Scene: Racer boy has just emptied his local Brumby’s bakery and washed the lot down with some Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee. He now prepares his weekly Glenvale race report..
A couple of days off the bike in Mildura meant that I wasn’t sure how today’s race would go. I felt good so I figured that rest was actually a benefit rather than a hinderance. I was also highly motivated, having returned to Melbourne early just to race.
The first 40 minutes went well with quite a few breaks trying to get away and failing. I was sitting comfortably in the bunch (except for one or two chasing efforts – Rickster, lets just say I ‘prefer’ not to chase :)).
D grade had just sprinted so we didn’t have too long to go until we got the ‘3’ laps sign. In prime position for winning the bunch sprint, I noticed two riders off the front on the main straight. In a moment of, uh, boredom, I guess, I decided to be a hero and bridge the gap to the breakaway (of course this was timed for maximum exposure to the crowd! 😀 ).
I made it easily with no one else coming across (wish I could do the same in those sprint training sessions!) and yelled some encouragement to the other riders to get them into attack mode. We started working together. I think Blackburn’s Scott Setford came across after me(?) – we ended up with four guys, anyway.
Swapping turns we are still in front of the bunch with a lap to go. The gap is getting smaller but we might just make it!
Approaching the last corner, just before the apex, we’re caught!
Fark!
I keep the pace up in the hope that some of the bunch sprinters die off before me but I’ve used up too much juice in the break. I’m done.
Debrief:
“Why the hell did you throw away your ‘soon to be’ winning strategy for a breakaway attempt??!!!!!”
With the juice I had left at the end, the sprint could’ve been very good for me.
Share the Love:
A big two-fingered salute to the Brunetti(?) “team” on the Colnagos with the Cosmics. Thanks for chasing us down to set up the sprint for your mate who didn’t win anyway! You wont be getting any favours from me.
Must check those ‘teamwork’ rules.. anyone wanna work for me for a share of the money? 🙂
