Rego’s quick and easy once I'd found the place, then it’s some easy laps
around town to warm the legs and calm the nerves.

I’m in MMAS2 & MMAS3 are in with us for the same start time. I stick close
to the front for the rollers out to Moyston to minimise the effects of the
surges.

Now that the peleton is on the flats, there is a string of people trying to
get away, but it all stay together for the approach into Pomonal which is
where the sprint is. I find myself near the front & Tom McDonough (CCC)
makes some room for me and the next thing I know I’m leading out for the
sprint. I’m no sprinter & it shows as the line is still far off and the legs
are hurting. I take a look behind and the train has formed. I find out later
from the results that Phillip Smith (CCC) takes it. Nice!

Straight after the sprint, Paul Logan (CCC) throws in an attack and the
peleton is scrambling to grab wheels and chase him down.

We are all together as we roll into Halls Gap & onto the 1st climb on the
menu, Mt. Difficult. I'm not sure why they have called it this because if
you look at a map, it’s Mt. Victory. I make sure I’m up near the front as
the road is narrow and I don’t want to get caught up in riders going out the
back.

Tom Crebbin (HCC) puts in a solid effort and gets away as the front of the
Peloton sets a good tempo and slowly wind up the wick as the climb goes on.
As the road turns off for the Boroka lookout, the top of the 1st climb, it
gets steeper so I decide to make a move and get a gap. I stay away till the
top then sit up and a group of 7 (?) is formed;

Aaron Christiansen, HCC, Stuart Morgan, CCC, Aaron Field, BCC, Tom Crebbin, HCC, Mark Cleary, CCCC, Phil Smith, CCC, Myself

We are now working together over the undulating top section, and make a
quick & easy descent into Halls Gap. We roll relatively easy up to the feed
zone that no one knew about. Just after the feed zone the Bar opens in the
Commissaires’ car and we ask for Martini’s but get water instead. This is a
welcome relief and we take turns in dropping back to the car and grabbing a
bottle. The temp is in the high 20’s by now. We are refreshed and form a
rolling group and work it to the base of Mt William. Just before the base we
get a 2nd chance at the Commissaires’ Bar.

On the lower section we just keep it ticking over as a bunch, waiting &
trying not to use too much energy. Around the 1/2 way mark Aaron C (HCC)
throws in a few solid attacks and it has my legs burning trying to get back
onto his wheel. There is a flatish section and he launches a big solid
effort. This time I can’t respond as quickly as I would like to. Thankfully
for me Aaron F can and I jump on his wheel as he comes past. We are back
together. The carpark that marks the silly steep is looming & I wind the
wick up a touch. By the time we go through the carpark it’s Stuart Morgan
(CCC) & I side by side. Through the carpark and on to the silly steep. Now
it’s just damage control to try and get through the three switch backs to
the relatively flatter top section. I find that I’ve spent up big getting
through the silly steep & conservatively ride the top section trying to
recover in case someone comes up from behind but it doesn’t happen & I roll
over the line, keep rolling, head for the fence that is around the Comms
Tower and use it to collapse on and keep me upright. I’m totally spent.

I get the courage up to get off my bike for fear of cramping & walk gingerly to the line. The riders in the winning group are coming across the line one by one & we all shake hands and congratulate each other on a great race.


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