Jodie's 2009 Southern Vets Tour Report
My home club Southern Vets held a 2 day, 3 stage tour in July. This I think is the second year the tour has been held. Cycling-Inform was also the major sponsor for the tour which meant I wanted to do as well as I could. However since I have been racing and training harder since the tour last year I had moved from E grade to C grade. The tour was over the same courses as last year so at least I was familiar with them.
Stage 1 – 22km ITT
It was a windy day and as I warmed up the wind was getting stronger. David was already out on the circuit and had set my bike up to run the disc wheel, so regardless of the wind I was on the disc. I was nervous at the start line and was towards the last of my group to start. I was the only girl in the grade but still wanted to beat the guys. I knew from my Masters TT series that I was going ok in time trials. Once I started I got into my rhythm quickly. The wind didn’t bother me too much and I could see the guy in front – I wanted to catch him. By the first corner I caught him. Then I could see a few others down the road. I focussed on nothing else but making up the gap. I then came around another corner and the wind was really strong, I was pointing the bike sideways down the road to ride a straight line. I caught two more guys by the time I got to the finish line. I was really happy with the ride and was surprised to finish 3rd in the stage.
Stage 2 – 44km Road Race
The second stage was on the same day as the first, and was 2 laps of the same circuit. Between the stages though there was a huge shower. Everyone was huddled under cover keeping warm. I thought this is mad, then about 15 minutes before the start of the next stage it all cleared up and we were going to be racing.
We were all quite civilised at the start, then about 2/3 into the first lap there was 1 attack after another. I just wanted to hang on. About 2km from the finish we had lost a few in the group but the main field was still there. I was feeling ok in the legs and started to get into position. In this country area the roads are fairly narrow and unfortunately my sprint got interrupted by a few cars coming the opposite direction. After a few stops and starts I managed to finish 5th. This gave me another point in the tour but was not quite what I was aiming for. I knew who’s wheel to be on and I was there - I was just not willing to take any more road with the cars coming through – there is always another day to race. In my case, that would be tomorrow.
Stage 3 – 72km Road Race
The third and final stage of the tour. Again I wanted to stay with the main bunch and try for the sprint. A few less turned up.As a bunch we were rolling turns, then there was a break and chased. Once I got the group back on, there was another attack and another grade came past. I was struggling and lost contact with the group. I could just see them pulling away, were at about the 22km mark. I kept telling myself to go harder, I just needed the bunch to ease off a little and I would get back on. They weren’t easing up. I chased for about 6km before I got on – thanks to the benefit of the Time Trialling training I have been doing. I really surprised some of the guys. They were not expecting to see me again. My tactic then was to sit in, roll a turn when needed and let someone else chase. I was counting the km’s down, however by the time we got towards the last few km’s I started to think about contesting the sprint. I positioned myself on the wheel I wanted, then the front four riders missed the final turn which was about 750m from the finish. I also went past, hit the brakes and turned around to chase. Anyway I finished 5th again – another point but no podium for the tour. Disappointing after getting back into the race to have missed the finish like that. I know the four guys in front of me were more disappointed as they had done so much work and were certainly the strongest riders on the day. Even though I have raced in the area before, after racing hard for a couple of days we sort of lost track of where we were and where the finish line was.
Another tour over, overall I was happy with my result. Having moved from E grade where I placed second the previous year to C grade and still be in contention is testimony to the training and coaching I receive from David and Cycling-Inform. Hopefully next year the weather is kinder to us and more people enter, it is a well run tour. Thanks to all those that assisted - from cooking the BBQ for the presentation to putting out the road signs.
