Fantastic results for Fiona at Masters
Masters Games 2009
After a busy year last year and a good break, I was really unsure how my performance would be at this event. The drive down was a very early start, I was hoping to get on the Veledrome, what I found was it was cold and a wee bit wet so opted to check out the road TT course instead. Great course, different to the Nationals last year.
Thursday 5th I got some time in at the Veledrome , first time in a few months. It was back to the Veledrome at 5pm for racing which started early, very short warm up, lucky the weather was warm, wee bit of wind. I decided to use my trusty 94.6” for the 500tt which I used indoors last time I raced. Was a real blast 42.9sec and silver, I had to stay warm as I had a pursuit coming up, wasn’t sure when, just had to go with the flow. I was on and off the trainer for about an 2 hours before my Pursuit. I decided to stay in the same gear, only 8 laps, I should be able to handle it. I was up against an older lady from a different age group and the guy holding me steady wasn’t all that great at it. Oh well, just gotta get on with it. I passed my opposition once and almost twice, was a great ride doing the 8 laps in 2:44 sec and Gold by 26 seconds.
Friday 6th was the road TT, Steve managed to get my disc changed over from track to road, people were complaining about the wind coming back, but others had used discs so I thought this would be a good option. I went out very conservatively, got a bit un settled when the starter pushed me and I slipped off my handle bars. After 2km I had my heart rate where I wanted it to be, was going to be a bit longer TT than I was used to and I didn’t want to blow. The girls that won at the Nationals were here and at the turn they were on my tail. Back into the wind wasn’t that bad, changed down one gear and just motored home. With 5km to go I powered it all the way to the finish, getting silver was fantastic. 24km and an average of 36.2km. I was only 3 seconds behind Gold, buggar, oh well. I rode well and was very pleased.
Saturday 7th now the road race, 45km’s, 4 laps around a circuit, only one good climb, but once again I hear complaints about the wind, only one good climb and an ugly decent. There were fresh legs here today and I wondered how mine would hold up. The first lap I was first up the hill, must be those Wednesday night Avanti rides. A small group of 5 ladies rode together but I was the first to fall off, did too much work up front I guess. I rode the last 3 laps on my own but with real aggression I knew I was in 3rd place and there was no way I wanted to loose my spot. I held on until the end doing the 45km in 1hr 28mins.
I was real proud of my efforts over the three days, what a great turn out of women, I don’t think I will go to Dunedin next year but I’m fired up to go to the Worlds again in Sydney in October.
Firstly I have the Northland tour to get through, EEK! Hope I’m up to it.
Bring on the long training rides
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