Melbourne Circuit Race

Well after a few weeks of down time the races have finally started up again. I had competed in the State Crit as my first cat 2 race but an untimely cold left me with a result that was more than unsatisfying. In the week leading up to the Melbourne weekend I was hungry to race, dying for a win, and stoked out of my mind.


The course was in an uncompleted subdivision. It was pancake flat with hardly anything to block the wind. It was about 2 1/2 miles long with the final corner over 1000 meters from the finish. It was a long drag to the line with a stiff cross wind from the left.


At the start I was super nervous. I can’t remember the last time I was that nervous/excited. Something was different about this race, in my mind something had clicked. I was ready to go. In the past couple races I have blown trying to get into the break only to find that when the sprint comes around I’m spent. My race plan was RACE SMART. If I missed the break, I missed it, but I was going to well in that finish.


From the gun there was an attack. Everyone looked to Tina Schofield (Team Z-Motion) and Julie Jerue (unattached) to pull it back. The two man break had gotten a sizeable gap in the tail wind but Tina went to the front and hammered it until the field was back together.


The next lap was uneventful. All the girls were looking around waiting for the move to happen. Half way through the 3rd lap it did. Julie went. She had a decent gap and the field slowly jumped to close it down. Tina reacted fast. She was soon up the road with Julie and in about 5 minutes the field shutdown.


The rest of the race was rather slow. Any chase attempt was blocked by Julies 2 teammates in the field and no one was seriously committed to chasing down the breakaway. I settled in for the sprint.


As we came up on the final corner I was boxed in. I slid to the back and hammered around the field in the corner up to 3rd wheel. I was tucking into the field hiding from the wind. I was set. Around 600 meters to go an attack went up on my right. I quickly jumped onto her wheel and got ready to go. Around 300 meters the line just came into view the girl in front of me was fading. She pulled to the left and I jumped. I could see shadows behind me but I just kept focused on the line. It hurt really badly, but a final lunge for the line, and I'd won my first women’s 1, 2, 3 field sprint.


My finish was good enough for 3rd. It still isn’t the win I’m gunning for but it sure did feel good. I learned a lot in the race, gained some confidence, and I can’t wait to get out and race again. My next race is not for 3 weeks. I’m going to be getting in solid training and can hopefully get a good finish put together.




ciao