During a drunken night out post Convict 100 I happily offered to share my free accommodation for the ICME stage race to Micheal Crosby who probably wouldn’t have been able to afford coming up otherwise. When later that same night Kyle Ward asked me if he could come also, I enthusiastically babbled drunkenly, yes of course the more the merrier!!
Sharing a room with two 21 year old boys. Back in a sober state I wondered if this was such a good idea, but the promise was made and plans started to develop. No turning back now.
Being new to this world of mountain bike racing, I must say this was probably one of the better things I decided to do whilst drunk, both boys have been absolutely awesome, even though young, their experience racing bikes exceeds most people’s here. It has been a delightful adventure so far and I believe I have made friends for life.
Waking up this morning I knew this was going to be a hard day for me, although my legs were ok, I felt tired. The course being predominantly rocky single track didn’t suit me that well and I did not manage to feel the flow which according to the boys there was heaps of.
Again an awesome day out, and the sun finally made an appearance!! The terrain was very tough but when finding a few seconds to look around whilst racing the views were absolutely spectacular, what a remote part of the world. It was a buzzing feeling to be here racing bikes.
In the women’s race it was once again Rowena Fry who dominated, Jenny Fay wasn’t far behind though and the marathon queen will enjoy the length of the 88km stage tomorrow. Terry Rhodes rode in for 3rd . I was battling it out with Kelly Bartlet for 4th but she was simply riding to well today so I had be happy with 5th. I was sad to see Jenny King on the side of the track today, shows even the best athletes have bad days and that in order to race the top girls who are here you just have to be at your game.
In the men’s race it was no one less than my roomie Michael Crosby who took the stage win. The Swell boys Sean Lewis and Andy Blair came in 2nd and 3rd.
Time to recover and prepare for the longer stage of the week tomorrow.
A big congrats to Rapid Ascent for organizing such an awesome race, I am having a ball
http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/Home/QuickResults?clientId=1&raceId=871