Muzza Experience

Competing in triathlons has generally been my thing. Keep it paced, not too fast, not too slow, peddle perfect circles, stay in my own square meter etc etc. Now I've opened up a whole new world with this cycling and criterion racing, wow. I had a few races 12 to 18 months ago, which shocked the system but planted a want for more and decided it was time to go and do more.
Back to C grade at Muzza Saturday 26th.
The first 20 mins... I kept it contained and was reminded of the surging and odd element of poor bike skills C grade contains. The prime bell rings, stay at the pointy end was my strategy. I thought I was in a position to contend it but I decided to hold back. After that there were several half attempts at break a ways from the pack, but everything was gathered in pretty quickly.
40mins seem to come pretty quickly and now the 3 lap card was shown. 2 then the last lap bell rings. The pace varied a little with a pretty big surge at about the halfway point of the last lap. The field stretched along the back straight. I was approx 5/6th wheel coming into the last downhill corner. The pace was on now and the rider in front went wide, I thought my chance to have a go was close. I stayed seated for just a while longer. Everyone by this stage was getting out of the saddle and sprinting. Go now or miss my chance! Started to go hard and I gathered in the riders who went too early….I wondered if anyone was just sucking my wheel and where ready to pounce just near the line. Just went flat out till the line was my strategy. I took the lead, wow this is a foreign place for me to be. I crossed the line first! My first ever cycling race win. What a buzz!! It’s only C grade but I felt I satisfied a childhood dream.

Chris Elder