I have a bit of breathing space with first session uni exams finished, however, work at Sutherland hospital is always on the go, people just keep on getting sick and falling over and imaging is the first port of call for medical treatment. Still, I am getting some really good long training rides in with coach Steve down in the Eurobodalla every couple of weeks or so which is preparing me for the slog ahead, Ballarat Grand Prix, Cootamundra Classic and Recovery, Grafton-Glen Innes, Scott 24hr MTB Championships [AAAAhh!!!] and the Bright tour.
Just finished the Muswellbrook Explorer; always a good ride to get your teeth into, especially if you are short on k’s, 160km dead rough roads will soon sort out those lazy legs. I toughed it out though and was rewarded with 2nd place, 3min 38 sec behind Vicki Whitelaw [defending NRS champion, current points leader and former team mate] about 18min ahead of the main group of women.
So, much improved on my early season form which commenced with the first NRS event at Canberra in April; basically a training ride, 42nd in the ITT [and gotta do something about that], 18th GC; no fun getting flogged, but no pressure either. Missed Mooball and Mersey Valley and was able to gain some series points at the Perth tour finishing 6th GC after some really tight racing.
A bout of the flu and exams had me legless again for Canberra at the Kowalski women’s tour a fortnight ago, but managed to finish 12th on GC after a body revolt in stage two and 17th place, but 8th ITT and 7th stage 3 was satisfying and my new training regime based around work and uni studies seems to be working.
A nice trick PRO aero set up on the front end of the ONCE Giant revamped by Mark and crew also makes time trialing a buzz now and throw in some Reynolds carbon wheels [courtesy Team South Coast, Tim Devlin] and tweak it all with Steve Hogg and I am flying.
So it’s onto Ballarat and the testing Buninyong course, 7 laps and 21km of climbing plus ITT and crit; NRS points will be well earned and hopefully I can improve my current 10th place.
