CUNNINGHAM RACE REPORT

Key race stats:

Starters: Terence "Hardman" Bonner, Chris "Limokourov" Lim, Steve "Bollandis" Bolland, Todd "I don't do hills " Linford, Ben " Ultimate Fighter " Wallwork, Damien " Bockendish " Bock

Distance: 95kms

Conditions: windy in open areas but otherwise sensational.

Field: 25 riders

Avg. speed: 33.8kph (Bockendish) 35.3 (Hardman)

Race time: 2:43 (Hardman) 2:50 (Bockendish)

Avg. heart rate: 171bpm (Hardman)

Time ridden solo:

Ultimate Fighter - 50km
I don't do hills - 40km
Limokourov - 40km
Hardman - 6km
Bockendish - 1km
Bollandis – 30km

"Hardman" identified the riders to watch based on the Scenic Rim race and pointed them out to the lads at the start line. Based on last years experience we thought we'd sit pretty for until the KOM and let the mountain goats have a crack up the hill. Alas this years race unfolded somewhat differently........

As soon as the neutral flag dropped, the pace was on, straight up to a steady 38-40kph. The field was strung out in a single line and I found myself in the front 5 or so riders - three of whom we identified as the riders to watch. Taking turns the pace stayed high for the first 15kms with a few unwelcome surges. As the pace was relatively high and the conditions windy, it made it difficult going for the like s of Bollandis, Limokourov and co to make their way up to the head of the pack so I decided to be the presence at the head of the peloton and try and pull back any attempted breaks. The Ultimate Fighter found his way up to the front and provided some valuable assistance - particularly during some of the surges.

25kms in the team was looking good and at about 30-35kms into the race and entering the rolling hills we managed to present Hardman and Bollandis at the head of the peloton in readiness for the climbs. At the ascent before the KOM, a rider lost a water bottle and split the pack. In avoiding the stray bottle I moved to the inside of the road only to be nearly taken out by the rider falling back to retrieve his lost vessel. We touched wheels and he put me about 30m behind the main bunch so had had to burn some reserves to latch back on as the field surged up this slight but constant gradient.

Unfortunately I got unhitched heading into the KOM but despite chasing and getting within 100m of the bunch, I decided to hold up, get over the climb and make my way to the feed station. On the way I found Bollandis who himself had become unhitched although with Hardman in the lead bunch I figured we'd done our job in having a rider in the mix at the front.

Up the front of the field, 4 KOM contenders gapped 4 chasers (including Hardman) by 100m over the range. Group reformed very quickly at top. Well formed rolling pace-line for next 40km (even though it was rolling the wrong way). Games started 15km out, with attacks coming on every hint of a slight rise. No-one unhitched. 6km out, as we passed under the railway crossing, an attack came & my left leg ran out of oil and seized..... unhitched. Had a pleasant last 6km but disappointed not there to figure in the sprint. Nonetheless, finishing in a very respectable 8th.

Bollandis and I made it through the feed station and kept a reasonably high pace taking small turns battling the winds. We got caught by two other riders who joined us and as we turned onto the highway we were taking small turns and generally working well. Unfortunately Bollandis dropped a glute somewhere along the highway and got unhitched so I pushed on with the two other blokes.

The two other blokes were feeling the pinch (I think they chased pretty hard to catch Bollandis and I) and were starting to struggle into the wind and the rolling hills. I found myself pulling some long turns as we tried to catch people we could see in the distance and try and pull together a bigger bunch to the finish. This worked and with 10kms to go managed to get a bunch of 10 or so. Despite working hard I was feeling OK and with 2 kms to go pulled a short turn and rolled to mid back for some cover before the final "sprint".

As we turned the corner, one or two decided to surge off the front however didn't have the legs to be effective and got caught quickly. About 400m out there was an attack which I had to follow although within 50m he cramped and sat straight back down and I flew straight past him finding myself on the front with 300m to go. So I had no choice but to try and get to the line from the front but with 50m to go I got passed and as soon as I tried to get out the saddle, my left quad said "I'm cooked" and cramped so I couldn't keep up. Think I might have rolled across 11th (but this is yet to be confirmed).

All in all a great day for the D#3 C Grade brigade. Worthy of note is the lack of “DNFs” further contributing to the stay classy culture in C grade.

Post race quotes:
Hardman - "Has anyone got any sugar, I have tunnel vision"
Ultimate Fighter - “I’m taking up a softer sport, like Ultimate Fighting. Less painful and it’s over quicker.”
Bollandis - “I won the vision impaired division for riding 50km with one eyeball.”
I don't do Hills (Todd) - “I was just happy enough to finish.”

Finally - a massive congratulations to Niki De Jager on being the first lady home racing with Masters C! Pairing with Sarah in Woman’s B at future events would be a formidable alliance…….

Also, full respect to Dave Brown for his KOM win in Elite A and also to Jase P and Stu C for gutsy top 10 finishes.