica who by now rode in the yellow jersey. I made a mistake in a switchback, the front washed out and I went down, the chasing group passed and I mounted and followed. Shortly the leading rider went out of steam and later other riders made mistakes or had small crashes indicating we kept a good pace and they pushed hard. Now I was left with the Jessica again, we kept a good pace and overtook a few more riders in the very technical single track. Trail went across huge rocks up and down cliffs, over stuff I would normally walk but we just rode it all. The size of cliffs and rocks and the technical level was just amazing. If one had the time to take in the scenery as well it would have been mind blowing, with 10 km left we changed places and stayed there until we got out in the flat trail where the lady with monster legs put the hammer down and I gave chase the best I could.
The last 100 meters of the race was probably the most demanding and difficult as we had to cross a 50 meter wide dried out flood bed with very loose sand. A lot of riders crashed here or simply jumped off the bike and ran in the deep sand. I was in luck and kept a good flow across and finished super happy. It was all over. I finished 9 in the group and Lars finished 7 in his group.
I finished overall 10th in my class, something im quite happy with considering the hard competition.
Pictures here
http://www.rapidascent.com.au/Results/ResultsDetails.aspx?e=7&y=2011&bib=160
http://www.rapidascent.com.au/Results/ResultsDetails.aspx?e=7&y=2011&bib=82
Lars and sealed it with cold beers at pool side at the hotel.
Would I do it again, yes. Would I do another stage race in Australia again under the same organizers absolutely YES. Was a great event perfectly run.
Some video to follow later