Elite TTT

2nd Place - Elite Road Team Time-Trial 1:46:39 avg 45km/hr (if the course was 80km, i have not confirmed)

80 Km Full Gas, what an experience. Just thinking about the event has made me stressed out for the last few weeks I think. The night before I could not sleep! Anyways as I am driving out it is raining and I am starting to think what are we in for. So I get out the car and I have taken no warm clothing and it has dropped about 10 degrees from Brisbane temperature and I was freezing!

So I meet the rest of the team and we decide to huddle in Dave Browns car to talk tactics and "warm up". We all got there early and were organised so no stress there which helped, got to the bike check early and had to make modifications. There were alot of people turning up late and getting very annoyed, it was quite funny actually.

So 10:44 came around and we were warmed up and ready. I took the first pull, kept it tight and steady. We had talked about the way we wanted to ride, 30 to 60 second turns, keep it tight, together, talk and not to burn anyone early and wait if we get a flat in the first 40. So we were humming along for the first 20 and made it to the first turnaround in a ok time and everyone ok. We turned into a massive tailwind and bombed for the next 20 rarely dropping below 50km/hr. We knew that the 40-60 was going to be the hardest as it was slight drap with a headwind. By this time I was suffering and missed around 5 or more turns with Chew and Dave doing monster 5min pulls. I knew if i could hang on for the last 20 i would come good. Damon showed his pure class and didn't miss a turn allowing me to save my energy at the back.

It was quite easy in 3rd or 4th wheel but being 2nd wheel behind Chew of Dave for 5mins was killing me! Anyways we turned for the last 20 and we were almost being caught by the team that left 4 mins behind us, i know knew we were most likely racing for 2nd but i was determined not to get caught. I ended up coming good and doing some good pulls on the way back, i was bombing along in the mid 50s at some point and i had to cool my jets as my vision was fading in and out! Chew suddenly got dropped as he had a handle bar fall off, but managed to regain contact. We did not wait as there was less than 10km to go. Everyone was doing insane speeds in the last 10 and we almost lost control a few times as it was wet, muddy and and bad condition roads.

We almost had a collison with a car also! Anyways as we finished we had lost the team that almost caught us (the eventual winners) and we put almost 3mins back into them in the final 20. That was most satisfying part, give us another 5km and i think we could of bagged it.

Just remember what Bobby says though, "if your not first, your last!"...

O well I am pretty happy, my first podium of one freakin long season..

Off to do a season of Triathlon now (something i can actually win at haha).

See you on the road soon.