http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI6sZWaeXbA
At 77km, today was certainly the Queen Stage of the Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro. Just from my preference for a longer format Mountain Bike Race, I figured it could play to my favour. My host, Paul Darvodelsky, had competed in seven iterations of this event, and designed most of Stage Four. So I had his appraisal and information to go off. I was far from smug, but I was certainly hoping for a good day, perhaps a top 10 finish.
From the gun, it just wasn’t really happening. The short climb from the start was straight forward, but it wasn’t a wide boulevard, so it was mostly single file over the top and descending back into suburbia. We were in and out of back streets and connecting trails for the first couple of kilometres. The pace wasn’t fast, but once you’re not in the front ten or so it’s still accelerating out of corners, dumping gears and pedalling hard to get back on. Things weren’t shaping up too well.
Once on the sand, we hit a couple of small bergs. Nothing major, and to be honest it was easier to make ground here than on the sandy double-track, where the grass was so high you didn’t want to risk a line change. As such, I had comprehensively lost contact by then, with no chance of gaining it again. The rough double-track took its toll, it was just punishing on the body and mind. I was in a small group that also contained Glenn Stewart, who was having a great day, especially on the tech climbs.
Coming up to the 25km waterpoint, I managed to throw my chain again. This is becoming a bit of a habit. Perhaps my chainring teeth are so worn I need to lower my front mech? Stopping to fix it, I was aware of the need to chase back and get in a group for the sealed bike path. Glenn Stewart was stomping, so he’d be a useful wheel along there. Hitting the waterpoint, I was pretty dismayed to find out my bottle wasn’t there. With a bottle placed in each of the boxes last night (which were unmarked) maybe they both went to waterpoint two? Either way, that didn’t help me, and thankfully Sam Maffet from Rapid Ascent filled my bottle. Chasing back just wasn’t happening. The bloke I was with is a great rider, but his pace was just lacking on the 17km of sealed bikepath. Solo wasn’t much better, but I held onto the faint hope of catching the group ahead. I could see them on the highway as I finished along the bikepath, but that’s the only time I saw them. By the second waterpoint at about 54.5km a group of five were only a few hundred metres behind.
Both bottles were here, with a gel on each.
I dropped a much needed gel on the ground.
And I was getting caught. I hate being caught.
Somewhat pig-headedly, I pushed on, instead of sitting up and waiting for the group. The terrain was flat, but alternated between railway grading style rock and sand. I was catching up on fluid and energy, so I was glad to make it through. The course approached a ridgeline, and got pretty rocky while doing it. About now, my mobile phone started ringing. I hadn’t turned it off. Usually it’s nice to hear an email or text message come through, as it makes you feel wanted when you may be in a pretty bad place.
This time though, I was fumbling around trying to send the call right to voicemail. “I’m in the box, go away!”
And boy was I. The ridge hurt. Bad. We turned onto it, and not even seeing two riders ahead lifted my spirits. I was pretty much in the bog cog getting up and over the first climb, then descending at little more than a walking pace. There was about 8km to go, and I was grateful when it went flat again. The BMX track finish would have been more entertaining if I wasn’t tired and could ride a bike properly. I was in a pretty dark mood from my sub-optimal performance on the bike.
But you know what, crossing the line and chatting to other mates who had a good race made it ok. It turns out Blairy got the win from Aido and English. Nick Both had been up the road briefly, putting an end to his run of bad luck. He then finished 4th overall too.
Jess Douglas took the womens win, infront of Jo Wall and Anna Beck. Final results will show whether this has changed the GC standings.