When it rains it pours.....
2 weeks ago I competed in my first race since the start of my season, the Canberra Women’s tour. My preparation leading up to this event has not been great, trying to juggle the still underlying injury to my left leg that occurred in December, which seemingly was evolving into something new; some days better than others and some just downright crap, especially when you can’t weight bear.
I managed to ride a solid 15km Individual time trail on the Friday, posting a time I had set out to achieve, no thanks to the turn marshal who decided to stop me to let a car pass through; that was not in the race description or briefing! He then commanded me to “turn now” a few metres before the traffic cone which I responded to and then he informed me that if I did not return go round the cone I would be penalised forty seconds: a total debacle and placing 18th seems to be a remarkable achievement! Not such an auspicious re-entry to competitive cycling.
Saturday morning’s 38km road race was a challenge from the start, with a largely inexperienced 80 strong field of A,B and under nineteen women cyclists. A recipe for disaster [and the organisers should rethink that situation, I certainly will be crossing that off my to do list]. And as expected I was caught behind a crash just a few kms from the first critical turn around point, I managed to stay upright and chase back on, however, it meant that when I hit the turn around the head of the pack (which was made up of the main contenders) was already 300m up the hill, not a great position to be in when your not in peak form. Over the climb I eventually found myself in the newly formed chase group; we worked together until the end but made no time up, I believe we actually lost time.
Saturdays afternoons 40min criterium, well what can I say :), again another major pile up which called for neutral conditions and a restart, not soon enough though as some girls took the opportunity to create a small break before we were neutralised, [everyone except the commissaries saw it as unfair] which meant they were allowed a head start when the race was restarted. This turned out to be the major turning point for the race when a bunch formed out in front and meanwhile breaks occurred in the field. My lack of fitness showed and I was in the third group struggling.
I started Sundays 72km road race with a new mindset. I was not going to be stuck behind the large bunch, or just sit in the group; I wanted to get something out of the day. As soon as we were off I charged to the front of the pack before we got onto the narrow roads and three kilometres in I joined Bec Doolen and we opened up a sizable gap. We worked together for the next 15km before the leaders decided to bring us back into the fold (later I was thankful for being in the break, as the group crashed again, this time going down the Uriarra crossing and into the Uriarra :\ ) The bunch broke up on the next major climb and again I was in the chase group which didn’t catch. I finished 22nd overall. Despite some pretty ordinary results I managed to use the races and some riding in between as great training, for later in the year.
Or at least that was the aim,
On the Monday after Canberra I got the results of an MRI of my left hip/leg... a low-grade stress fracture requiring an extensive time out of the saddle. So for the meantime, the pool it is.
Till next time,
Jemma
