This year dawned a really nice day, perfect weather for riding. It was cool with no wind to speak of., but with $20K in prize money up for grabs this was not going to be a picnic!
Right from the gun we I was on the limit! Not having warmed up it was really tough. I was glad I started at the front of the bunch because by the time we got to the left turn at the top of State highway 1 leaving Taupo I was almost on the back and out the ass!
Thankfully it got a bit easier from there, but still plenty of climbing to go and everyone was still pretty much together.
At each chance I got I would try to sneak up a few places. There was over 100 riders so it did make for a big group and it was well spread out. Being down the back was a bit of a worry if a split happened up front, not much you could do about that...
The classic course is slightly different to the solo ride, where we turn left and roll down towards Kinlock. This makes the race a few Km shorter but adds another 200m of vertical climbing into the mix instead. Heading down into Kinlock was an amazing experience I was hanging on the back within about 2 minutes and the pace was close to 80Km/h, then 40 then 80! Do not know what was going on but you could always smell the carbon break pads melting before you needed to slow!
As soon as we hit the bottom we were climbing again. This was the hardest part for me. The climb was quite steep and very solid. Not much more left before I would be going AT. There were quite a few getting dropped here and I had to ride around them and be very careful of not getting dropped.
After this things seems to ease off a bit. I suspected that some of the contenders had gone off the front (not that I could see any of that from the back!). For the next 20km I got myself further up front and even did a turn or too.
Another group got away at 50km and this made life a bit easier again. Coming up to Kuratau Hill I put myself right on the front setting the pace. Matt went flying past early on plus one or two others and for a moment I was worried that the whole bunch would fly past! Thankfully they did not and I was able to stay in the first 15 or so quite close to the front...
Nothing much happened after that. Until Hatepe although I did get myself caught in the wrong place for the big descent before Turangi A bit scary in the middle of the bunch.
At Hatepe I put myself on the front right from the bottom with the hope of staying in contact. It turned out OK as only about 10 or so went past. I was beginning to think I could stay with them and put in a effort, passing Mr Sheldrake but he went past a few seconds later and what was only a 15m gap turned into 50m, then 100m very quickly and I soon realised I was not going to get on easily. I tried for about 5mins but it just was not happening. I eased off and waiting for the main group again.
At the airport hill I again went off the front at the bottom. This was not received very well at all! Various amounts of abuse was fired my way! - Go champ - go for the win - etc! All I was thinking of was not getting dropped as that legs were gone! Sure enough about 3/4 up and I got swallowed as the steep part of the climb bit.
I tried to stay close to the front though and along the lake front put in a effort to get to the front. Only to realise that I had gone to soon and again got swamped just before the right turn onto the finish line. I had to go 'round that bend with a least two on the inside and one rider on the outside. Hold your line I shouted to myself!
A few put up a good sprint Matt Yates got it I think, but really there was no point so I just rolled over. Pretty blood amazed at the result I could not believe how fast we went. There really were not that many people pushing the pace on the front. The pace was always high though, and other than the first 30km the hills were not too bad. I was very stoked with the ride! Just one small thing, not getting onto the Sheldrake bunch on Hatepe - which stayed away to the finished - was just slightly a bummer.
Now waiting for the contract offers to start to pouring in... ;)
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