The Nationals 2011
The Elite Road Nationals were held in Christchurch this year
The course was 8 times around a 15km loop, which had a very steep climb for 1.5kms, a narly decent and STRONG head winds … but also good tail winds.
The race started with 44 women, with all the big names here. I was lined up at the front on the start line ready for action, but then they called up all the pre-race favorites up and ex champs and poor old me found myself in the back row, “DOH” !!! .We got under way and I was at the back of the bunch … and I HATE that back of the bunch! feeling , But I really had no choice. Once the road got a little wider I saw a gap and boosted to the front, it was the perfect timing as the neutral car was just moving out of the way. GREAT , now I can attack , (this was plan 1) So I did and no one came with me , I slowed up a bit to see if anyone was keen, but still no one wanted to. I rode out the front for a little while when 2 girls decided to join me….. yay I thought to myself … so now we will just go for it. This was a good idea in my head but when we started going super fast (47-50) kmh I started think what have I done, the plan sounded good but man its hard work now! The 2 other girls and I got a 2 minute lead on the peloton, this was good because I really wanted to get up the hill before the peloton, cause I new that they were going to be fast up the climb. I was first to the top of the hill,(some girls actually climb slower than me ) but 3rd down …..(most girls actually descend faster than me) the 3 of us continued our lead for a 2nd lap , I was starting to feel a little better now, guess I was warmed up now. Yay we are still out front , now all we have to do is get up the hill for the 2nd time. I started climbing the hill and the other 2 girls were gone(I am not queen of the mountains Taupo 2010 for nothing !!) and it was just me, but shortly I was joined by another rider, we rode up together. Me and this new girl started to race along the straights…. Then it was like “wow” there are 10 girls that have joined our break away… but it was the peloton,(the whole race had broken up into small groups with only the top favorites left chasing me and Jeannie Kuhajek) time to rest now I thought(plan 2).
There was the few girls that were trying to make attacks to see who was tired or not ,even Sonia Waddell had a go… but I was still in the game at this point ,and closed them down. Once we got through the feeding zone I launched another attack just to make the race more exciting and to get on TV of course haha. I made it up the hill again with the peloton this time … thank god I thought “yuss” im still in the race. I did not do anymore attacking after that.. was starting to feel a wee bit tired but not tired enough to just sit in the peloton… I went straight to the front and pulled everyone along for one last effort, all the way to the hill were I said my good byes to the peloton and that’s when Cath Cheatly decided to make her winning break from a field of about 12 riders …may the best women win…. The race was now over for me. I rode the last 3 laps totally stuffed every part of my body was crying for me to stop , and I wanted to give up soooo bad. However a little voice in my head said… u did not come all this way to get a DNF did u??? I kept going all the way to the finish, this was the hardest race of my life…. Not so much the race but just being sooo tired! I finished 27th over all! I was happy(not really,I hate loosing) with that as I gave everything and left nothing in the tank (I was hoping for plan 5 and 6 to take place , but will have to wait for them another time !) There were 15 DNFs and I was not one of them. !!!
Big thanks to Bike Northland who supplied the kit..it looked hot as against all the other kits and I got it on TV and on websites down here,yay “Go Northland”
Also to my slave who organized everything for me… travel , entry , accommodation , wheels , food ,coaching, drinks , massages ,planning ,bike, socks , bag, transport ,toilet paper (true...you should always check !)all I had to do was ride my bike…!
Also to Paul and Tracey who have supported me all year leading up to this event,I might not of won but they have all heard of “Chubby-the girl up north somewhere” who rides for Avanti Plus Whangarei ,so watch out next year !!.
Chubby Hale
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