Ben Johnstone does us proud in Canberra
As part of the U17 NZ development team, we got to Canberra 2 days before the tour started so we could ride the course to check out the tough parts and come up with plans on where to attack and make the race....we got to know where the hills were and where it is likely to be windy and understand where we could make the race tough. there was an international field of 95 plus riders in my race.
Stage 1 was a 15 km time trail with a few little hills in it. I got to half way and was doing a top 10 time but as soon as I turned round the cone at half way I accelerated and my aero bar came loose so I had to do my best holding it up against my other bar and ended up 23rd. my team mate Scott Ambrose from Auckland won.
Stage 2 was in the afternoon, it was a hilly 55 km road race we had the yellow jersey and the whole team had to work to hold it from the Australians. The course was hilly with lots of k.o.m hills that we built up some points in. Then with 10 km to go, we got what was left of the nz team on the front ready to lead out our sprinter for the finish which we did perfectly and got the win again from our team for stage 2. Witch I ended up 15 after pulling off with 1km to go from the lead out.
Stage 3 on day 2 was the same as stage 2 the day before but a lot windier. We knew the Australians would be gutted about what we did to them the day before so they would be racing hard today. So at the top of each k.o.m climb there was a long straight piece of road that had a strong cross wind so we made an echelon at the front of the bunch riding hard out and putting the Australians in the gutter fighting for wheels. That split the bunch and sent a lot of riders of the back witch ment we had more chance of winning that stage as some of the Australian team were off the back. Our lead out went not how we played it out to be with a crash at the end putting our sprinter at the back of the bunch. I came across the line in 25 place.
Stage 4 in the afternoon was a 20 min criterion plus 3 laps of a dead flat proper criterion circuit this criterion was also doubled as the Australian 2011 national champs.... the Australians were stuffed from all the hard racing we through at them over the previous 3 stages. we were pretty tired also but we had that little bit more for the last race which we put everything into to stay at the front with the yellow jersey… we chased down any attacks that were thrown at us to try win and with 3 laps to go everything was perfect we had a good lead out train i pulled off with half a lap to go to let the rest of the nz team storm though and our sprinter went to early and got rolled on the line.
Paul and Tracey at Avanti plus provided me with a brand new 2011 Avanti Quantum! It rides so well and definitely improved my performances immensely. I cant thank them enough for this and all the help they provided me to get to Ausssie for my first international event. There were so many people and organisations that donated equipment and money to help me get there. I would like to thank everyone so much for all you help and support. I had a really great time and learnt heaps about racing overseas in the NZ team!!!
About Ben Johnstone
Ben Johnstone is our latest and youngest "sponsored rider."
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