I was able to get back on the bike for the World Cup round 1 [Mar 3rd]a few days later and rode reasonably well considering my condition, but I am now paying for it and prime condition is probably several months away.
However, considering my rotten 2006 where I seemed to be in a constant state of illness for most of the year, a fresh start is not a bad thing.
I would like to thank all those people who have supported me through the ups and downs of the last twelve months.
The New Year had looked promising, a new approach and attitude to my training and beginning to put some consistent form together. The tough Grampians 100km in November [5th] with the ridiculous 22% final 2km ascent Of Mt William will steel anyone; then the Tour of Bright in December [9th] put some go into my legs; followed that with the Brindabella [7th] and the Cronulla Grand prix [12th] and I was beginning to feel that the forthcoming Australian Championships in January was going to be achievable, especially after some good performances at the Sydney criteriums [Waratah and Heffron Parks].
Ballarat and the 102km Championship course was to my liking with a three kilometres climb each lap [of 10], but of course it was not going to be easy, caught up in a crash on the second lap and after the 5km chase to get back on the main group left me with little power to go with the winning break on the final climb finishing some 2min behind the winner.
Nevertheless, headed off to Adelaide [thanks to James, Vivian and Jools for your support] with coach Steve for the road trip of all road trips thousands of kilometres of OZ for three crits and by the final Aldinga crit I was feeling like the form was coming [11th place GC] until another bout of the “whatever disease” going into Geelong, but only 5min down after stage two and then a lapse of concentration after doing the hard work up Mt Wallace and just about to get back onto the leading bunch- on the deck and plenty of pain. The next day stage 4 at Barwon Heads was just too much and my tour was over after 30km.
Wounds covered and intensive physio and two days later I am on the road at 6.30am doing a fitness test with Steve; somehow he convinced my body it could suffer through 120km of racing with the world’s best and he was right, for 105km anyway; I had nothing left for the final 15km charge and finished in 68th over 4min down and barely able to walk.
Since then I have not been able to get back on the bike so I am looking forward to Easter when I can head out into the Eurobodalla hills for some “soft” mountain biking to restart my 2007.
