This is the first post in a trilogy of posts documenting my and Team MOTU's week shadowing the
2012 Tour Down Under
2012 Tour Down Under
* * *
For those who have read my previous posts, it is abundantly clear that
the 2012 3 Peaks Challenge has been the primary focus of all my
training for the last 11 months. With a
view to comfortably complete the route and finish the final climb into Falls Creek
at the end of 235 kms, I have ridden as many kilometres and climbed as
many hills as I could in and around my work and family commitments. Health setbacks too were tackled with the same
intense ruthlessness and sacrifice with a view to a fast recovery and being
back on the road. As the great Eddy Merckx said this past Saturday
evening “if the head wants to do it, the body will follow”...
However... in my training regime I had always factored in the week of
the 2012 Tour Down Under, which is of
course a very different beast to the 3 Peaks; it too has been close to the
front of my mind for the last 7 months.
The Plan // Pipe Dream
The plan to ride each day, climbing all the KOMs and to chalk up between
900 and 1,000kms in the seven days, in what could be difficult conditions, was
not mine. Whether serious or not at the
time, ET and DD first postulated the idea not long after the end of the 2011
tour. However, in June when the official
tour routes for 2012 were first published, what began as “just an idea”
began to take significant shape and I ran with it with exuberant enthusiasm
knowing that it provided an additional goal to help maintain my focus on the
often cold, wet, dark and lonely winter roads.
Whether we were all (or some of us) biting off more than we could chew
only time would tell, but we knew that this would be a fantastic week to
remember; there was a good chance of pain and general exhaustion yes, but there
would also be a lot of fun, great laughs, the strengthening of existing
friendships and possibly the creation of new ones.
Our own routes were planned, contingency arrangements considered, social
engagements in and around the week organised, and of course suitably “pro” team
name determined and jersey designed (recognising, of course our many
sponsors...) :p This is definitely the subject worthy of its own separate Blog post!
The Preparation
In my head I have essentially labelled the “3 Peaks” as a single day “classic”,
whereas the week of the tour akin to riding a personal “stage race”. This is of course not to suggest the latter is
harder than the former (or vice versa), rather that they are different and, as
is the mental and physical approach to be taken. Consequentially, in my training I have tried
to accommodate both; for example, recovery time needs to be faster in a multiday
tour as is a whole of week focus, as opposed to putting it all on the line
in a single day.
Consequentially, my training during the Christmas and New Year period
changed, and my mental preparation and dietary build up varied. I shan’t embarrass myself with detail, because
I fear that nutritionists and the more experienced among you will pick (the
many) flaws in my approach. Though in
hindsight, I can happily say that whatever I did seemed to work.
I also ensured my bike mechanically was up to scratch for the week
ahead, taking it in to be serviced/rebuilt in the days ahead of the tour by the
great guys at BMCR. What I had hoped would be quite routine ended
up being quite expensive, as in only the 11 months that I have had my
Cannondale I had managed to completely wear out my rear cassette and crack
slightly the front derailleur, needing both (and the chain) to be replaced. To be honest, I'm actually not all that
surprised given the kilometres in the 11 months, and some of the gearing issues
I was having over Christmas.
I have also worn thin my rear wheel, but believe it safe enough to
survive until just before the 3 Peaks in March. New wheels will be acquired in the final few
weeks, but will be changed beforehand if I consider them truly unsafe.
The tduMOTU Week That Was…
It is very difficult to presently write a detailed piece for each day
without turning this series of post into a thesis. Given this, I think the better approach is to
try to be as succinct as I can in illustrating the ride and highlighting (in
bullet form) the things that stick in my mind and will do so for a long time to
come. Also, pictures tell a thousand
words so I hope the pictures in this (and later two posts) and the video above assist in illustrating the
experience and atmosphere.
I have also noted the MOTU members who rode, and the kilometres ridden,
though acknowledge that not all members rode the precisely the same:
Day 1 - “Ride Like Crazy” (ET, DD, and ZZ): 133 km and 1,610 m of elevation:
The morning of Day 1 was always
going to be the “Ride Like Crazy”; a cancer fundraising event
boasting (as I understand it) as many as 3,000 riders. An extremely
pleasant route up the Old Freeway to Crafers, before returning in and around
the Adelaide Hills. Not a taxing ride, but an incredibly well organised
one for a cause where there is comfort that an extremely high percentage of the
registration monies go to cancer research.
·
Slept
well and woke feeling “ready” and quietly confident, albeit with a
healthy mix of nerves for the week ahead.
·
Weather
conditions in the morning were perfect for riding.
·
Heard/watched
Greenedge's new anthem for the first time whilst eating
breakfast - an apt song for myself that week I thought too;
 |
| Greenedge Lasses descending into Cudlee Creek
whilst I repaired my flat
|
·
Found the
number of persons who rolled out early and whom I was catching on the climb up
the Old Freeway incredibly surprising. I
always wonder, what's the point, but aren't too bothered by it this morning;
·
ET's
constructive advice in managing the bunch was useful – I was taking too many
turns up front and needed to be more assertive in getting assistance from the
wheel suckers hanging on for a free ride.
·
Punctured
on Gorge Road past Cudlee Creek requiring me to stop, though it did allow me to
watch the very resplendent Greenedge girls ride past.
·
My 11
year old rode the final 51km and did extremely well. He was very proud of
his efforts (as was I of him).
 |
| B2 watching the Down Under Classic |
 |
| Splashing good times to be had here |
The afternoon of Day 1 was spent back at my place for “Team” family
poolside BBQ ahead of heading into the city for the TDU Classic. An
incredibly fun afternoon with all the lads, spouses and children, both by the
pool and at the city circuit!
Day 2 - Rest Day Riding (ZZ): 91 km and 1,495 m of elevation
Following the previous day's poolside festivities and the excitement of
the evening's Tour Down Under Classic today was a planned “D.I.Y” day for MOTU.
For some, it was resting ahead of the
longer rides later in the week, others the drudgery of the office, but for me an opportunity to get back in saddle ahead of meeting some of the lads at lunch in the Tour Village in Victoria Square.
My planned route had me ride up the Gorge before
turning to ride through Lobethal and the Lobe Road and Mount Lofty Summit,
roads that I had anticipated seeing some of the pro-teams in their final day's
training.
·
One of
the best solo days on the road I have had in a long time. I just felt extremely relaxed, comfortable
and alive!! In no hurry and being able
to just enjoy “the serenity” I can’t
recall looking at my bike computer once, bar later to see the time of day.
·
Passed
the occasional group of interstate club riders (recognisable by their kit),
looking at times confused at intersections not knowing where precisely to turn –
I always called out if I could assist.
·
Passed
Radioshack-Nissen-Trek between Ashton and Summertown. Big Jens was out front. There was not a single “tagger” following,
and I thought why intrude myself, so let them ride without my poor company
hanging off the back.
·
Sitting
and relaxing later with some of the lads at the tour village later was great; I
love sitting down and just “people watching”.
We noticed a considerable number of autograph hunters out to get the signatures
of Australian cyclists recognisable by their Greenedge kit..., not recognising
other Australian stars who happen to be wearing other team kits (eg, Haussler,
Rogers, Renshaw...). Oh, BMC were pretty
popular too... “the Cadel effect”.
·
Arrived
home mid afternoon to continue drink, eat, drink, eat, drink... ahead of Day 3... (TBC in Part 2 coming soon).
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