A WHIRLWIND WEEK IN HOLLAND: DRENTSE 8 + WORLD CUP #1- RONDE VAN DRENTHE

'Happy Birthday' - this is my favourite quote from the team, a sarcastic response to things that they are not fans of. For e.g 30hrs of travel two days before a race, training when it's only 3 degrees outside, or when the UCI calendar presents three 140km+ races in four days! Yes, welcome to Europe- Happy Birthday to me..

I arrived in Belgium on Tuesday at our team house in Boogenhout where Jarrod and I will be based for most of the year. It was a long flight with a short stop-over in Dubai and London, and a sad ending when our MTB's didn't arrive at the airport- typical when I forgot to take out travel insurance. We spent the day at the shops, building bikes, making our new house a home, and of course in bed- trying to beat the old jet-lag. When we woke the next morning at 4am our bikes had arrived- phew!

On Wednesday we decided to pop into a nearby town for some more food and stumbled across an early-morning market. The air was brisk, the conversation scarce, and the smell of pastry filled the air. To me this was what I expected Belgium to be and I pinched myself that just two days ago I was in little ol' Bendigo. How special this bike riding game is..


MOLECATEN DRENTSE 8

Start: Dwingeloo, Netherlands
Finish: Dwingeloo, Netherlands
Distance: 139km
Status: UCI 1.2
Team: Giorgia, Bea, Emilia, Schnitzy, Emily and I
Staff: Franky, Jarrod and Pascal

Thursday = race day. We loaded into the truck and camper en route to Holland, but not without a bit of drama- flat battery in the truck- happy birthday. The estimated 2.5hr drive turned into 4hrs and we arrived at our hotel with just 90min to race start. It would be my first time racing in Holland which meant my first experience of 'dutch racing' and of course the all famous cobbles.

I wasn't nervous for the race itself, but I was very worried about the distance as my training of late has been very short and specific for the MTB. I was also nervous that I was unable to ride my very new Colnago C59 yesterday. With wider 'Deda' bars, a different 'Fizik' saddle, and the new style 'Look' pedals the bike felt all wrong when I rode it to the start-line, but there was no time to change anything and I would just have to make do.

At least the sun was out in Holland!
Photo courtesy Bart Hazen

Not surprisingly the race was flat but the wind was being kind today. We had four laps of a 6.5k circuit followed by a transition loop of 32k back to Dwingeloo for another five laps of an 11.6k circuit. The roads were quite narrow by my standards, with two cobbled sections of 3k and 2k in length, and a shit load of corners- it took me 24k to get to the front of the 127 rider field! I was spoilt to be sixth wheel when we hit the first cobbled section and somehow managed to sail over them. I was in a big gear, hands on the flat part of the bar and slightly off the wheel to allow for punctures, crashes or any other mistakes that girls seem to make. I was NOT crashing out of the race today.

On the second cobbled section things went sour for the team. Bea and Giorgia both had mechanicals on the second cobbled section, while Emily was caught behind the mayhem that is cobbles. Their bunch was sadly pulled from the race on the finishing circuit. Schnitzy, Emilia and I came out the other side unscathed and formed part of the lead bunch of 50. As the race went on I could feel the effects of jet-lag and lack of km's kicking in. A few breaks went and came back but we were present in none of them and attempted to lead Emilia out for the finish. She was mostly on her own to finish 8th and I sailed in for 24th. That's right folks- I finished my first European race as a Wiggle….go me :)

Results: Via CyclingNews
Garmin: Via Strava


BOELS RENTAL RONDE VAN DRENTHE

Start: Hoogeveen, Netherlands
Finish: Hoogeveen, Netherlands
Distance: 146.6km
Status: UCI World Cup - CDM
Team: Giorgia, Lotte, Emilia, Schnitzy, Emily and I
Staff: Franky, Jarrod and Pascal

So here I was, the first World Cup of the year. I still wasn't nervous, only about my developing saddle sore from wearing fresh new 'dhb' kit everyday. It's like a new pair of shoes, you just have to wear them in first. The team was complete for racing when Lotte arrived, and it was into the camper again en route to Hoogeveen. Another field of 126 riders but with a few bigger names in the mix, and another four cobbled sections- 500m, 4km, 3km, 2km. Throw in three times up the Vamberg, a 500m man-made hill paved over a rubbish mound with sections up to 23% (this shows just how much Holland love their cycling) and we have a bike race.

I won't say too much about the race as I was barely in it. I had no impact on the team result and was merely a face in a crowd battling to survive. My legs were really heavy from Thursday and I failed to even get to the front as the bunch sprinted their way into the first cobbled section. I chased around girls as they dropped the wheel and when the vibration and numbing sensations were over I found myself in the second group with Emily and Schnitzy. The good news was that Emilia, Lotte and Giorgia had made lead bunch, but some hard chasing from behind saw the race come back together.

L-R: Mayuko, Bea, Emilia, Schnitzy, Giorgia, Emily, Lotte and I
Photo courtesy Bart Hazen

From here all hell broke loose. The race split into three groups- Giorgia bunch 2, the rest of us bunch 3. It was painful to know that she had no support up front and the girls chased so hard to try to make it back to her. I went back to the car for bottles but was so rooted that I never got to deliver them, instead drinking all four myself just to make it to the end. On the Vamberg our bunch split again and Schnitzy towed me to the finish. It was an epic day. Two epic days this week for me. In fact only 70 girls finished- I was 68th.

It's been six years since I raced in Europe and in that time I haven't even completed a whole domestic road season. It's also my first time in Holland, and on cobbles, and in a way it all feels new to me. Slowly I will learn, become stronger and my team will teach me what I need to know to help them win bikes races. Baby steps..

Results: Via CyclingNews
Garmin: Via Strava

NOVILON EDR CUP- UCI 1.2

Start: Coevorden, Netherlands
Finish: Coevorden, Netherlands
Distance: 140km
Team: Giorgia, Bea, Lotte, Emilia, Mayuko and Shell
Staff: Franky, Jarrod and Pascal

Today we remain in Holland for the third race this week. Only Giorgia and Emilia will complete the triple and I am thankful to have a day off the bike. I'm excited to join Jarrod and Franky in the race car to get an insight into what goes on in the convoy, while Schnitzy and Emily will travel in the camper with Pascal and be 'super swannys' for a day. Today's race sees riders go back over the Vamberg 'hill of rubbish' early in the piece, and then tackle EIGHT cobbled sections- as Schnitzy would say.. happy f***in' birthday!

AUSTRALIAN XCO CHAMPIONSHIPS: GREEN & GOLD OF A DIFFERENT KIND…

I had only been back on the MTB for three weeks, but mentally I felt like I’d been preparing for this race for months. Despite being the defending champion I felt no pressure to back-up my title- it was no secret that Olympian and U23 World Cup Champion Rebecca Henderson was the favourite and even I myself was in agreeance with that. The hardest thing for me was having belief in myself that I could not only beat her, but that I could do so on a course that suited her to a tee. Where would I trump her? Where was she weaker? No-where. I would have to have the perfect day just to make a race of it but I felt that I was ready for that.

Seeking rare shade in sunny Bright
Photo courtesy Russ Baker

I wanted no excuses. I don’t look for them and I feel that there is no reason to have them. So three weeks out Jarrod built me the best possible bike with top-of-the-line specs- a Bianchi Methanol 29er with Sram XX1, Rock Shox World Cup Sid forks, with an Easton EC90 wheel-set and Hutchinson Black Mamba tyres. It was beautiful, weighing in at 8.59kg. We road-tripped to Bright three times to check out the course in different conditions and I even did a few ergo sessions! The week of the Championships I bought out the new Sidi shoes and Giro helmet, and felt that I was in the best possible form I could be for race day.

The course was a dream and I loved every bit of it. Maybe it was because I’d seen the work that had gone into designing it, cutting in, and manicuring it. Day in, day out- Peter Mack and his team put in countless hours of labour to bring it up to standard and they were proud of it, rightly so. The course was physically tough, and although void of man-made obstacles it was technical in its natural habitat. To avoid an even lengthier blog I’ll go as far to say the track went up to a dam, and straight back down for a predicted 21minute lap. Single-track was braided with tree roots, dark forrest with steep pinches, open fire-road sections with passing opportunities and a fast winding descent that lived up to it’s name ‘tree-hugger’.

Australia's best battle for green & gold..
Photo courtesy Cycling Australia

The field was hot with five current and previous National XCO Champions taking to the line in the first of six selection races for the Commonwealth Games:

61. Me –2013’ XCO Champ, 2012’ XCM Champ

62. Jenni King – 2013 XCM Champ, 2012 XCO Champ

63. Rebecca Henderson – 2013 U23 World Cup Champ, 2013 XCO U23 Champ, 2012 Olympian

64. Rowena Fry – 2011 XCO Champ, 2010 XCO Champ

65. Tory Thomas – 2009 XCM Champ, 2008 XCO Champ

Despite losing out to Jenni and Tory in Adelaide, I felt like the battle between Bec and I would headline the race as it had in Moama. The build up had been minimal, but in my head she was the one to beat. The gun fired. I clipped in fine for the tarmac start loop and moved myself up on-to second wheel behind Row, then nearly forgot to turn onto the fire trail! ‘Calm down Peta’. I sat pretty for a while before pushing hard up on Row to edge out Tory into the first bit of single-track. A little brake check in-front and I was off and running up the pinch. ‘F—k’.  I took the lead for a while to keep myself in check. I knew the race would take its toll and am always nervous to go out too hard. In opposing fashion, Bec loves to hit out early so I let her pass along the double track half way up the climb. ‘Keep her in sight’.

Bec Henderson leading the way
Photo courtesy Tim-Bardsley Smith

I pushed a little harder than I would have liked to reach the dam a few seconds in arrears, and on reflection am surprised at how quickly the gap opened up to the rest of the field. At the time I had no interest in them, just the one trying to get away. ‘Play it safe’. I didn’t take any risks on the descent and held Bec to trail by 5secs headed into lap 2. It was already 20secs back to Tory and Jenni. I put in a little effort to catch Bec on the single-track pinch, but paid for it when she returned the favour and rode away from me on the fire-road. ‘Don’t panic’ I tried to remain calm but as we headed up the climb the gap started to open. I was already riding in my red-zone (+185bpm) and lost her up the final few pinches to the dam.

Suffering in the dense forrest in Bright
Photo courtesy theroostmag.com.au

Although she was out of sight on the descent, the time gap was still achievable at 15sec as we headed into lap 3 of 5. ‘HARDER PETA!!’. I held her again through the flatter technical trails, but as she had done so before, she out climbed me. This time I lost hope, I new I had lost the bike race. My heart broke as I pedaled up to the dam and all the fight I had in me was gone. Physically I was still working hard but mentally I was somewhere else, drowning my sorrows mid-race… In the end I finished 59sec behind Bec after kicking back into gear to hold off Jenni at +1:48min. Meanwhile Tory, Row and Jodie Willett were putting on a real show in their bid for a podium position, going through bell lap with just seconds separating them. They finished in that order 4minutes in arrears.

I tried to put on a happy face for the rest of the day, but I wanted to win so badly that it was nearly painful to come second. The good news is that the following day I backed up to win the Australian Eliminator Championships! The eliminator is the ‘sprint’ in the MTB world, held on an 800m circuit with a bit of single-track and a few obstacles thrown in. Every rider completes a seeded run and then it’s a round robin format until the final four dual it out for the win. It was a surprise win for me as it wasn’t a focus race, but the course suited me well being a tarmac finish sprint, and the main contenders tactics played right into my hands. I took the win ahead of Row Fry, U23 sensation Emily Parkes, Jenny Fay and Holly Harris (also U23). Green & gold bands for 2014, yay :)

Me and my Aussie MTB idol Jared Graves: XCE Champions
Photo courtesy Cycling Australia 

I normally have many people to thank but this time the list is short. I need to thank my partner Jarrod, who every day encourages me to be a better person and do more with my life. I need to thank his Dad, Peter- without the support of Moronis Bikes and co. I would lead a very stressed and money-poor life. And to my fans- the #TASR bunch who have adopted me, the Bright locals who welcomed Jarrod and I into their circle, and of course my family who continue to forgive me for my lack of love and communication. Note to family: In case I forgot to mention it I’m off to Europe for 7 months, so download Skype…

Results: Via castech

Garmin: Via Strava
Video: Via CyclingCentral

AUSTRALIAN TEAM RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS: FOR THE LOVE OF IT

I love anything that encourages the participation of riders in a friendly and encouraging environment, so it’s no surprise that I enjoy the Team’s Relay at the National Championships every year. The format sees teams of four combine, with each rider completing one lap of the cross-country course. The catch is that you need one of each of the following: an <U19 rider, U23/Elite rider, Veteran> and a female. Last year we entered the race for the love of it and had a ball, so it made sense to rally some Bendigonian’s together and do it all again!

#TASR team take bronze - missing Chris & Isaac!
Photo courtesy of selfie

 Picking a team came easy. I was the female, Jarrod the veteran (he is happy to admit it), our partner in crime Chris Hamilton stepped up to Elite, and 14-yr old Isaac Buckell was our U19 rep. After a few small mechanicals the boys handed over to me to bring the team home. I went out in second and was caught by one of the boys to finish in third. My lap was everything I wanted it to be and I was happy to stand on the podium on the first day of the Championships- I do hope to step a little higher on Saturday :)

I’m so excited to get my cross-country race underway. There are no nerves as of yet, just enthusiasm and excitement. It will be my day, whether I stand on the podium or not, because it’s my 26^th birthday and that’s always a good excuse to celebrate!

STAGE 3 TOUR OF QATAR

Start: Katara Cultural Village
Finish: Al Khor Corniche
Distance: 93.5km (sprints 40.5k + 85k)
Team: Georgia, Bea, Emilia, Lotte, Shell and I

Today we started in the scenic setting of the Katara Cultural Village, with more beautiful buildings, some cobbled-like pavers, and still in high spirits. After a morning look at the wind direction, we thought the day was to bring a little relief with more headwind than the previous stages. This usually neutralises the race because the battle to get away is hard, and the war to stay away is even harder. In saying that, we were equally as prepared for the typical crosswinds the Middle East landscape provides, and despite knowing the pain that they bring, the sickness we all suffer from loves that sort of torture.

Just boot-iful :)
Photo courtesy ASO/B/Bade

To give you an insight into the peloton at the Tour of Qatar is difficult. When the speed first starts to increase you sprint for every possible gap, rubbing legs and braking hard and waiting for your opportunity to move up and around through the continuous washing machine effect of the peloton. When the echelon first starts there is only enough room for six to eight riders before you hit gravel, but at this point the roll through is still easy enough for the strong girls to ride the long way around in the wind. The echelon is continuously swamped and you find yourself falling back, then trying to push out and around to sprint to the front and do it all again. As the speed ramps up, girls don't just rub past you..they push and shove and chop and yell, riding desperately to hold a wheel and make the split. At this point it's already super hard. 

To the naked eye it's a normal bunch, but it's a wild world in there!
Photo courtesy ASO/B/Bade

Then Orica-AIS come to the fore, so in sync with each other and strong enough to do such viscous damage. Their echelon is a little bigger and they allow a few extra girls to share the load, which means it's a hell of a lot faster and eventually there is nowhere to hide. One by one we line the gutter as the relentless crosswinds seem to blow harder. You grovel on the wheel in front knowing that only the strongest survive, and you so badly want to be one of those today. It's now that the smaller efforts to stay well positioned before start to catch up with you. You suffer so intensely that you know the only thing behind you is carnage, and while you can still hold on you thrive on the fact that others are disappearing behind. Even after the moment the rubber snaps and your heart is broken, you suffer equally as much in the next echelon 20sec behind, dangling just out of reach.

Another day, another echelon..
Photo courtesy ASO/B/Bade

As the time gaps grow the impetus is taken out of the chase. Those in the third or fourth echelons surrender and re-group to roll in to the finish, knowing that every wasted effort today is one less they will have in them tomorrow. But for the leaders the fun is only just beginning as they start to conjure up ways to defeat the race favourite, which is undoutably always Kirsten Wild (Giant-Shimano). So for the most part the days are on repeat, but today's finale was a little more exciting. Of the lead 12, Orica-AIS had four representatives and despite their efforts, Wild not only chewed them up but spat them out. To put that into perspective, she nearly single handedly dominated the number 1 rider and team in the World. Her victory today was truly amazing, and as a reward she takes back the yellow jersey.

This is me not winning,  3:45min after the leaders
Photo courtesy ASO/B/Bade

Today Lotte was our best placed Wigglette, finishing in the third group in 21st place after Georgia punctured in the lead bunch. I finished in the peloton in 56th, 3:45min behind the leaders, but I believe today was my strongest day. As a team, we communicated better and were more aware of each other on the road. They may seem like little things but they are important parts of a winning formula. I have to pinch myself and remember that after 5 years away, I've stepped back into one of the hardest women's tours on the calendar. I think I've been better everyday, and although my legs are smashed, I still look forward to tomorrow. It's another chance to try and succeed at the challenge of finishing lead bunch. If I may be back to try again next year!

Results: Via CyclingNews
Garmin: Stage 3
Video: Via @Cycling_videos