Hume Vets – 3 day tour race report

Well I have just completed my first ever tour, and I have to say that I had an awesome time. The tour was in Benalla and hosted by Hume Vets, they did a fantastic job. There were 3 road races and time trial over 3 days. I was in division 5, which is based on the grade that I race with my home club Southern Vets; there were 11 entries but 10 starters.

I had spent a fair bit of time training for this event but I had been sick with a sinus infection for about 5 weeks leading up to it and was sick for the race. On the Saturday morning David (my husband and coach) said to me do you want to race or stay at home, I thought I have not dragged myself out of bed at 5.30am to train and not race! So, off we set for my first tour….

Stage 1 - 56km road race.
The first race was 2pm on Saturday and I was like a cat on a hot tin roof – nervous and jumpy! I did my warm up on the trainer just like I have been told at the RaceRight Camp a few weeks earlier.

Anyway after the briefing we were off, rolling turns down the road. First set of points up for grabs was a KOM, now I don’t rate myself as a climber although my training program has had me out practicing on those hills and I surprised myself and got 3rd. After that we regrouped and the next points were for intermediate sprint – now with this one I thought I could do ok. I jumped and got free from the pack, however a guy (David) also jumped and he just beat me to the line – I got 2nd but these points counted on the leader board. We regrouped, and were heading towards the finish line. David who won the KOIM and the sprint was missing a few turns in the last 5km, I thought he is tired and I can beat him – well no, he was saving himself and won the stage, I was 4th, this got me 1 more point and I finished the day 4th in our group.

Stage 2 – 22km ITT.
I had done this circuit a month earlier as we had come and raced with Hume to get an idea for the courses for stage 2 & 3. When we woke up it was 2º, I was confused about what to wear and worried about being cold or over heating…anyway by the time I raced it was about 16º.

I set 2 goals for this stage, beat my previous time, and to score a point – to do that I had to finish in the top 7 for my group. I did both – I beat my previous time by over 3 minutes and I finished 4th  - this meant I was still 4th overall.
  
Stage 3 – 44km road race.
I tried to recover between the ITT and the next race – food and legs up. I just hoped everyone was feeling as tired as I did. Again I did the warm up pre race, funny some people were a little concerned that I would wear my legs out with all this warming up.

Again we rolled turns for the majority of the race, there were a few tired people though and we dropped our first person for the tour at about the 16km mark. The KOM was at 19km and again I contested – this time I got 2nd. The sprint was at the same spot at stage 1, I went a little early and got 3rd. There were a few people in the group not holding their lines and a bit of wheel checking, there was a brief moment when I thought I was going to hit the bitumen. Anyway we got ourselves sorted out, coming up to the last rise 1.5km from the finish and there was 1 train on the left with Liz Randell who is a fantastic time trailer coming up in the right, a quick decision to stay with the group on the left paid off as Liz got a puncture. Anyway I thought I was in the perfect position 750m to go and second wheel on the right. Current first place was beside me on the left and not getting through, current second was on the front. Unfortunately someone from behind jumped (over the white line but unseen by the officials) which caused the rider in front of me to check sideways which opened the gap, I had to sit up and David won the stage again. In the end I was happy to finish with the bunch – no placing. Still 4th over all.

Stage 4 – 52km road race.
Before the race I was not feeling good – if we had been at home I would have stayed in bed! We weren’t so to the race we go. I was not focused, I was worried about the rain, getting dropped, my clothing, being sick, the hills…. I even said I don’t ride in the rain. My goal, don’t get dropped. Being dropped from the main group was –45 points, which would have taken me off the leader board, I had worked too much for that.

Today's course as hilly, we approached the intermediate sprint and no one seemed interested, at about 100m I kicked and won – that was a bonus 3 points and now I was 3rd overall. Just around the corner from the sprint we started to climb, the first hill we dropped 3 riders, that left 5 of us and of these the top 4 on the leader board. Over the first hill and then the next climb was the KOM and the hill seemed to go straight up. Ok – kick, kick, kick  - 2nd! Why have I been telling myself I don’t climb hills.

Anyway the 5 of us are together a few more rolling hills, then the next KOM. I get dropped about ¾ way up. Once at the top it’s a decent and I can see them, I punch it into the big chain ring and pump the legs – no option, I have to get back on the group. I did get back on and think I surprised a couple of them; I sit a few turns out and get my breath. Anyway we are all together coming to the finish, I give it everything I have and get 3rd for the stage – that gives me 3rd over all!

In a wrap, I had a fantastic time. I exceeded my expectations and scored points in all but 1 KOM and 1 stage. 3rd over all, equal 1st in sprints (lost on count back) and I think equal 2nd on KOM. I am pumped up and looking forward to my next challenge – just have to get over this virus first. Thanks to my coach and husband David.

Jodie Batchelor.