Posts Tagged ‘sa tt champs’
One Caveman, one week, 3 races, 3 discilpines. Actually 5
A pic from 10 days ago, checking out SA TT course in Nelspruit aboard below mentioned “funny, uncomfortable road bicycle with dangerous wheels.” In fact, its my Specialized S works SHIV TT – UCI legal and all. Finally quite comfortable and able to deliver decent Watts.
Since January- 7 weeks, 4 races, 4 wins.
Time to really turn the screws: 1 week, 3 races, 3 disciplines. (technically 5)
Race 1, Feb 26: Sunday: XTERRA Grabouw. 1st. See previous blog
Monday: Fly to Jozie, drive 4hrs to parents farm near Lydenburg. Ride TT bike on trainer to flush junk out of legs. Visit folks and take this mundane pic of sunset from stoep:
SA TT Champs
Warming up for SA TT Champs while coach Ian Rodger deftly wields the microphone and spray bottle. I will have to wait for the TV show to hear what he said- Jack Parow was pamping in the iPod.
More pix from CycleNation.co.za
I was quite disappointed in my ride. Like I said in the previous post, we needed a few more weeks to sort out pacing, position and most importantly more sustained efforts. (as opposed to relatively short intervals) A warm up race or 2 would have helped. I started conservatively, but when I tried to build from 10km, the hammies started catching fire- I turned on 415W avs, but on the way back my hammies were raging and I had to back off the pace till about 25km- losing a lot of time, confidence and combativity. (ie I psyched myself out and gave up. Not the usual Caveman routine)
At 30km Daryl Impey (winner) caught me by 1 minute. By then my hamstrings had recovered a bit, and I rode with him relatively comfortably till the finish. 390W avs at end. Pretty pathetic considering what we’d done in training. We learned a few things and will come back stronger and better prepared. (probably US TT Champs)
2nd to 5th was only 20sec apart and I was only 2.5sec out of 2nd. I’m sure I could have puckered up and found a few seconds. Like I once heard a French coach yell at a youngster: “You do not think DURING the race, you think AFTER the race.” Old guys still learn lessons.
Results from Cycling SA website.
5,4,3,2,1, partez*
SA Time Trail Champs is later today
I know ALL about time trailing- as long as its sandwiched between swimming and running. Here is a pic from ITU World Cup 1996? in Bermuda, wearing my favourite outfit and sporting my first free bike. A Sunn, I had to give back to Montpellier Triathlon club in France at the end of the season. Check out the matching purple Carnacs and luscious hair…
Its the big TT day. I’ve been staring at the ceiling since 5am- the competitive juices are pumping on the double. If it was Xterra I’d still be snoring. This is a new game and I’m really excited. If only we had 2 more weeks at sea level for prep… (thats what athletes always say, but this time its true- fiddled with handlebar position last night, not sure about drinking system and guessing about wattage and pacing)
I am really lucky to have a whole support team- squatting in and around my homestay (Bernhard
