Criterium - Wed, 14th Oct 2009
Today was my first event, 20 min criterium around Lansdowne park.There were three heats in our age division (60 to 64) and I was in heat two. A field of 20 riders started and the speed was on from the start, we even dropped a couple of riders on the first few of laps, with three laps to go we were down to 15 riders then things really got going, down the hill we were hitting over 50kph and up the climb back to the finish line it became one long sprint. The final lap saw a major attack up the back climb spreading the field out, I ran out of legs about half way up and went on to finish in 12th place with the first 9 through to the final on Sunday. I gave it my best shot! Heat one and three were much easier heats......
Today was my first event, 20 min criterium around Lansdowne park.There were three heats in our age division (60 to 64) and I was in heat two. A field of 20 riders started and the speed was on from the start, we even dropped a couple of riders on the first few of laps, with three laps to go we were down to 15 riders then things really got going, down the hill we were hitting over 50kph and up the climb back to the finish line it became one long sprint. The final lap saw a major attack up the back climb spreading the field out, I ran out of legs about half way up and went on to finish in 12th place with the first 9 through to the final on Sunday. I gave it my best shot! Heat one and three were much easier heats......
Saturday is the Road Race over 51kms at Eastern Creek Raceway with an 8am start. I went out there last Sunday morning and raced with the Warratah Vets, raced C grade with over 50 riders starting and finished 5th in the intermediate sprint (30 mins) and then at the finish (1 hour) was about tenth across the line. Average speed 36.5 kph! and we nearly caught B grade who started 1 min in front of us.
It has been blowing a gale today so I am hoping that the winds moderate by Saturday as Eastern Creek is very open and would make for a very hard ride. It has been a great experience to be part of the Masters Games so far.
Road Race - Sat, 17th Oct 2009
My Road race was raced this morning at Eastern Creek Motor race circuit, 50 kms flat chat, no hill, only a couple off small rises which meant the speed was on from the start. 80 plus riders faced the starter around some tight and twisty corners so you had to ride the fount half of the bunch or get dropped off very easily as quited a few riders did. Some time mid race an American rider got away and no one chased him, I did not see him go either, and he went on to win.
With three laps to go the bunch split with 15 rides in the main bunch in front, then I was with three other riders chasing but could not bridge the gap to get back on, With half a lap to go the bunch behind us caught us (8 riders) so it was a bunch sprint finish. I did my best in the sprint to finish mid field, Robyn thinks I finished around twentieth across the line.
Average speed for the 50 kms for us was 35.6kph very fast !!!!
I was happy with my result amongst a world class field of oldies.
We are going to see Marco race tomorrow then home Monday.
Regards
Alan Miller
It has been blowing a gale today so I am hoping that the winds moderate by Saturday as Eastern Creek is very open and would make for a very hard ride. It has been a great experience to be part of the Masters Games so far.
Road Race - Sat, 17th Oct 2009
My Road race was raced this morning at Eastern Creek Motor race circuit, 50 kms flat chat, no hill, only a couple off small rises which meant the speed was on from the start. 80 plus riders faced the starter around some tight and twisty corners so you had to ride the fount half of the bunch or get dropped off very easily as quited a few riders did. Some time mid race an American rider got away and no one chased him, I did not see him go either, and he went on to win.
With three laps to go the bunch split with 15 rides in the main bunch in front, then I was with three other riders chasing but could not bridge the gap to get back on, With half a lap to go the bunch behind us caught us (8 riders) so it was a bunch sprint finish. I did my best in the sprint to finish mid field, Robyn thinks I finished around twentieth across the line.
Average speed for the 50 kms for us was 35.6kph very fast !!!!
I was happy with my result amongst a world class field of oldies.
We are going to see Marco race tomorrow then home Monday.
Regards
Alan Miller
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