Report by Buzz
Buzz
My journey began from Melbourne this morning, while the rest of the guys headed to the race from “Old Macdonald’s Farm” located somewhere in the bush lands surrounding the famous old gold rush town of Ballarat. Ryan in his usual attempts to stiff his team mates with sub standard accommodation had paid off again with them being shacked up in a location that can’t be found on any GPS map. Only a mans nose can locate such a location. None the less, the KMD team found it and managed to get out alive to put on a solid performance in a talent packed field for the 95km National road race in M2 and our international influence Miha raced off in the M1 over 110km
The day started a lot fresher than the previous outing for the Criterium. It was close to 10 degrees with little or no wind when I arrived at the race. Miha had kicked off at 8.30 and was well into the race and sitting comfortably in the bunch. As his race drew close to an end the wind started to pick up a little which would possibly sort the riders out for the premiere race of the day the M2′s “oldmanrace”. Miha attempted a break and got clear with a small bunch of riders only to be pulled back in the final lap.
So it was all together for a bunch sprint along a dead road with a nice little tail wind. The team was standing on the sidelines awaiting the arrival of the bunch for the final assault on the finish line. When they came into view some bright peanut yelled out gee they are going fast. No sh!t Sherlock they are winding up for an all out sprint to win the coveted Aussie Road Champ jersey.
One you get to wear all year when competing in a road race for the next 12 months. Quite an honour and one that you fight hard to win. Miha had good position coming into the final sprint at about 400m out. He was right up against it knowing it doesn’t have a kick sprint. He pulled hard and emptied what he had left in the legs to finish a very respectable 7th on a sprinters course.
Great effort over his first attempts on the National Champs and only a short time in the road cycling game. Well done Miha being the loan rider in M1 for KMD. If only his team mate didn’t think he was a REAL handyman he wouldn’t have been swinging from a tree like Tarzan in his backyard and wouldn’t have broken a couple of vertebrae in his back. You know who you are Burrgo…….. Dope
The setting on the Lake was picturesque but the cold temps took some shine of the surrounds a little, but we weren’t there to check the scenery. We had a title to win for the KMD Racing team.
Hot off the journalistic cutting room floor the now famous Hammish Mactactics had burst from the bush Steve Irwin style and made the start line. With little training under his belt over the last few months it was possible he may not make the finish in touch with the main group but time would tell. One thing was for sure that little black duck is good friends with PAIN.
Masters 2 is off
It was well and truly a sprinters course and it seemed that the big players in the bunch were going to do their best to keep it together for a bunch sprint.
Alex was our man in form with Ryan a little off his best with a recent back issue and Buzz was starting to find some form and looking to play a major role in today’s proceedings. Lap 1 of 6 saw a solo breakaway kept in sight. Having a pre race conversation with DS Danny he stated he wasn’t going to do anything today and sit in and hopefully play a role if it comes together at the end. So true to form 5pm into the race Danny was up the front trying to reel in the solo break or at minimum keep him within reach. All we could do was shake our heads and sit in and watch. There were enough good riders to rely on today to hopefully keep things close if we kept our vigilance for critical moves. Danny knowing nothing but racing hard and firming up his relationship with team pain did a power of work and kept all the riders honest.
The salt was crusting up on the side of his face by lap 2 and the strain was showing but he would keep pushing like a brainless grunt. Ryan was playing it safe along Alex and I in the bunch with us all positioning ourselves well up the front out of any wind. The pace was high sitting on an average of 42km/hr over the 95km.
Alex & Danny sitting pretty in the bunch (well Danny is "pretty")
Attacks were thick and fast with some small groups of 2-4 staying away for half a lap or so but most getting pulled back. On the second last lap a solid move went which Ryan got across to.
The break sucking in O2
It was over the very fast back part of the course and had about 10 riders in it. A couple more jumped with Alex on the wheel, I thought this could be the split we are looking for and jumped hard from the group to have Al’s wheel. We bridged to the front group with the chasers working double-time to shut it all down. Anyone that had an interest in winning had to dig deep from the main bunch to reel us all in. Ultimately we got caught but it seemed the crew were feeling pretty good and just needed to continue to cover moves and make moves to keep it interesting.
Gareth and Ryan O'Neill (Cycling Strategy) waiting for the sprint
We passed the start finish for the last time and it was on with moves coming straight up. But again it was shut down before another went just before the main rise. It wasn’t a tough incline but enough to make a few boys nervous if the pace was high. The legs were feeling fatigue but given it was nice and flat we were all well in the race. Danny was still smashing himself cover moves and trying to get in them. There was plenty of sketchy riding going on with lots of contact getting made on the road with some very close calls but spills to talk of yet.
The pace was very high coming into the last turn for home and tipping the scales in the 60′s pre sprint. Ryan jumped with about 2km to go and opened up a solid gap with one other bridging across. Then there were jumpers and I managed to get on hoping the gap we could make would close us up with Ryan.
The bunch was flying though and we got swallowed, I had to find a way to get a good position and was in line for one on the right side. It was absolutely crazy in the bunch. Alex was in a great position up ahead of me with his nose in the wind though on the outside but he had to guard that position. I had Danny off the side of me yelling encouragement and Ryan had just be swallowed up with 400 to go.
I’d tip the speed scales at close to 70km and I was on my speed limit as guys in front of me were bumping into each other with some flying off into the roadside grass. Man it was mayhem and crazy riding and I reckon I lost nerve at that point which allowed a gap too big to close, regardless I never had the kick to go up another gear like the real contenders.
Alex was one of them. The guy that bridged to Ryan before sprint kicked before the bunch swallowed him and pulled clear to win by about 3 seconds Alex had to grit the teeth and give it everything, Danny and I could see him flying through on the outside and hoping he’d managed to snap up second.
It would go to a photo and Al got popped on the post and managed a 3rd place to seize the final step on the podium. What a great effort in a very hotly contested race full of solid talent from all over Australia and some very strong team riders from Melbourne
KMD Racing acquitted themselves brilliantly in the National Champs all weekend. Well done to all the riders and thanks for all the support and interest from the team members that couldn’t get here for the races. We did our best to get that jersey but just fell short.
1st Matthew Dec – Atomic Brooks Cycle Club – 2:17:05 – 41.2 km/h
2nd Ian Johnston – Rockhampton Cycle Club
3rd Alex Gardner – KMD Racing
KMD Racing's Alex Gardner 3rd (on the right) Matthew Dec (center) and Ian Johnstone (left)
Congrats to Alex for a super effort, he puts in the dirty wet km’s that many don’t and he reaps the rewards, some of us need to step up and win soon or we are in danger of becoming team Lance…… I mean team Al…..
Looking forward to the teams challenge on Sunday, so make sure we get out there and cheer on KMD to bring home the cash.
Ps, Mactactics was last seen disappearing under the water in the lake and could possibly become the new Loch Ness dumpy arse
Buzz
