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Index to 2005 Entries
Round 3 National series/ Commonwealth games Qualifier #1 Dec 2005
Round 1 Nat MTB Hobart Tasmania Oct 29 2005
Peloton Sports Criterium, Sydney Oct 22 2005
Mont 24hr Oct 8+9 2005
NSW MTB XC State Championships - Penrose Forest 18th Sep 2005
12Hr MTB Enduro Yarramundi 10th Sep
Flight Centre Peppers Hidden Vale Epic Sep 4
Oceania Championships Mt Buller, Victoria April 2 2005
Eildon, Victoria Australian National XC Champs Mar 2005
Mt Buller XC Mar 2005
Wildside Feb 2005
Training Jan 2005
Round 3 National series/ Commonwealth games Qualifier #1 Dec 2005
Hay all,
I just got back from the 2006 MTB Aussie Champs in Mt Beauty Vic where we had our last opportunity to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this year. To get an auto entry you had to win the race so it was gunna be a tough day at the office with everyone fired up big time. I arrived on Tuesday giving myself a couple of days to settle in and also get an early look at the course. Having raced at Beauty numerous times before I was prepared for all conditions whether it be rain, hail or shine. This year on the agenda it was shine and shine hard it did. After some solid rain on Wednesday the course settled into a nice hard packed surface making for a fast race. The lap started on the flat then went straight into about a 12 min climb giving you no time to get a breather then dropped straight into some of the fastest, sweetest flowing offcamber single track which became dusty and blownout creating some deep braking ruts that Beauty is renouned for. You come out of the trees nearly at the bottom with a roost of dust off your back wheel making it almost impossible for anyone behind to see.
Race day arrived and with a good spin in the morning and a solid hour before hand I got called up to the start 3rd on the grid which ment a clean front row start or so I thought. The gun went off and about 30m up the fireroad sitting 3rd wheel I was hooked from the side by another rider who was trying to go through a gap that was never there. He caught my handlebar throwing me
head first into the ground. With 50 riders trying to jump,swerve and aviod me I tucked into a ball and hoped for the best. When I hit the dirt I felt my healthy shoulder pop out and back into its socket. I then blacked out after also smashing my head. I was laying on the ground thinking why can I here a motorbike and then I remembered where I was and heard Rob Eva from SRAM yelling "come on Pez lets go, get up". Dazed I located my bike, straightened the handlebars, fixed my derailer and jumped on in pursuit of the tail enders. Not to far up the track I started catching the guys on the back and tried to pass them anywhwere that was possible. It kinda sucks when you have guys sprinting you for every corner and knowing that you should already be up the road. I felt like I was back in Europe racing for 100th in a World Cup or something. I knew it was going to be a long day and it had heated up to about 35 degrees so I took it a little easier once I was in the 30's on my second lap. Then it was game on.
The shoulder was giving me hell on the descents but wasn't too bad on the climb so I gave it everything I could. By the 3rd lap I was in the 20's and moving from group to group. Everytime you'd get to the feed zone you were stinging for that next bottle and by the top of the climb it was gone. Making sure I had more High 5 gels then I needed and squashing every bottle plus some, the tank stayed full and I smahed it home to finish almost in a sprint for nineth. Collapsing at the finish due to the pain and the beating I'd given myself, tenth place was the end result. Not bad considering. I was pretty dark at the rider that took me down and the fact that he pulled out of the race on the 2nd lap because he was hurting too much. I guess that’s racing and there goes my chance at a games spot. Not to worry as I'm planning on another tour this year in the US and maybe a stop in Europe finishing in New Zealand for the World Championships.
Next stop is Mt Buller (Feb 19) for the Aussie Series finals which I am currently ranked 4th.
Thanks for reading and a huge thanks to my sponsors.
Cheers Pez
Round 3 National series/ Commonwealth games Qualifier #1 Dec 2005
Hay Guys & Girls,
What about about the turn out for the 3rd Rnd of the National MTB Series on the 2006 Commonwealth Games Course. With every category numbers on the start line doubled from any other event so far. Everybody came out of the woodwork even flying home from Europe and the US with the addition of the Great Brit management and the top New Zealand riders taking the opportunity to get a ride on the race track to be for the Commonwealth Games.
With the winner of todays race gaining an automatic spot on the team it was going to be a great show. Due to current series rankings being used for the call up to the startline I was lucky to be on the front row in the # 2 spot on the grid. Handy as the start was the fastest and roughest race start i think that I've experienced here in OZ. Settling into the front group for the first lap I was feeling pretty good and was happy with how I was going. The second lap we had sorted ourselves out with Chris Jongaward having a slight gap and the rest of us not far behind. Heading into the 3rd lap I have no Idea what happened but it was like someone turned my power off and nothing was going to the pedals. Everytime I would try to get out of the saddle and punch it nothing would happen. for the next 2 laps I rode around try to hold my position but was being caught and passed by a number of riders. I had no answer. I wanted to pull the pin and shut it down but series rankings are at stake so I keep riding around like a tourist on a rental. It was demoralizing.
2 laps to going I started to get some legs back and chased down what time and placings I had lost holding out 12th spot for the day. This was a big disappointment as 3 weeks ago in Rnd 2 at Perth I took the second spot on the podium and had felt that I was feeling faster and stronger.
I guess every dog has their day and this was mine.
Next race I'm off to the Aust Champs at MtBeauty Victoria mid January so for the time being its back to the drawing board.
Thanks for reading
Perren.
Round 1 National Series 2006 Hobart, Tasmania Oct 29 2005
Hay Guys & Gals,
Well its game on again with the first round of the National Series down in Hobart Tasmania (the little island tagging along for the title). I flew in a couple of days before to get a good look at the course as they've stacks of rain and I knew that a good tyre selection would help "Big Time".
The local Government have got behind the mountainbike community and working together they have created this awesome trail network and the Fourcross park is huge. The course designer Glenn Jacobs has made another one of his World class race venues so don't be suprised if we're racing a World Cup in Tassie in the next couple of years.
The XC track reminded me of Europe not just because it was muddy as hell but you got the feeling like you were climbing almost the whole lap. When the gun went off half the front row sat on the line just spinning in the mud and those of us on the fence had a clean run straight up into the boggiest single track. You must have pedalled enough to get up the thing 3 times but instead your just spraying mud over who ever was lucky enough to be behind you. MADD !
The tyre I chose to run some were saying that it was to small but when they saw me riding all the mud sections and with plenty of traction they started wishing they had the same I bet. Once at the top of the course you had this sweet off-camber descent that if you had a good side knob you could let it run and watch the others side down the hillside on their ass.
After a planned slow start I turned it on a little knowing that it would be a long day I moved into the top ten and sat comfortably in 5th for the majority of the race with even 3rd in sight. As the day when on and the mud got worse I found myself starting to fade when I was hoping to turn it on again. The 2 boys chasing me all day caught and passed me and there was nothing I could do to go with them. I held it together for one more lap pulling back some time on them but it wasn't to be. End result 7th place. Looking back there's been a lot going on these last few weeks and it obviously took its toll on me.
Backing it off a little now and looking towards the next round in Nanup Perth.
Hopefully its dryer.Thanks for reading and a shout out to my sponsors.Thanks guys.
Perren
Peloton Sports Criterium, Sydney Oct 22 2005
The Sprint came out for a day.
Ahh, you gotta love it when 3 mountainbikers come out and beat the roadies at their own game.
Well after spending 2 days standing around at the bikeshow abusing the legs it was time to go and smash them in a Road criterium. Chosen surface for the day would be wet slippery terracota pavers. The course was a hotdog circuit with 2 hair-pin corners and 1 slight turn on a metal drain. It started raining about 10 min before the start and stopped at about 10 min into the race.
The first corner was cleaned by all and the second time around those on the front chose to test the limits and ended up on the ground sliding into the safety fences designed to keep people out and not in if you know what I mean.
At about the 15 min mark it was time to mix it up a little and sure enough the attacks started coming thick and fast. Peter "KOM of the SunTour" Hatton shot up the road quickly followed by Josh Fleming, Jose Rodrigus, myself and some other guy that just sat on the whole time. We worked well together and stayed away eventually lapping the field. Pete again attacked with 4 laps to go and Jose his team mate tried to put me in the fence to stop me from covering it. Narrowly missing the fence and having to sit up. I got on the chase only getting close enough to launch Josh (co-sutho teammate) across the gap going on to beat Pete on the line and I sprinted Jose and the tag along guy for 3rd.
Mtbers 1. 2. 3. whats doing there ??????????
Much respect to Brad Mills who layed it over on the second lap and went on to finish 6th minus some skin.
Cheers Pez
Mont 24hr Oct 8+9
Hey All,
Ahhh the Mont 24hr, easily the biggest event on the calendar and one that for me always kicks off the official start of the race season. This year was my fifth crack at the event with the YETI crew, but this time we ran a killer 6 man team instead of our usual four. Each year our camp setup seems to just get better and better, and alongside the SRAM guys this year we absolutely nailed it once again, complete with an mp3 player pumping out some tunes! The forecast was for the weekend however was not so flash, with rain predicted on the Saturday but then clearing into the Sunday. Coming into the event I felt a little flat from a crazy week of organization but was looking forward to catching up with all the interstate guys that i haven't seen since last season.
With over 2,450 competitors and about 640 riders on the 19km loop at one time, the word hectic just doesn't suffice. This event is just unbelievably huge, and full credit goes to the CORC club for their organization skills and keeping everything running smoothly. The course had changed a little from last year, with less extended climbing and fireroad sections and more singletrack. Weapon of choice this year was easily the Yeti ASR-SL dually, with so many riders on the course, it got chopped out and rough in no time.
The team got off to a great start, with newly crowned NSW XC Champ Shaun Lewis having a solid run, then coming in the top handfull of riders after lap one. Handing the baton over to Perren Delacour (the smartest guy I know) for lap two, Pezza scorched the course and registered the fastest day lap for the event, clearly having some good form in the legs. I was up third and as always was pretty jittery waiting in transition. Traffic out on the course for my first lap was chaos, finding it hard to open full throttle continuously, hitting groups of a dozen riders through tight single track sections, but by the end of the lap we were still in the lead from the Kona Factory Team in second place. With a Richard V breaking a chain and running the last 5km of his lap, we slipped into second place coming into nightfall and lost four minutes to Kona. But once again Pezza threw down and pulled back 3 minutes in his lap edging us closer to lead once more.
My first night lap things ran absolutely perfectly. With seemly less traffic on the course and the legs firing, I was able to bridge the minute gap to Kona's Dylan Cooper and with the adrenaline pumping put us back in the lead by the end of the lap- also taking the fastest night lap and $500 cash in the process! We maintained our lead as the clocked ticked over past midnight and down came the rain. With hundreds of riders, the course deteriorated really quickly, becoming really slow and dead blowing out our lap times, not to mention pretty slippery with exposed tree roots and rocks. My second night lap at 2am didn't seem to go as well as the last, flatting the rear halfway in, having a slow change with so much mud about, but still keeping us infront overall.
Coming into dawn the rain had eased off and we were clear in the lead with consistent lap times. The final lap honors were given to Shaun, bringing the team across the line for the win.
Overall the team had a fantastic weekend- fastest by day, fastest by night, fastest 6 man and fastest team overall !!!
Big shout out to Yeti Cycles, Hutchinson Tyres, SRAM, Smith Optics, Pearl Izumi, SDG, Fox shocks, Camelbak, High 5 and Crank Brothers for the support
Thanks for reading,
Cheers,
Pezza's Team Mate Chris Winn
12Hr MTB Enduro Yarramundi 10th Sep
Howdie,
Well what can I say but it’s the longer enduro events that are pulling the riders with 900+ starters at the Sydney 12hr at Yarramundi and a bunch of industry sponsorship to go with it. We set of early to get out there and beat the rego lineup but still ended up standing in line for a good 30min with a couple of hundred in front of me. I can't say I've had to experience that in Australia before. I got to compete in this event with CO-YETI teammate Shaun Lewis and Matt Fleming from Trek. We were there for a good hitout and to socialize with as many as possible.
The course was fun and flowing with a new section of single track cut in for the event. We pretty much had the lead from when Matt jumped on his bike after the 150m run and got a turbo boosted push up the hill until I nearly went A over T. As the day went on we extended our lead and into the night it was looking solid until I picked up a stick in my rear derailleur snapping my tip and putting the deraileur into the wheel. Luckily I had a spare tip and after a quick swap it was game on again. We finished with enough time to sit and wait for the nearest team ready to go head to head if they made it in before the 12th hour cut off. It didn't happen so we took the win and an early night.
Thanks to Nightrider for picking up the Entry and to Fiberax for keeping our running gear smooth.
Cheers Perren
NSW MTB XC State Championships - Penrose Forest 18th Sep 2005
WOW,
WHAT A RACE.
With most of NSW big name riders turning up for the state titles this year it felt like a World Cup. Everybody was hanging around the pits sussing out who was fit and how much training the others had been doing. It was a beautiful day with a slight breeze with that highland chill about. The course was a fun 6.8km through the pine forest of Penrose State Rec which most of us drive right by on the way to the snow.
The race started with the pace going straight to flatout. 2 Juniors just back from worlds thought that they'd give the big boys a run but got shut down before we even hit the first single track. Bye boys maybe next time. A group of 5 riders formed early in the piece and we rode wheel to wheel for 4 laps attacking each other on every fireroad and we even blocked for our team mates to get a gap. For 4 out of the 5 laps it was game on with myself and Shaun , Matt.F (Trek) ,Josh F (Felt) and Gordo (Cannondale) until on a rutted rooty descent my front wheel hit a rock pinching the tyre and leaving me with a slow leak. I pushed on trying to hang on to the group but kept washing out the front end. I hoped that my tyre would reseal but it was not to be, I put some more air in it but ended up having to stop and throw in a tube. Already having used some of my C0'2 I couldn’t get enough air back into the tyre and ended rolling it and crashed hard into a tree. Race over and I was back to the pits to see my teammate Shaun use his local knowledge and get into the last singletrack first and then popping out the other end with a short sprint to the finishline crowning him NSW State Champion. Matt 2nd, Josh 3rd and Gordo 4th.
I was a little bummed not to be there in the 4 man sprint to the line but that racing and there's always next time.
Till then thanx for reading.
Perren
Thanx to my sponsors-
YETI , Pearl Izumi, Fox Forks, Sram, Smith eyewear, CrankBrothers, Hayes Brakes, High 5, Truvativ, Camelbak, Hutchinson Tyres, Stans No Tubes.
Flight Centre Peppers Hidden Vale Epic Sep 4 2005
Hi Guys and Girls,
Its been a while since I've sent out a race report. reason being obviously I haven't been racing. After an Aussie off season of illnesses and some serious time on the tools I have managed to put together a few weeks of training with the short term goal of competing in The Hidden Vale 100km Mtb Epic. It started in the town of Toowoomba up in Queensland. I was approached to ride in the teams catergy with fellow Yeti Team mate Shaun Lewis, Mongoose riders James Willamson and all round driver Richard Volebregt.
The first 600 riders set off at 7.30am and we lined up at 9am with another 500 right behind me. We head off straight into the hills and flatout at that. After 5km we'd dropped any hanger-on-ers and got down to business.The speed at we were going made me think surely we aren't going to keep this up for to long. WRONG I was. We hit the first 25km marker at 1hr 10min ish leaving behind some of the fastest flowing singletrack I've riden in OZ. Heading off into the bigger mountains I found myself starting to hurt. Looking down to see that I was in the granny ring on more then one occasion I tried to conserve my energy.
With the incentive of $400 cash up for grabs at each of 25km markers the attacks came thick and fast. Our team was riding pretty solid at this stage so we decided not to go to crazy and try to stick together as the first team home received a cheaque for $2000 big ones. NOT BAD for mountainbiking Downunder.
We had a bunch of about 8 riders working mostly together and swapping off until we hit the last major climb of the day 10km out from home. 2 riders dropped off the back on the climb then myself and adopted team mate James fell off the pace on the descent giving it our all to catch up on the rolling dirt roads only to hit the last single track climb 1.5min down off the 4 leaders. I had another team mate in Shaun YETI Lewis up the road who went on to finish 2nd 10 seconds back from the winner whilst myself, James and Richard came in 5th, 6th and 7th. If you add that up we win the teams catagory and take the cash for all our places walking away with a fat wallet and a set of smashed legs. Not a bad weekend.
Looking back the course even though it being 105km long it consisted of some awesome single track, nasty ass climbs, camels running around in the grassy fields and a road descent that was so steep we hit over 95k per hr then it tuned dirt.MADD.
The event itself was one of the best I've ever been to in OZ.Get there next year.
Thanks for reading
Pez
Oceania Championships Mt Buller, Victoria April 2 2005
Howdie Y'all,
Well not being super motivated to take on the 8hr epic drive back down the Hume Hwy to Mt Buller proved to worth while. After being off the tools now for weeks the body was just getting used to life on Tour again. The legs seemed to be as tired as usual after the week of being probed at the AIS to find out who was Naturally built for bike racing and who just stubin.
So we rock up on Friday morning after driving for most of the night and head out on course to find that its in much better nick that we'd imagined. All the debris had been cleared by all the other categories that raced after us 3 weeks ago and the Kiwi women the morning before our race. (The reason I say Kiwi is because all the Aust girls got lost even though it was the same track as 3 weeks ago).HMMMM
So we all grouped around the start to be called up, with the Kiwi's in there group and us over the other side, it was a one for one call up. Oh yeah and there were 2 New Caledonia riders as well. I was called up in the second row and when the gun went off it was BALLSOUT affair straight up the main climb then into a singletrack. Obviously a good start was needed and I was about 6th wheel into trees pushing forward from there.
Running in the second group I knew that my legs where no match for (eventual winner and current Aussie Champ) Old Mate Chris " J-Blood" Jongewaard so when we hit the 12km to go sign on the first lap I sat up and slowed the pace allowing him to get a bit of time on us. That didn't last too long as the Kiwi National Champ took off with 2 others in tow. I kept them in sight and made a move on one of the hike-a-bike sections taking U23 AIS Mapei rider Dan McConnell with me. We worked together and dropped the others leaving only 2 up the road. We pinned it on the descent like we were on rails dogding all the boulders and blackberry bush then I set the pace on the next 5km climb where Dan dropped off and left me to chase down Old Mate Muzza (Murray Spinks). When I looked up at the top of the 2nd climb I was suprised to see him just in front of me. I pushed on trying to pull him back but not blowing up doing it. I got within 10 metres of him a couple of times but the last climb was so loose that at any time you could spin out on a rock or a sandy section of dirt. The old heart rate was through the roof and I guess I spun out a few times. We both spinted the last 2-3km where he finished 6 seconds in front of me.
Final result 3rd Place 2.11min behind the winner and a spot on the box.
The first Kiwi came in at 9.42min down.
We all went out for a few social drinks afterwards and due to the fact that our fellow ANZACs were in town and we've both finished our National seasons we ended up really enjoying the night.
Anyways looking back at the latest block of racing I'm pretty happy with my results of 2nd, 4th and 3rd. Now its off to the Dirt Works 100km and then the Sydney 24HR before and couple of quiet weeks at home.
Thanks for reading,
Still loving it,
Pez
Eildon, Victoria Australian National XC Champs Mar 2005
Nerves, nerves, nerves.
Whats doing with the nerves. I haven't seen myself this nervous since the first time I raced in a World cup. After have spent what felt like all night getting the hardtail firing on all cylinders I went out for my warmup trying to spin the crap outa my legs which didn't seem to be working so we racked em up and played a round of pool at the pimping Yeti House that we had on rent for the week. That got the mind off things and relaxed us all a little.
Finally on the start line the gun goes off and I get a pretty good start sitting in about eighth which quickly moved into 3rd chasing the lead group. I hit the climb and saw Team mate Paul Rowney on the side of the track with a broken chain so it was game on and time to chase down the leader. Running in second place until the start of the fourth lap where the legs realised that they hadn't done enough miles I backed off trying to save a little and not lose too much time. I moved back to fourth were I refound the legs and turned it back on catching 3rd on the last descent. I had nowhere to pass him (Gordo) and had to line it up for a sprint to the line. In the closing metres to the line we were caught by 5th place so I really had to line it up spot on. We hit the last corner and I took the wide line onto the 4X berm carrying some awesome speed over the last dirt mound moved level with the guy in front but Bammm and I'm on the dirt. I had hit a pile of powder and a couple of rocks and the front wheel washed out. I stood up grabbed the bike and rolled in for fifth. "ALL OR NOTHING" came to mind. The crowd was going off and then silence. It was like a funeral. I crossed the line and am still stoked with my ride. Thats racing.
Anyways I'm at the AIS for a week of testing then off to the Oceania Champs back at MT Buller where I got second last week. Time to go one better ay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk again soon
Perren
Mt Buller Mar 2005
Hay guys ,
I decided to pack the wagon and head off for a one month road trip of racing. First stop was to be the National Series Finals at the scenic ski resort of Mt Buller in Victoria.
The race consisted of a 2 laps on a 22km circuit heading straight down into the valley then climbing 45min back to the top. Lap one I rolled to the front then ended up pulling away on the leafy stick covered track that was ready to jump out and rip the old derailer straight off. After over shooting a couple of corners the boys were back on me and I decided to sit in the bunch and go with the flow for the first lap and then see what legs I had left. Heading out for lap 2 I was in 4th on the wheel of fellow Yeti man Chris win who was putting together the second best day of his life. We still had the other boys within striking distance and let them do the pace setting on the first section of the climb then I hit them over the top and pulling enough of a turn to crack two out of the four of us. Team Kona rider Dylan and I pushed the pace trying to ride the steep climbs but otherwise running as hard as we could over the loose rocky track. I spun out one time to many and ended up letting Dylan get a gap which he pulled out to 30sec and held on for the win.
I was kinda suprised as I didn't taper for the race having been on the tools doing 50 hrs weeks and then trying to fit in some quality miles when I get home.
Anyways onto the nationals next week hoping to hold this suprising form.
Cheers Pez
Wildside Tasmania 2005
Howdy Yall,
We just got back from another spectacular mountainbike race.
There's no doubt that Wildside is the most unique Mtb event on the domestic race calender, with 7 competion stages linked by 6 cruising stages held over 4 days in the Tasmanian Wilderness. The trails are awesome, with the event starting up in Cradle Mountain and finishing along the beach in Strahan.
Day 1 began wet and cold up at Cradle Mountain where I got off to a slow start and having to chase the lead group before the legs got their act together and I finally got across to them. The stage started on alot of grass which soaked in about 2 to 3 inches of water. A couple of icey creek crossings and then onto the fireroad / puddle fest. One puddle I lost my whole front wheel underwater.MADD. Coming into the finish was so slick that every time you'd pedal you spin the wheel and nearly slid out. 4th place. Then 20km on the road to lunch and the start of stage 2. This was pretty much powerline 4WD tracks that went through the Que River then up pretty hard then came down rough as. 5th place. 15km cruise into town on the road.
Day 2 began with easily the most technical stage of the event. The course profile is pretty much climb then descend, but with the recent storms in the area ( apparently the organisers were still clearing the trail at midnight with chainsaws the night before!) made the trail a little more full on than usual. Once you got to the crest you knew that the Rainforest single track climb was over and the rough babyhead size bolders were about to comence. Heading back into the trees into the fastest, lushest, Rainforest singletrack at about 35 km an hour got me into a few heartstarting situations. 4th place. The Arvo stage is probably everyones favourite stage, The Monterzuma Falls. You head out on the road and get into the break then hit the old Tramway that you are flying along 4th wheel feeling good and with firering legs when you get a flat and lost 3 minutes trying to change it in the mud and crap. You cross the suspension bridge which is swaying around like buggery and for the 2nd year you don't look at the 300ft waterfall. Whats up with that. Anyways I had the 11 cog wound out and pinned it along the 4WD puddled track to the finish catching back up to 6th place.
Day 3 started with a 5km Time Trail through the old mining 200m long Spray Tunnel that you weren't suposed to preride as all 4 guys that beat my time did. Now you grab a jacket and head 15km on dirt out to Trail Harbour which is a little town of fishermen on the coast who don't see alot of people too often. The afternoon stage demands respect, held on extremely rough and washed out coastal bedrock, with steep climbs throughout the 22kms. The legs came up pretty good after lunch so sitting in the front group I put in a couple of solid and intimidating attacks that had the other teams scrambling to bring me back. We had a group of 8 working well together until we hit this massive rutted out section where I was sitting 2nd wheel when Chris "J-Blood" Jongaward came across on me forcing me into a deep rut and throwing me over the bars axing my knee and shoulder. The bunch sat up to ensure I was OK and when they saw me back on it was game on. Pissed off I went straight to the front and drove the pace so high that no-one could get away. 2 km to go I blew up and got dagged 30mtrs off the back but ensuring that my team mates lost no time.
Day 4, The Grand Finale. Awakening sore as and having soiled my bed with blood and puss I got up and went for a spin to get the knee working as I knew it was gunna be on for young and old when we hit the beach. Rolling out of town on the back of the cop car you head throught the Sand Dunes and hit the beach. We had a bunch of about 12 and that was plenty with attacks coming from everywhere. The plan was to hold everyone in the Team as they were and try to send Trent Lowe up the road for the Overall as he was only 2 min down on 1st place. The beach was windy as and with the Helicpoter hovering above us it didn't help. After surviving 7km of attacks we went inland at the rivers mouth called Hells Gates and worked through the forest dropping alot of extra baggage hitting the road back into the town of Strahan for a high speed finish where after one last singletrack I finished 4th with both Team mates in front of me That gave us 3 in the top 5 and 4 in the top 7. I finished in 5th O/A and 4th in the Pro mens division.
So heres hoping that next year some of you guys can come and enjoy Tassy too!
PS. The social events each night are as fun as you make them and the racing is as hard as you make it with over 300 competitors coming together for the last nights PARTY..............................................MADDDDDDDDDDDDD
Training 26/01/05
Hay Ya All,
After a great Xmas and a loose New Years the first trip for the year was Frank Concecaio's Training camp at Jindabyne. For the past couple of years Frank has invited me down to help out on his Summer training camp which has been running for 10 years. Its a 6 day camp where you don't have to think about what your eating as its all done for you, where your training as the bunches are organised on fitness levels and you get to Throw down with some of the worlds best athletes from many different disciplines. The idea of this camp is to show you how to train properly and recover like a Pro rider would. You get up at 7am eat and rollout at 8am. You go do 160 to 180km in the mountains and on the plains then return to base where you shower, eat, stretch and either kill the couch or go for coffee in town. Return for dinner about 6 or 7pm then there's talks from the high profile athletes passed and present then back to your room for some shut eye or a movie.
I must recomend this camp to all levels of riders as it caters for all grades. Camp 1 is in January and 2 in October.
Anyways after camp I came home for 2 days then went back to Canberra for the Tour 'De' Dirt which is a 3 stage MTB race consisting of a Short Track Cross Country (STXC) which is 20min plus 3 laps. I had a shocking start and rode from last into the single track to 9th at the finish. Not a bad 20 spot pick up in 20min. Stage 2 the Point to Point 48km was to start at 3pm where the temp was 41 degrees. So we found ourselves on this climb that seemed to go for ever with the recorded temp hiting 45 degrees. Now here is where I said to myself thats it I'm going home. Feeling the effects of the 3 degrees mornings at jindy ealier in the week the old body wasn't ready for this and I rolled home and called it quits for the weekend. I didn't start the XC the next day and took a couple of days of the bike.
Next on the calender was an Open at Heffron on Australia Day which had a massive turnout and one of the biggest A Grade fields ever seen at Heffron. The plan was to sit in for 2/3rds of the race then start attacks as we (Sutho) didn't have many riders there. With the field blown apart early the old plan was gone and no legs to get across to a break was looked like sticking, I sat in and waited for the group sprint getting 5th in the kick and 8th O/A.
Off to Tassy, now stay tuned.
Pez
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