Chuffed with a strong performance
I was recently selected to race the World Track Champs in Montichiari Italy, it was a flying visit in chilly temperatures 4-8 degs.
I have been training hard for the past 4 months focusing on the 3km pursuit, at the Tack Nationals in Invercargill two weeks prior to Italy I almost came close to my personal best of 4 minutes 3 seconds.
I had it in my head I wasn’t going to be competitive enough in Italy with new riders on the scene and some very strong girls I had raced in the past. I decided I would be happy with a personal best. I haven’t beaten it since Ocieana Champs in Sydney 9 years ago.
I rode in the second heat of the day and raced an Irish lady who I caught and passed in the 3rd lap. I managed a PB finishing in 4mins flat. I thought that was it for the day, after all the heats it turned out I had qualified third fastest time missing the ride off for Gold / Silver by .7 of a second.
In the final for bronze I didn’t have it in my legs and missed the medal by less than a second.
While it was only 8 degres outside the Velodrome was heated up to 18 deg, still cold compared to what I was used to.
I also rode the 500mtr TT the night before we flew home completing it in 42 sec coming 7th.
I am now looking forward to two Road Time Trial Races across the ditch with the Ocieana champs in the Gold coast in April and a World Cup event in Sydney in May.
Then it’s a rest and 2 months of long miles during our winter.
Things are looking promising for London Olympics selection next year if I continue riding as well as I have in the last 6 months.
Fi
Fantastic effort Fi....were proud of you 
About Fiona Southorn
I am very proud and honored to be sponsored by Avanti Plus Whangarei, Tracey and Paul have been a tremendous help during my campaign to get my bikes up to speed for the Beijing Olympics. I’m riding the Avanti Crono on the road and Avanti Pista on the track. Their generosity has been the best I have ever encounted, staff are friendly and happy to help and are always interested in my racing and results.
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