The final stage of the tour starts in Russell. This was one of the first places in NZ to be settled by Europeans. Became a brothel town for Whalers I think!
Anyway the tours starts by going around the coast line up and down into each bay. The views are fantastic! You need to be nice and warmed up before the start too as the climbs start from 1km out.
I was not warmed up and was very tired from yesterday so things were not looking good! I got over the first climb just off the back but the elite girls were all behind me (and we did not see them again).
I was having to be a bit cleaver today... riding up to the front at the bottom of the early climbs then riding my own pace and slowly drifting back... I stayed on for the first 20Km like this until we came to a slightly longer climb we a split occurred. This most likely would not have cause any major issues but a car passed my small group (a Merc) and blocked us on the descent so we did not get back on! Very annoying!
We had to chase for the next 10Km. A break had gone ahead but Thankfully no one was interested in chasing... All back together...
I decided that it was best to avoid that situation again and went to the front doing the odd turn but nothing too serious.
The major climb of the day is about 4km long and is an average of about 7% so the selection is always made there, given all the previous climbs and the 1.5Km climb just before it as well.
Sheldon G decided I think like me that the best thing to do to stay on was set the pace! He went straight to the front for the first shorter climb and stayed there. I was a couple of places back.
On Helena Bay hill... I started right on the front, and set an OK tempo. No one was having a bar of that and started to go right past me... There was quite a steady wind coming down the hill so once tucked in behind the pace was not too bad...
Sheldon was setting the pace for most of the way. I was slowly drifting back but tried to hold wheels... by the time JK came past (the last still in the group proper) I was about 16th and had to really dig deep to hang on. There is a bit of false flat before the top so used that to move up a bit and held on to the top!
Yes! Very pleased to still be there! The wind was strong and with 40Km to go I felt I would be able to lap out and do my turn...
This was only partially true! Some of the guys were still interested in attacking and it was amazing how often this happened when I was on the front...
Going down State Highway 1 towards the finish we saw the leaders up the road not too far away and this caused a bit of a stir! I had to sit in for a while - this was proving difficult with the head crash wind coming from the right... a lot of gutter riding was happening (we drive on the left down here :)
I few more attacks go in, including a good one from Scott G on the right... Again I'm on the front! A few go through then a gap and I am stranded trying somehow to bridge! I flick my elbow but no one goes past, finally someone goes but attacks and I cannot get on his wheel! Bugger this is really hurting... Finally one of the young guys comes through and gives me a few seconds rest. This is enough and I come through again and we bridge! All back together.
The final part of the course is a gradual uphill. A good finish with plenty of room. Somehow I end up on the front again. Dam it I hate how that happens... Still have not got my head round these finishes... Anyway I go for it as hard as I can from about 250m out. But about half the guys go past without any trouble.
A good race. 15th overall. Will A 1st, Matt G 6th. JK 9th. Sheldon G 17th.
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