WCMCC Kewdale Criterium - A Grade :: 7th March, 2013

One of my most satisfying races today - undoubtedly! I learned a lot about myself and my responsibility to my team mates while on course. I've had some fantastic experiences in my short cycling career but today really was a race I feel that I can be really proud about. I was going to today's race with little expectation after a draining week of training so I was hoping that I could go into it working for and supporting any other of my Unicorn/HCT team mates.

Riding to the course in Kewdale, I jumped onto the back of a dozen or so others heading down to the race, most of whom where donning Eddie Hollands, KHT, RCCC or Rota-M kits and as we rolled into the registrations area, there was no sign of any other Unicorn/HCT riders other than Simon who had already registered for B grade. I was beginning to think I might be the only member of the team to come down for A grade today until Paul Foxwell arrived - whew! I wont be suffering alone.

It would just be the two of us today and while we greeted each other I didn't really deem it worthwhile to discuss any plans given the other teams way outnumbered us and I was thinking that two riders doesn't really cut it as a team. So my plan was to simply ride as best I could to give Paul the chance to either get away on a break or to be there at the end for the sprint finish. I knew Paul would not be aware of this plan, but if I could help save his legs then job done in my book.

West Coast Masters were trialing their newly acquired transponder system at today's race with free use this week. It was good to have this kind of system in place and would surely provide quick and accurate results. A grade were second last grade to race and by the time B grade had wound up their race and we were released onto the course, the wind had picked up and was blowing diagonally across us meaning we would be riding into it down the home straight and along Chilver St. With only 26 riders in the group, it wouldn't be as easy to find places to hide from it.

With Troy Coultard among the starters, there was an expectation among the field that he would jump from the get-go and he certainly didn't disappoint as the call "there he goes" resonated through the group and he came charging up the right side of the field. No one seemed to think it was necessary to go with him as it would be difficult to hold a break on your own with such a head wind but it would be a truck across Valentine St that would ultimately undo his charge and while he did attempt to get away again, the group was not hindered by the truck and was able to collect him pretty easily.

I had moved to the front of the field early as I wanted to keep any further attacks in check in case Paul was not a part of it. The pace had really picked up after completing the first two laps (the first being our slowest and second being third slowest) and the attacks were coming as quickly as they were being pulled back in apart from two. These breaks contained KHT and Rota-M team members which meant there would not be much help coming from some of the stronger members of the field to pull them back. I knew that if Paul was to have a chance to get on the podium, he would need to save his legs so I took the initiative to begin pulling the breaks back. The efforts needed to be strong and had me initally pushing up to 1.1kW each through each effort and holding that power for as long as I could to help close the gaps and thankfully I was not alone with two or three others chipping in with strong turns on the front.

Two significant matches burnt and I was feeling the pressure to maintain my place in the field. While the breaks had been pulled back and I had good help in doing so, I was still feeling the pain and had to find somewhere to recover. Two laps in a row at the front at over 44km/h really took their toll and it was difficult to find any respite while the pace was continuing to be maintained over 41km/h and the field had ribboned out meaning we were all fighting the wind. I found myself falling to the back which was not where I wanted to be if I was to continue do some work for Paul.

After a number of small breaks were attempted and thwarted by other riders, the pace backed off a bit allowing me to move back up the field and take an opportunity to re-energise and take on some fluids. This was certainly needed and helped me settle into a rhythm that would see me doing more work toward the front of the field. I needed to make four more significant efforts to thwart additional attacks and remain with the main field before we were given "two to go". Each of these four efforts requiring up to 1.2kW of power. I was really hurting with two to go and I knew that there was no way I would be able to mix it up in the sprint. My energy was completely burned and all I could do now was hope that Paul had the energy left to get to the front for the sprint.

Paul had still done a mountain of work during the race and was able to get among a number of small breaks. I was able to get some recovery in while he was out front as I had no intention of helping anyone bridge the gap to these breaks but I still needed to maintain position as best I could in an effort to disrupt the chase down but with just myself amongst a pretty determined chase group, it was too difficult to break it up.

Riders were beginning to explode as the pace of the race, the wind and the constant attacking took it's toll. By the time we met the bell lap, we were down to about 22 riders of the original 26 and I had now dropped toward the back of that field with riders continuing to explode. I was still in touch with the main field as we rounded the second last corner onto Hazelhurst St and I could see that Paul was well placed at the front and appeard to be around 4th wheel as he rounded the last corner and entered the home straight and into the flying group sprint for the finish.

My view was blocked by the 15 or 16 riders that remained in the main field and at this stage I had just lost touch but continued to keep as much power on as I could to see if Paul was able to maintain his position in the sprint but found it difficult to see. I had no idea at this stage of the result and it wasn't until I came back around toward the mashalling area that I got the power salute from Paul letting me know he had taken out the sprint just ahead of Doug Stewart.

Paul rode a superb race both in strength and tactics and I don't think he put a pedal stroke wrong through the entire event. His positioning heading into the final two laps was excellent and to see him round that last corner among the final contenders was fantastic and the power he would have to have generated in that final sprint would have been substantial. There is no doubt that those last two laps were completely and utterly Paul's - especially given he was up there on his own.

For me, the experience of working as hard as I could for the benefit of a team mate was completely satisfying when he's manage to pull off a win. It was the first time I was able to compete in an event that culminated in such a manner and it is as rewarding to see a team mate win is it is to cross the line in first place yourself. We went into this race with individual plans but in the end, we were team mates and looking after each other is a natural instinct.

When you put yourself to sword in order to allow a stronger team mate a better chance to win, you have no problem falling on that sword by putting in every effort you have to get that team mate to the best position possible. I felt as spent as I have ever felt post-race but the reward in this instance was seeing the extacy written across the face of the person you dig deep for. Congratulations Paul, it was a well deserved win and there can be no doubt about the work you put in to achieve it. Inspirational.

Before I sign off, I must acknowledge a few others, beginning with Craig Pennell who took out top of the leader board in this morning's Peel Districts 16km ITT producing some data that quantified an outstanding effort averaging close to 45km/h in windy conditions. I won't divulge wattage or HR here, but let's just say there would be few locally who could produce such numbers. Incredible!

Kudos also to Reg Edwards who was just one short of a "money" result in 8th place in the B grade event at Kewdale. Reggie really has improved significantly and he rode a solid race all the way through with an uncountable number of power efforts indicating a race comprising significant surging which is difficult to maintain for 45 minutes. Reg had help this morning from Simon Verona who also rode a solid race given the conditions and did a mountain of work at the front. He managed to get a good break going about half way through his race with up to a 15 second gap, but it appeared the field were not going to tolerate it staying away.

Emma Gillard and Paul Claessen were in C grade battling the same wind we faced. As they were on course at the same time I was, I wasn't able to see how they went but from the looks of them post-race, they fought a difficult battle.

Also putting in some hard yards were Andrew Patterson, Pat Hayburn, Anthony Minchin, Jamie Kirkwood, Liz Leyden and Amanda Nabi (apologies to any others from HCT I missed) riding in the Midland CC "Hilly 100". 100kms through the hills of Death Valley certainly takes a lot of "steel" to line up for so just presenting yourself to the starter's gun deserves acknowledgement. Congratulations to Liz taking out 2nd place in the Women's A grade event and Jamie taking 3rd in C grade.

Kudos to AP for sacrificing his own race due to concern for a rider from another team who had fallen and was lying motionless on the side of the road. I quote Amanda Nabi's response: "Being a great athlete is also being a good sport". Couldn't agree more and I'm glad you were able to continue and finish your race, AP.

Well done to all the HCT athletes competing today, you all did us proud.

Just days to go now for the Tour de Perth culminating in the big one!