Weekend Kudos :: 25th March, 2012

Weekend Kudos is my way of recognising those who have put in significant efforts over the weekend in their respective race disciplines. It's not so much about the placings or results, it is more for the effort that has been put in. As a rider, I appreciate the encouragement I receive when I put in the effort to do my best so it is only fitting that I repay the favours.

This weekend's focus was clearly the UCI World Cycling Tour Qualifier event up at Kings Park on Sunday and the Time Trial out at Rottnest on Thursday so it covers a bit more than just the weekend.

Firstly, to the race organisers (CIC Events) and the multitude of sponsers and organisations involved in putting on a week of truly world class cycling events, culminating in the Road Race. As a participant, I was very excited about the whole experience and to be on course competing in such an event is not something everyone gets to do. Congratulations to all those involved in making the entire week an enjoyable one.

To all the participants of the Time Trial and the Road Race, whether you finished or not, kudos to you all for fronting up to the starting lines and giving it a go. You can't have events like this without a good showing of participants to make it all worthwhile. I can't speak for the Time Trial course, but the Kings Park course was incredibly tough and painful and to even have the courage to show up knowing what was in store over a 3 hour period deserves kudos. Congratulations to all of those riders who managed to qualify for South Africa in August.

A huge thanks to everyone, known and unknown, who took the time to come up to Kings Park and cheer on the riders. Thanks to those who sent messages (SMS, Email, etc) of encouragement and best wishes prior to the race and, of course, to that one man who came down and checked the last minute mechanical detail on bikes and offered drink bottles at the top of Malcolm St to riders who were clearly in massive and agonising pain, many thanks Dennis! Oh, and thanks to the members of the Garland Crew who were there at the end to share my pain and hold me upright while the legs did their best to recover.

Finally, a big thanks to Nick and Will at Garland Cycleworks who looked after me leading up to this event with meticulous care and attention offered to getting me set right on the new Venge and of course ensuring that the bike itself was in perfect working order. They certainly did everything right and the bike performed perfectly. Thanks guys.