City of Perth GP

Andy helpfully marked up my bottles!

There were 2 events on this last weekend - firstly I got older and secondly it was the first round of the Women's National Road Race Series - the big ones!
The event took place in/near Perth and was a 2 day, 3 stage race. Lizzie, Heather Nicky and I took our team soigneurs along in the shape of Andy and Fred and they were an absolute godsend! We'd decided to head up a day early which meant we'd be more relaxed, have chance to get a ride around the road race course and generally put ourselves in a better position to ride as well as we could. The National sereis is the premier series of events for the women so is always going to attract the big teams and top flight riders, we had a small hope that with this round being quite a long way north some of the southern ladies might not turn up, and true to form there were some notable teams and riders absent. This did not, however mean that it was going to be an easy race!
The event was run out of a private boarding school just south of Perth, I suspect the fees for one term are similar to my entire years earnings.......on-site swimming pool, extensive grounds, photos of the winning dressage team etc, etc. The womens event was being run alongside the Youth Tour races, so there were a lot of riders, quite a few parents and helpers and a stack of bikes and cycling kit worth literally hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The whole experience felt a little bit like a school trip, with us all having our own little rooms on corridors in the accommodation blocks, people wandering around in towels on the way too and from showers - that was when we eventually found them - they were the doors with nothing written on them - obviously!

Heading out to check out the course - Team Biketreks!

So Friday dawned chilly, but clear and perfect to go and check out the road race circuit - at just over 4 miles round, it had an amazing fast downhill, flat bit, a windy bit and then a stepped climb through the trees - interspersed with some poor road surface, and one particular corner quickly named "gravelly corner". Andy and Fred took it upon themselves to take a yardbrush and shovel to gravelly corner later that evening to keep us all safe. Actually a nice circuit and one that meant it was likely that the bunch would end up split all over the road - which it did!

I might not be racing in a Manchester Wheelers jersey - but still got them with me!

The road race started at 9am and it was still pretty cold but the forecast was good and we were bathed in spring sunshine by the finish. We set off on the downhill section and it took some nerve to keep off the brakes and pushing on with riders all around, I managed to stay vaguey in contact and in the back third of the group up to the first ascent of the climb - but then disaster struck in the middle of the bunch there was a crash - bike in the air, girls on the ground, much shouting and a bit of swearing ensued. I managed to nip round the left side without having to unclip, but a bit delayed. The front of the bunch pressed on and the field split apart - I joined up with a couple of other girls and we chased hard but couldn't make it back to the group. The rest of the race was spent, with various people, chasing some down and joining up with them, then a few joining us, and then splitting apart again in various combinations. I think on the whole I did alright, I didn't get lapped by the main field and had to ride the full 10 lap distance and I made damn sure that by the finish I was in front of the girl I was with. I think I could have dug a bit harder and stayed with some of the other girls at one point but it's really difficult to measure the effort and still have enough left to finish the race.
So Stage 1 done and dusted - 37th place. (Heather 40, Nicky 43 and Lizzie 45)

Time Trial

Stage 2 was a really short time trial in the grounds of the school. 1.5km of torture! Starting up a steep, gravelly and rough hill before weaving through some of the buildings, shooting out onto the main drive. Up the drive 180 deggree turn round a cone, back along the drive, a couple of random loops and through the finish - all liberally sprinkled with speed bumps. Not the sort of course where high speeds are going to be reached, but it was kind of fun! And it was actually really good for loosening the legs off from the road race - 35th place (Nicky 40, Heather 41, Lizzie 42)

Stage 3 on Sunday morning was a city centre criterium race, around the streets of Perth (0.6m loop). It was like being at one of the Halfords Tour Series, all barriers and tapes to stop people from wandering onto the circuit, even a few spectators who braved the damp, drizzly and cold conditions. After a good nights sleep and with nothing to lose I'd decided I was just going to give it everything I had for this race and duly lined up as close to the front of the peleton as possible. A slight error in gear selection later (and Andy yelling at me to get in the 'big ring') I found myself although off the back of the main bunch, not all that far behind and having a good battle with a lot of the other girls. Somewhat reminiscent of the Rhyl race in the rain, my hardiness came into play and although it was cold, and wet I just got into the race and loved every minute of it! We finished completely covered in mud-splatter, soaked through and as soon as you stopped absolutely freezing cold...... but were quickly herded into the van, changed and with a steaming mug of hot ribena in hand. Andy even cleaned our faces for us in true soigneur style - damp towel and no mercy!
Heather had unfortunately succumbed to frozen hands and not managed to finish, but Lizzie after having a tough time in the road race finished with a big smile on her face, and Nicky somehow managed to battle her way round the race despite having zero fat to keep her warm.
32nd place (Lizzie 36th, Nicky 39th)

General classification results: 34th Me, Lizzie 38th and Nicky 39th

So did we expect to go there and be on the podium - erm.....NO! Did we go there and expect to learn a whole lot, yes! Did I find it hard - yes. Were there moments when I wondered what on earth I was doing - oh yes. But I still absolutely loved it!!
It was amazing to ride with the best girls and see what they do, get an idea of how we all compare and what we need to improve on. There is a world of difference but I'm still inspired to try and get just a bit closer each time and do as well as I can, and at the same time keep the rest of the team positive and enjoying the ride.
So finally THANK YOU Andy and Fred for looking after our every need, keeping us safe and on the road.

Warm up and warm down school - looking pro with our matching hats!