23-24 March 2013: The Donna Buang ITT – hill climb, time
trial – back for the challenge second time round. A bit chilly, though nothing
compared to that cold, wet, rainy day last year – perfect. The sound of rollers
and wind trainers thundering the registration area as riders were getting about
their warm-up. Half an hour from the start – music pumping, legs revving, sweat
dripping – not long to go.
Today’s TT – 4 carrots to chase, 3 hunting me down. Unlike
last year where I rode it like a scratch race, today would be a test of focus
and mental strength. 3,2,1 – I kicked, and quickly brought the HR up to TT
pace. Rode a solid first few k’s managing to catch 2 riders. The gradient
kicked again at kilometre 5. No one in sight. The mind started wandering – come
on..focus! I heard someone just behind – Miranda Griffiths from A grade flew
past like I stood still. She disappeared real quick! I pushed on trying to stay
focused. I soon saw another rider up the road, and that got me going again. As
the road flattened out after kilometre 7, I clicked right into the big ring,
determined to reel the next rider in. It took me a couple hundred metres,
nonetheless, once I’d made the catch, I started struggling. Breathing hard. Carly
Mackay from A grade rode past. I tried
to mirror her, to keep up but she started pulling away. It was only then I
realised – I was pushing way too big a gear! 60rpm wasn’t going to cut it. It
took a couple of minutes to recover and spin the lactic acid out. My mind
started wandering.
Clare Dallat from A grade rode up and yelled out words of
encouragement as she past. Finally, the
legs started working again. Revved the engine up, and used Clare’s florescent
kit as a target. Not long to go. With 1.5kms left, I saw a glimmer of pink
disappearing around the next corner. Danielle – the last rider I had to chase
down! I was on fire. Hopefully I hadn’t left it too late. I put everything I
had into that last section.
It wasn’t till everyone had descended that I found out – I
had just managed to steal the win by 21s! I was stoked!! Certainly a great
confidence booster, nonetheless, a small step and a lot more work to be done.
Gear selection, mental focus, breathing techniques, cadence – lots of things to
work on for the next TT!
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| Donna ITT podium! |
Next day, was the Warburton Road Race. I had heard stories
from the year before on how brutal the course was. Nonetheless, still on a high
from the day before, I was keen to get going! With 5 mins gaps between grades,
and after what seemed like forever, the 9 of us finally took off. It must have
been the caffeine or something, but the bunch was sure on fire! Not long in, we
managed to get a rolling train going, and the pace was real solid. At kilometre 15, we caught sight of the A
grade women. Murmurs when through the bunch – what do we do? The pace slowed,
and they were yelling at us not to sit on. No time for games. We overtook the
bunch, and the pace fired up again.
We soon hit the first 4km climb. A few hundred metres, the A
graders overtook us again. Our bunch started to split up. Little climber Liz
Doueal pushed on, sitting a few hundred metres behind them. One by one, riders
started dropping off from our bunch. Riders started dropping off the front
bunch too. But Liz kept the pace high. Pretty soon it was just Liz, Victoria
Carroll and I. I was breathing so hard that Vic kept turning around. I was
going crossed eye, but knew that this was the key break – I just had to hang
on. A sigh of relief as soon as we hit the top, with a nice long descend to
recover. Liz, Vic and I introduced ourselves – and we agreed to work to get a
break going. Rolling terrain over the next 10kms before we hit Climb 2 – 7.5kms
long with some pretty steep sections. Liz back on the front driving the pace.
Yesterday’s TT was starting to take its toll, I was struggling. I soon dropped
off. Come on! A deep breath, I pushed on and managed to hold the 150m gap Liz
and Vic had gotten. Just hang on – there’s a big descent coming up to reel them
back in.
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| At the start of climb 2 - I was struggling. (Photo by Jo Upton) |
As it flatten out near the top, luckily both of them decided
that we were better off as a trio to work the break! I was soon back on – phew!
The descend was crazily fast – and one word – awesome!! The A grade men who
were on their 2nd loop rode past, and it was certainly good to have
them in sight as they knew the corners. Once we had safely descended, we
started working again. The slow fade was kicking in now. Vic was driving us
like a steam train. She’d accelerate everytime she’d pull through. I was
struggling. My back was hurting, legs were screaming. Vic and Liz were on a
mission and surely putting the pressure on! We hit the last climb – the one we
had descended earlier on. Only a short 2kms, just hang on no matter what!
Another descend – phew. We soon caught a big bunch of C grade men – they were
playing games. We tried to go past, they pushed the pace. We tried again. They
soon got the message and rode off.
Further up the road, we saw the A grade women again. Sitting
2 bike lengths back, we paced again. Nonetheless, Vic and Liz weren’t content –
they attacked! No choice, I had to get on the wheel. As we turned the corner to
the finish, a steep 500m power climb caught me off guard. Vic attacked. As I
stood up, my quads were yelling every cuss word under the sun – I nearly fell
off the bike. Over the crest, Vic and Liz soon managed to get a 200m gap. Only
5ks to go – I chased and chased. I was fading. Km to go, Rachel and Sarah from
the other bunch rode past. 500m to go – too late, it was race over. Sat up,
letting Rachel and Sarah battle the sprint for their podium.
Congrats to Vic and Liz who took 1st and 2nd
respectively – certainly very well earned. I was pushed and challenged in every
way physically and mentally on that course, and was sure glad to just hang on
to the break for 3rd. Another huge learning experience - it is mind
over matter in a lot of ways – and simply just focusing and believing can push
many boundaries and limits.
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| Stoked to make the podium for 3rd with Vic and Liz (Photo by Jo Upton) |
A huge thanks to
Blackburn CC, CV, Cycling Express, and all the volunteers for hosting the race!
And Jo Upton for the photos – check out her website here – some awesome photos!
And of course my coach Simon, for his
constant support. Back on another training block now. Next up – Tour of South
West!
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