Hey guys and girls,
Since last writing on here lets just say there has been a lot of kilometres driven and a lot of kms ridden!
The weekend before last i headed to Shepparton to ride the “Shepparton 150km Road Race”, terrific event for anyone thinking about doing it next year, has grades so anyone can have a go!
The race is undulating for a lot of the first 50km, but does hit some side winds which this year caused some real havoc!
At the 35km mark we took a right hand turn into a harsh side wind, the riders on the front took advantage of this to split the bunch for 45+riders, i was back about 14 wheels and missed the initial move, but then realised it was dangerous and hit out of the bunch and rode across to Sandy “Machine” Machin (he will like that), when i caught him we were about 50meters off making junction with the group, we then got on and starting rolling turns with the lead goup, gap was about 45 seconds.
David Pell was in this group and had mechanical troubles with his 
seat coming undone! virtually taking him out of the race so he sat last wheel in the break which made a few riders very anxious, leading to the back group catching us about 12kms from the base of Taminick Gap.
Four riders went clear 2 kms from the base, Craig McCartney, Trent Stevenson, Matt Chessum and David Tozer, the group rode tempo up the climb but a kilometer from the top i thought i would up the pace to bring back the leaders, picking up Chessum and Stevenson to claim 3rd over the hill behind Tozer(2nd) and McCartney in 1st.
Down the other side it was panic stations for those who were dropped on the climb, i was fairly relaxed, knowing we had a long way to go and i was with the leaders.
Attacks were made from this point on, until we hit the major climb of the day, the bunch still complete. I wanted to split the race here so i knew who had legs and who didnt so from the bottom i lifted the pace, riding off the front with Will Ford and Steven Robb.
Will and I worked hard to the top of the hill only able to get a 30second gap, KOM was Steven robb 3rd, Will Ford 2nd, myself 1st.
Group came back together leaving 16 in the lead group.
The group swapped off for 35kms, leaving 15kms to go, thats when the moves came, Ford slipped off the front and was successful for 5kms but then coming back, it softened the group up nicely for a counter attack from two riders who held a thirty second lead til the second last hill of the day, i hit from the bottom, riding across to the leaders, and taking 4 riders with me, 6 infront, 10 riders chasing.
On the last hill of the day 4kms to go i hit from the bottom again, softening a few up but not dropping anyone, at 2kms to go all 16 riders rejoined for what would be an exciting sprint finish.
Sandy Machin, attacked 1km to go, with what was almost a winning move, great riding by Will Ford closed the gap to allow Shultz to Lauch the Sprint from 200m out, I gave what i had left but unfortunately it was about an inch and a half not enough!
Great to have a duel in the sprint with an old timer (raced shultz since i was 8).
‘Til next time
good luck in your racing and i hope i can continue to get some good results, Now im off to The Tour of Gippsland!
[note-Pat finished 5th in the Tour of Gippsland, well done!-Ed]
Thanks
Oakley M Frames
Sidi Ergo 2 Shoes
August 9, 2007 at 6:55 pm
That was a horrible story…as I didn’t get one mention, what about the huge grimace I pulled. haha