WEEK 5
Another week, another race, and we keep meeting people in and around this country we are living in that are noticing the RAK team. The distinctive yellow kit, that has been seen here the previous couple of years, has motorists, cyclists and pedestrians calling out, Hey Aussies, welcome back. Not all comments however are welcoming, some motorists as in Australia, are looking forward to seeing the back of us, but that’s life as a cyclist, sharing the roads with motorists, some praise and love you, and some fortunately the minority consider us a nuisance.
Whilst out riding we have met people from all walks of life, one gentleman his wife and group of friends that also challenge themselves with different climbs of the area each day, I found out last week he worked for NASA, another man and his wife that have been involved for years in the making of the worlds smallest jet plane, it had been used in the James Bond movie, Octopusssy, and he may be coming to Australia to fly it as he has some orders for the plane in Victoria somewhere. They have all been amazed by the team and its travels, and even more so by their performances on and off the bike.
The team has also set some new records, we were practising tyre changing the other night, all riders getting under the 60 second barrier to replace a tube, the hard part will be duplicating this effort out on the road, time will tell.
The team each morning are currently watching the Tour De France live before they go for a ride, and after the previous evenings discussion on the stage terrain, tactics, who will win and why, they each nominate a rider to win the stage. The names chosen have been varied this year and quite a few days we have not nominated the winner, but it has still been fun to have a go at picking the daily stage winner.
Our interests are also on fellow Aussie team mates, now in South Africa competing in the Junior World Titles. As I write this medals have already been won, and Junior World Champions presented their Rainbow Jersey’s ,experiences that are being shared by the National team, under instruction from NSW and National Coaches Gray Sutton and Tim Dekker, I am sure like us, forming memories that will last forever. Congratulations to the team, the road still to go, our young Aussie cyclists ready to continue with some great performances.
NIWOT CRITERIUM
The results of the RAK Team at its previous races, has led to a reassessment of grading by the Colorado Cycling Federation. Pat and Jared are now into Category 3, with Mat and Sam progressing to Pro 1/2. Not that it affected us, winning will always contribute to this
occurring, however to put young riders, particularly into Pro 1/2, compares to putting lightweight prize fighters into the ring with experienced middle weights. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but as we got the bikes out of the car in Niwot and assessed the Pros warming up, Tom Danielson, Garmin Chipotle, Aussies Ben Day, Jonathan Clarke, World B Road Champion Slovenian, Ivan Stevic, Team Toyota United, I got the feeling that this is going to be more than a race experience for the RAK team.
This course the most technical we have raced on, not only this year but also in past years, a real Euro feel to it, 1.6 kms around, tight in places, short straights, and an even shorter finish straight that had the finish line some 50 meters after the last corner. HHHMMMM as I assessed it, first rider around this corner should take it out, how wrong was I to be???????????????
CATEGORY 3- 60 minutes
Jared and Pat first on, unfortunately for them, due to some difficulties finding the circuit and not to mention the traffic jam from hell on the July 4th long weekend, that turned our one and a half hour drive into two and a half, meaning a warm up was non existent, this will be a real intro into Cat 3 for these boys.
A field of 65+ riders lined up, the RAK team, not so good a position on the grid…. GO, and its on as usual, men riding big gears stomping around the circuit. Within 15 minutes Pat has taken up his usual position in the lead 10 riders, Jared not so fortunate, struggling to come to terms with the early pace, the need to be up front making his back location in the group a never ending story. Fortune was eventually on his side at the half way point, an ease of pace, allowing him to get in a position that allowed some recovery. The recovery short lived, but the position maintained, Pat [nicknamed fox] maintaining his position, I reckon very few riders even realised he was there. As the race neared the end, the pace increased, riders going off the front and being bought back, Pat waiting his time, for the final flurry, 3 corners in the last 350 meters, we could see the riders exiting the 2nd last corner just prior to the short finish straight. As Pat came into view, about 6 back, the first rider clear, the pursuing 4 over rode the 2nd last corner exit, allowing Pat a clear run onto the 2nd last straight, as he entered the final corner at an angle that defied gravity, and with a speed to match, only one rider was still to be passed for the victory, and pass him he did, I am unsure to this day how he manoeuvred it, neither is the now 2nd placed rider, but he did it with finesse, and a first up win in Cat 3. Jared put in a great ride to place 5th, the speed difference between Cat 4 definitely noticed by our riders. As I mentioned before, my initial assessment of the first round the last corner scenario should win, I was proven wrong by Pat.
PRO 1/2 - 75 MINUTES
Our 3 RAK riders warmed up unaware of the speed that was about to be unleashed in this category. About one hundred riders lined up, away they go, and go and go, faster each lap, Tom Danielson, the main aggressor, covered by Team Toyota United, then countered continually by rider after rider. Within 20 minutes the field is reduced by 50%, RAK riders Sam, Lachlan and Mat well placed, in the lead 20, the continued attacks and speed eventually taking its toll, Sam the first to call it a day after 30 minutes, followed soon by Matt, then Lach at the 40 minute mark..
Disappointed, however unfazed at having to withdraw from such an elite pack, the 3 RAK riders along with the crowd watched in awe as the remaining riders raced the tree lined streets of Niwot, a break of 9 eventually escaping, leaving a bunch of 25 chasers. This chase was in vain, with 3 Toyota United controlling the break, 2 Garmin Chipotle also present, but unable to out manoeuvre the three Toyota riders.
Aussie Ben Day breaking clear in the last 5 laps, winning from Ivan Stevic, and third to another Aussie Jonathan Clark, making it a 1,2,3, for Team Toyota United.
An experience for these young men to actually line up, with riders with such credentials, they weren’t overawed by the experience just outpaced. The best part is in coming years they will get another opportunity to race these guys, and who knows, in the future there may be a time when it is them that are the experienced campaigners, and another group of young RAK riders take to the line.
Next week we have a criterium in Boulder, followed by the infamous Mount Evans Hill Climb, a climb that has very few flat sections, and a roadway that disappears into the clouds, the race record is held by Tom Danielson, who will again be lining up in 08.
You can see more picture and our rider reports on the following websites,
See you on the Road
Seersy