FOCUS OZZIE CROSS CYCLOCROSS

I was drawn to Adelaide in January for the same reason most Australian cycling enthusiasts are- the Santos Tour Down Under. The allure of the Worlds best Professional Male Cyclists racing for the first WorldTour race of the season staged an opportunity for the Women to race as well, on a modified 3-stage tour somewhat in conjunction with the men- the Women's Tour Down Under. An even more convenient clash was the first of the MTB National Round races, a few club criteriums and to top off a six day race week I stumbled across the Focus Ozzy Cross Cyclocross Race.

Got to take this baby for a spin thanks to Focus Bikes
Photo courtesy Jarrod Moroni

I had entertained the thought of cyclocross in 2013, but a back injury (that still lingers) had put an end to that pursuit, so I decided that maybe this was my chance. I decided I would race it on my MTB before an 'out of the blue' call from Cycling Australia's Neil Ross. He asked me my seat height, my stretch and told me that he had a bike for me to borrow on Sunday. It belonged to his wife, and since she last threw her leg over it at the 2007 World Championships he had loaned it out on 5 occasions- 4 times it had won..no pressure! It was a rough roll-out lap. The bike felt very different to my road and MTB, my cornering and braking were horrendous, and I kept forgetting that the bike ran SRAM, so instead of chainging down a gear I was changing up.

The course was pretty straight forward. A well groomed course that took roughly 6.5mins a lap. A fire-trail down to the first dirt corner, zig-zags up and down a grassy incline, over a barricade, grassland to a bridge and subsequent hot-mix bike path, through the 'dark forrest', over the gravel-pit, and a few whoops through to the finish line. I decided that I would run the entire zig-zag section because after trialling I decided it was quicker, take my time through the 'dark forrest' as the bunting and course direction was hard to follow, and then sprint into the gravel pit to get to the other side without dismounting. I had no plan for the final straight other than to lead..simple right? The track was smooth and road orientated but at 180+hr nothing is ever 'easy'.

Enjoying myself much? lol
Photo courtesy Kirsty Baxter

The field was intimidating for me and due to an 'on the day entry' I started back row. It took me a few nervous seconds to get around the slower starters in front, but I opened up the legs on my first opportunity and slotted nicely into fifth. We arrived at the switchbacks and while the others girls tackled it on the bike, I got off and ran- straight past Jackie Schapel, Katherine O'Shea, Jenny MacPherson, and stepped over the barrier passing Sarah Holmes. When I remounted I was miraculously in the lead! I have no doubt that my memory bank kicked in- running and re-mounting felt natural from my XC running and Triathlon days. Is there any sport I haven't tried?

I launched out of the next corner in a sprint, continuing my effort along the bike path as Jenny sat in Sarah's draft. I eased through the dark forrest still mislead by bunting, made it through the gravel patch unscathed and caught my breath through the end of the first lap, leading by just 6 seconds. I was shocked that I was in-front and that my legs were actually feeling good, and after two laps I had settled in nicely. I continued to shoulder check for Sarah who had now ridden away from Jenny, but it seemed the only in-roads she was making were through the dark forrest. I began to wonder if I could hold her at bay for 45mins, then on lap 3 I got the bell...idiot, the race is only 30mins and we finished on the better side of it in 26:22min. It seemed that no sooner had we started and it was all over! Sarah Holmes (Focus) finished second +33sec, from Jenny Macpherson (Giant) in third +48sec.

Elite Podium: Jenny Macpherson, myself and Sarah Holmes
Photo courtesy Steve Holmes

I was excited to have found another discipline that I so greatly enjoyed, and relieved that the bike had lived up to it's expectations. So now I have the bug! For those that are yet to try it, I encourage you to give it a go. If you don't have a cyclocross bike-no fear-you can ride a MTB or road bike in the open category. If you think you don't have the skill you are lying to yourself-we all know how to run around an obstacle or corner that we feel we can't conquer. So find your local Cyclocross Club, help roll out some bunting, and get racing. Thanks to the PACC CX for a superb race, to Neil Ross for forever finding ways to encourage women in sport, and to Graeme from Focus for not only supporting CX but for creating the beautiful beast of a bike that they do!

Results: Via PACC CX

UNLEY CRITERIUM

I won’t lie…it was pretty difficult to motivate myself for yet another day of racing. It was the seventh day straight with many days being double sessions, and the sight of lycra was no longer appealing, not to mention a few saddle sores that were not appreciative of another session. But after the success of the Tour Down Under I had promised race organiser Jenny Macpherson that I would support the Unley Hyde-Park criterium, and even bought along my German Wiggle Honda teammate, Anna Schnitzmeier. The circuit was fast with four flowing corners and a light cobbled section leading into the finish to spice it up. The crowd had turned out to watch thanks to the coinciding Unley street festival but unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for the A grade women’s field. It was a disappointing turn out with only one South Australian local taking to the start line of an interstate field, but still the race must go on.

The three escapees of the race - Schintzy, Julia and I

We took an easy approach to the first few laps to warm into things before Jenny launched the first attack. As is usually the way, she was chased in earnest by the small field and I countered in solo fashion. I wasn’t pleased to be solo because my legs were hammered from the previous days of racing but at least I could put my head down and get a great session in. After 8 minutes I was bought back only to have Anna go off the front with Perth based Julia Kalotas on her wheel. Go teamie! Anna was forced to do all of the work and as Jenny and Kate Finnegan began to bring them back Julia started to contribute, but it was too little too late and we were all back together. As if like clockwork I attacked again and after a few solo laps saw myself back in the bunch. One lap later I went again, but it was very short lived and I decided it was time to rest as Anna took the reigns again, this time on her own. I have no doubt the girls were very much over the orange Wiggle Honda colours off the front, but the crowd were loving it. Another chase and Anna was back, so with five laps to go I made a final bid for glory. I buried myself for the first two laps knowing that if I established enough of a gap that adrenaline would carry me across the line for the 3-lap countdown.

Soaking up the rays..
Photo courtesy Tony Reeckman

I had 10 seconds on the chasing girls at bell lap and only looked back when I entered the finish straight to see my teammate Anna coming home solo in second. I lapped up the victory down the final straight, putting on a show for the crowd and as solo wins are rare, stealing the opportunity for an awesome victory salute photo. Right now my legs are so unbelievably wrecked, but I won’t complain yet because I have a few days of chasing the Men’s Tour Down Under around Adelaide! Feel the rush…

FAREWELL TO TARGET TREK MTB..

The 2013 season was a successful one. I started the year off representing Target Trek, where I claimed runner up at the Bay Criteriums, and a 5^th and 10^th at the Australian Road Championships. I then turned my focus to the dirt on behalf of Target Trek MTB, winning the XCO and XCP at the opening National Round, taking home the green and gold stripes for the Elite National XC Title, and also claimed victory in the Wombat 100k and Forrest 6hr.

These results aside, it was also a tough year for me. Firstly my nan passed away after a tough battle with illness, then I DNF’d the Australian XCM Championships as defending champion and sustained a chronic back injury that put me out for the next 5-months. My plans to go overseas to race two MTB World Cups vanished, as did my plans to compete in both the World XCM and XC World Championships.

Selfie... courtesy of me lol

So I found myself on and off work, intermittently training, partially immobile due to this stupid injury and worst of all I was getting fat! But I knew that I wasn’t done just yet. I would come back from it, my body would heal in it’s own time, and I had some unfinished business to take care of…

So with plenty of time on my hands I sat down on my now 64kg arse and laid out a plan:

Part I: I want to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games on the MTB. To be one of these three girls I have to compete in my National Championships on the 8^th of March, and partake in two of three MTB World Cups pre May 30^th 2014.

Part II: Further to this I wanted to take part in the entire World Cup series, which meant that I would need some form of funding to be based in Europe for the season. This came in the shape of Rochelle Gilmore, owner of the Wiggle Honda Professional Women’s Team who has signed me on her roster with the understanding that my focus will be MTB and is fully supportive of it.

Part III: I wanted Jarrod to be with me, so she signed him as head mechanic too!

Excited to be joining the Wiggle Honda outfit in 2014
Photo courtesy Kirsty Baxter

It was now August, and with these grand laid plans in place I started to build back up. My first race was a teams MTB race that we won, then I pulled out of my next road race, and crashed out on another attempt. I had a few weeks off and came back to win another MTB race, win a road race, then withdraw from my next two due to back pain. It was a vicious cycle. I quit work to focus on my rehab and prepare for the 2014 season. This time around... not a bad road race, then walking and pain in the next MTB race, and then two wins in a row. I was feeling fit again and went on to win a MTB tour, a road criterium and another MTB race. I was back – excuse the pun.

So the New Year rolled around quite quickly and I prepared for my first race in 2014 with the Wiggle Honda Team. I was excited and child-like about my new journey as the year kicked off, but with my first MTB race drawing closer I had a decision weighing heavy on my shoulders. In a complicated twist of events it became apparent to me that I could no longer ride for Target Trek MTB in the new season. It was tough news to break to the team and an emotional departure for me. But I thank both Target and Trek for their amazing support and killer bikes, and the team and staff for all the great memories.

Target Trek clean sweep the teams classification at the National Championships
Photo courtesy Russ Baker

It’s now 24hrs before I depart for the first National MTB Round in Adelaide, with no time to find my reigning National Champion Jersey! – I think it’s at Mum’s house? I will be borrowing a 2013 Scott Scale RC 29er’ off close friend Gary Lewis which I hear is a lovely bike but I’m yet to find that out. I will ride it for the first time tomorrow, donning my Moronis Bike Shop kit and when I return from Adelaide I’ll sort myself out for the 2014 MTB season and be sure to share some exciting news with you soon!

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

It's always a restless sleep the night before fronting for a race whereby you really care what your final result is, and this was a race I had been thinking about for a while. It's not usually a target race of mine but I figured this year I would do some good base kms in the lead-up and fit in some intensity with the Bay Series so that I could be a part of the race when it mattered. It didn't all pan out the way I wanted. My form wasn't quite as good as I had hoped last week and my back was playing silly buggers with me, but the criterium had given me a small confidence boost and I was ready for a hard road race. There were 63 started over the 101km race on a 10.1km course -3km climb, 3km across, 4km down and do it all over again -10 times in Buninyong!

Signing on pre-race
Photo courtesy Darren Casey

Race day is D-day, and on D-Day you have no say on how your body will feel. In short, it wasn't a great day for me. As always, the first time up the climb is somewhat neutral and I seem to be able to convince myself every year at that point in time that I won't even finish the bike race! One year Sarah Kent and I said that for each lap the other finished we would shout them a cruiser...a gold medal, silver medal and 20 cruisers later was a good night :) Lap two was even worse for me when Lisa Jacobs (VIS Apollo) launched herself off the front on the feed climb and my heart-rate skyrocketed to 187bpm! I was in some early trouble as I scrambled for a wheel and any confidence I had was gone. I was more leaning toward 'I can't wait for this all to be over' sort of feeling now..

Lisa Jacobs on her 60km solo journey - brave!
Photo courtesy jxp photography

Jacobs was cutting some quick laps for a solo ride and her advantage grew to nearly four minutes at one point, taking out seven of the nine QOM sprints on offer. Bridie O'Donnell was the brave one who attempted the bridge on lap 4 but instead found herself floating in the middle. It was Jessie MacLean (Orica-AIS) who animated the chase leading into lap 6, sparking a response from the Bigla team of Jo Hogan and Taryn Heather, flanked by Miranda Griffiths (Vanderkitten) and Katrin Garfoot (QAS). An initial chase turned into a solid tempo as MacLean and O'Donnell joined forces 1 minute up the road, still in pursuit of Jacobs a further 90secs clear.

Griffiths and Hogan set the pace as was the story of the day
Photo courtesy jxp photography

With 4 laps to go the duo were caught and Orica-AIS began their pattern of the day. Shara Gillow made a short-lived attack through the feed, but it was Gracie Elvin who launched her demo-rage after the fastest climb of the day-7:28min. There was no response as we all rested to catch our breath and within no time she had made contact with Jacobs, who would have been glad to have some company after nearly 60km on her own! They passed through 3 to go with just a 30 second advantage that extended through the feed station climb. Leading into QOM it was Griffiths who decided she wanted a piece of the pie and set off in pursuit of the duo. Her efforts were fruitless as she was bought back before the descent.

Looking comfortable here but things soon got nasty!
Photo courtesy jxp photography

The bunch had now dwindled to a selection of 20 and my heart-rate was still through the roof. It wasn't surprising that my heart bought some party tricks today, the pain killers I take to ease my back pain usually do that but it was a trade I was willing to make to ride pain free. But as we neared two laps to go I knew I was in for a different sort of pain. Elvin and Jacobs were still leading the way but the pacing by Heather would see Jacobs engulfed by the shrinking peloton. Elvin was caught by Garfoot and Cromwell as we crested the QOM for the second last time and I was nearly certain this would be the selection for the day as the chase group now fell to just 10; I was the last one to make the split.

Elvin, Cromwell and Garfoot crest the climb with the bunch in turmoil
Photo courtesy jxpphotography

This is where s**t got good. Griffiths, Heather, Hogan and Sam De Riter (Apollo VIS) stepped into gear and bought back the escapees only to be countered by Gillow with Garfoot again in tow. But it was Amanda Spratt (Orica-AIS) who broke the rubber band and found herself solo with an 11 second lead going into bell lap. As we turned for the final climb I was prepared to go through anything to make it up that bloody hill just ONE more time -except cramps, I wasn't prepared for those lol I couldn't go with the initial acceleration as my left calf and groin cramped up, but I was able to tempo the girls back after the feed and make contact as we made the left turn to the summit...

Fighting back!
Photo courtesy Darren Casey

There were just 9 Elite Women and two U23 riders remaining in the race for the green and gold. Who wanted it the most? As expected, Cromwell attacked on the pinch to the top and the damage for me was done. While fighting more cramps I lost contact and new my day was over. I watched on as Hogan struggled to cover the move and Elvin and Kitchen dagged off the back. The lead 7 were now Spratt, Gillow, Griffiths, Cromwell, Garfoot and U23 riders Emily Roper (QAS) and Jenelle Crooks (Holden). I was amazed to watch on (30 seconds down the road) as the leaders began to fox before the descent, allowing the two strongest sprinters in the field to chase back on in Elvin and Kitchen to force a group of 9 in the sprint for gold. Elvin backed up her victory from last year to prove that she really did want those bands back, followed by Kitchen and Garfoot to round out the podium.

The closest thing to a 'bunch sprint' on the Buninyong course...
Photo courtesy jxp photography

It was 50 seconds later when I crossed the line and I wasn't at all interested in sprinting for 11th place. Not only had I come here with much higher ambitions, but I was simultaneously cramping so sprinting would have been somewhat difficult! As disappointed as I am with my final result on paper, it's the first time in years that I've finished the race and been satisfied that I dug deep to make the split when it mattered. Had it not been for the cramps I honestly believe I would have been there for the sprint finish, and I would have been proud of that on what was a slightly off day for me. Would I have won? Probably not. But one day I will finish lead bunch and find out for certain!

Your Elite Womens podium L-R: Kitchen, Elvin and Garfoot
Photo courtesy jxp photography

Now that the race is over I can relax and enjoy my anniversary with Jarrod. It's been five years since we got together back in 2009 when I won the U23 Australian Road Title. It's been a roller coaster ride but I wouldn't change a single day of it! No time to get all romantic though, after a pub meal and an ice-cream and of course a quick bit of blogging I'm ready for bed. I look forward to an amazing Men's Road Race tomorrow and hope to see you all on the Buninyong hill - I'll be doing the rounds with a petition for the Amy Gillett Foundation #ametermatters campaign so seek me out!

For those interested in lap splits today -total (climb to QOM/descent to finish) avg. HR up the climb:
1.    18:28min     8:17 - 10:11     av171
2.    18:38min     8:17 - 10:21     av173
3.    19:23min     8:47 - 10:36     av175
4.    19:47min     8:53 - 10:54     av175
5.    17:51min     8:29 - 9:22       av179
6.    18:39min     8:05 - 10:34     av181
7.    17:15min     7:28 - 9:47       av185   max193
8.    18:01min     8:22 - 9:39       av180
9.    17:03min     7:51 - 9:12       av181   max 194
10.  18:21min     8.28 - 9:53       av176   +50secs on leaders


Results: Via Peloton Cafe
Photo: Gallery via Peloton Cafe
Interviews: Via Peloton Cafe