We are DONE!! As I write, I'm sitting here at one of our favourite little cafes in Adelaide - Hey Jupiter. They do a smashing baked eggs with mushrooms and pancetta...and great coffee. I'm solo.
It's kinda weird when you are suddenly alone after living in VERY close proximity to 3 other blokes for a week. I'm really happy with what we've achieved, I'm stoked at the week we've had, the laughs, the extraordinary camaraderie that riding over 1,000kms builds, no...reinforces, and I'd do it all again in a heart beat. I'm a little sad that it's at least 12 months until the gang reunites. I'm super excited to see my awesome family later tonight.
Yesterday, our final leg, started out like the last 3 days: headwinds; straight flat roads, and the entire group formation rolling out. The winds soon turned to a nasty cross wind (coming from the right) so the more experienced riders fanned out on the right and hugged the centre line of the road in order to protect the other riders from the wind.
At kilometre 45 we hit the Murray River and the necessary river barge across. This was a quick opportunity to fuel up, fill water bottles and consider the next 50k to Strathalbyn. It had been a fairly slow old trip so far and when you are going too slow, it's hard to get the weight distribution right on the bike. Frankly, I was getting sore in the saddle region.So with about 25k until Strathalbyn and 9k from Langhorne Creek, I made a move off the front. 5 guys followed including all of Team Bravien, Thomas and Bindy Pete. BINDY PETE...BOOM!!
We pretty quickly hit it up to 45kmh and then settled in. We were beautifully echeloned across the road, each taking a 1,000m turn on the front at about 40kmh. It was so good to get the pressure off the seat and onto the pedals - even though it was a lot harder on the legs and lungs - especially as we were finally starting to experience some lumps in the road! We eased off through Langhorne Creek "Neutral Zone" and then with 18k to our lunch spot at Strathalbyn we followed the same routine, fanned out pulling nice strong turns...until...at 7k to go GT and AZ popped.
So we were down to 4 and in order to keep the pace high we reduced the turns to 500m each. Heading just over a little rise, with a gust of cross-headwind, Mitch and Bindy Pete (who, to his absolute credit, was flying and never missed a turn until he blew) popped. This left me and Thomas to charge home the final 3.5k - Thomas was deep in the red zone but he stayed the course into town - chapeau!
After a coke and a banana (my last of the Tour), and with the whole group back together, we headed off for the last real part of the ride - 35k to Sterling in the Adelaide hills.
It was finally a chance to gain some vert and it wasn't long before the road went up, gradually at first with 3-4% inclines, then sections of 6.5%. I love this sort of climbing and within one kilometre a lead group of 8 formed, again including all of Team Bravien, Ray, Thomas, Steve Fort and Dice (our only international star all the way from Japan to ride the full Wheel Classic for Future2)!!
Dice had been struggling a little with the pace on the flats and his bunch riding had been a little choppy - but oh boy - he came ALIVE in the hills.
Mitch (the powerhouse of the flat lands and multi-Ironman - as in like NINE full and EIGHTEEN 70.3s) is a lover...full stop. He is not a lover of the hills... and dropped the wheel early. AZed stayed behind to keep him company (so he says). Steve managed another 2k as Ray and I took turns setting tempo on the front and then that was him out. That left 5 to take on the remaining 25-odd kilometres to Sterling.
Dice was in his element but never pulled a turn; Thomas was steady anything under 400 watts but as soon as I gave it a little squirt he was dangling like yo-yo; Ray was in the hurt box but kept tempo; and GT was riding smart on the back and climbing like an angel. With 4k till the KOM (King of the Mountains) at Sterling, and me on the front keeping the pace solid, GT sensed the weakness of our companions and launched a beautifully timed surge on a 6% gradient. I immediately followed his wheel and he put in a very solid 300m. This created an unassailable gap that was never again challenged. GT flicked the elbow for me to come through and I took us to the KOM some 3.5k later.
Massive ups to GT who rode that last stretch with panache whilst redlining all the way. Totally maxxxxed 'em and victory for Team Bravien. (OK OK, maybe a little excited about the only hill we rode in 1,100k but still, you should have seen it!).
Within minutes we were lying on the grass, sipping beer and waiting for the enormously strung out peleton. Good times indeed!! See the ride here.
And that, as they say, was that. A gentle downhill roll to our final destination in Adelaide's CBD and we were done.
Come back to watch the video of the last day [click here] in a couple of days. My editing brain is puffed!!
A couple of footnotes:
1. We arrived at the Adelaide Convention Centre to the wild applause of over 500 delegates attending the opening function of the FPA National Congress. Team Bravien was awarded the highest team fundraising - so again, thank you and especially to the generosity and kindness shown by friends, family, AMP staff and the clients of Bravien Financial...you have all made a BIG difference.2. On a separate note, I was this morning named ACT Certified Financial Planner of the year in the FPA's Best Practice awards - a real credit to our whole team and great recognition of our hard work we do for our clients and in the community at large.
3. I will always, if given the chance, do the exploding chocolate pudding for dessert!!
No comments:
Post a Comment