Harry Hanley's Tour of Coleraine 2008
- By Harry Hanley
- Published 16-Apr-08
Stage-1 9.2 km time trial (15:59 average speed 34.5km.h)
This was my first time trial, so I really had nothing to guage this on. The first 3km were downhill followed by a steady 2.5% uphill for 6km then the final 250 metres were flat. I think a lot of people made the mistake of not bringing their aerobars thinking the uphill course did not justify it. The aerobars certainly helped in the downhill portion on which I was able to maintain an average speed of 53km/h. On the uphill part I averaged 30km/h which I think is more than fast enough to gain a benefit from the more aerodynamic positioning. My time put me 1:29 behind the leader, but still in 30th position out of 70 riders.
Stage-2 72 km road race
The race started with a steady 125m climb out of Coleraine. For the next 35km the pace felt like we were heading to Cafe' Racer... nothing too high-spirited. Two riders had broken away early but were only 200 metres in front. The group didn't seem interested in making a chase and I wasn't in the mood to drag everyone up myself so the peloton just followed. At about 33km, two more broke out in front looking like they might like to chase so I accelerated to join them. By now the first two were about 400m clear and the three of us were about 200m clear of the main group. I asked them if they were interested in chasing. They weren't and said they were only getting a head-start on the first climb. It was fortuitous that I joined them as a stack had occurred in the main group which I was well clear of. This first climb broke the peloton. My head-start ensured my place in the lead group and we quickly reeled in the two early leaders. The pace from here on was much more intense and it was a short 9km to the next climb. This climb up Zig-Zag road saw the group splinter again, this time I couldn't hang on and fell off the back. At the top four of us regrouped and started chasing. For the next 18km three of us worked together turning track-turns (we had dropped the forth as he couldn't keep the pace). We were caught by about six others and together we rolled turns to the finish picking up a few more stragglers as we went. We finished 4:50 behind the leaders but still ahead of most of the field.
Stage-3 66.6 km road race
Another steady climb out of Coleraine. Oddly the pace was a bit quicker on this day. The KOM climb came and went with only a few dropping off the back. A couple more minor climbs saw a few more spat out the back, but over half the field remained together for the duration. There was one major stack, this time right in front of me which I just avoided. About six went down on a very narrow road. In a race there is no time to look back. The sag wagon would take care of anything major and on we went. The field was together but tiring. On the final approached back into Coleraine I made a move and positioned myself up at the front. I was amazed at how easy it was to leap from about 30th to 4th wheel. With about 1km the pace got intense. I kept 4th wheel into the final turn and into the sprint and this is where I finished. Very happy to take a place in my first open and a whopping 4 second time bonus and a $20 prize.
Stage 4 25.8km Crit
Fast and furious with very tired legs. The pace average was 42.6km/h which is a bit quicker than a B-Grade Crit at Glenvale. The circuit ran through the town and it was nice to see the locals in their front yards watching the race. Some had the BBQ's going. At this point a snag and a VB looked very good. Try as I might, I couldn't get the legs in gear to win any sprint bonuses. Except for 8 riders and a few DNF's the bunched stayed together for a sprint finish and everyone recorded the same time except for time bonuses for place getters.
All up I finished 21st out of 70 starters in the general classification. Not a bad effort...
H Hanley
