The first round of the Foodworks Team Series like the weather on Sunday, started out fine, then became dark and gloomy.
Spirits were high with the individual time trial up first. Dave Brown, Dave Melville, Reuben and Nikolai were all in the chase for the fastest time against the clock. With a good enthusiastic warm-up we were away on a rather tough undulating course with uncomfortable winds. I’ll stop with the suspense(so not to bore any readers) and let you know, Dave Brown finished 4th and Reuben 9th as it stands behind some who used questionable bikes who’s fate is yet to be decided.
This is when the clouds began to roll in. The start time was brought forward catching a few off guard. We hurriedly got ourselves together and rolled to the start line as the rain clouds rolled in… 3, 2, 1, go, we were away, six riders against the clock. I lead the team off to settle everyone in, looked back and Matt was having pedal issues and losing ground fast, we backed off and waited momentarily. Just as we started to settle in I heard a noise(not a good sound), looked back to see Reuben doing erratic pedal strokes and his chain snaking along the road behind. 5km in Reuben gone. Both Dave’s were feeling the effects from the ITT earlier and looked to struggle settling in. Not a lot to tell really other than Dave M lost a leg somewhere on the 3rd lap and couldn’t continue and Dave B got taken out by one of the many enormous potholes on the course. Yes down to 3 with a lap to go Matty Chew, myself and Nikolai had to finish the TTT off. Matt rode like two men, said nothing, just got on with the job. Nikolai thought he was in camp Gulag and rode himself inside out to finish both himself and the TTT off. The only luck we had was the rain held out until after we finished.
It was a testing and great team bonding day all said.
Great effort from all, including handlers, riders, volunteers and commissaries , thank you
Cannot wait to redeem ourselves in the state TTT
No comments:
Post a Comment