Sweet As.

Today’s race report is brought to you by the letter C.

One cookie, two cookie, three cookie, mmm nom nom nom.  This was the start of the road trip to the Celtic Classic de Femme in Glen Innes.  With Bridget smack bang in the middle of year 12 exams and Brielle struck down with pneumonia, it was Angie, Sally and myself (Simone) that packed up to head south of the border.  Brielle graciously moved straight into the role of team nutritionist, baking an awesome batch of choc chip cookies to help us carb-load for the race on Saturday.

The Grafton to Inverell is touted as the hardest one day race in Australia and the 95km Celtic Classic de Femme is the women’s race associated with this prestigious event.  As race 6 in the National Race Series (NRS), the Celtic Classic de Femme attracted women from all over the country which made for a quality field. 

Team Sweet As were pumped for this race for a number of reasons: it was Sal’s first race with the team, Angie had unfinished business after her mechanical at the State Road Champs 2 weekends ago and I had unfinished business after the road race was cancelled at the Geelong Tour.  Add this to some lucrative NRS points up for grabs and a great prize kitty, Sweet As were keen to make their mark on the race.

We arrived Fri evening and went out for a quick spin up to the first Queen of the Mountain (QOM) to loosen our legs after being cooped up in the car.  Jason was nowhere to be found but we assumed he needed some Jason-time after being trapped in a confined space with 3 girls singing hits of the 70’s 80’s and 90’s at the top of their lungs…. for four hours (thanks for those playlists Sal, we didn’t even get all the way through!).

Race day Saturday dawned clear after a very chilly start (sub 5, arggh!) and with the predicted top of 27degrees, we knew it’d be a tough day at the office.  After a bunch “promenade” around the CBD of Glen Innes, we lined up on the start to give a couple of pre-race interviews.  After PR duties were over, it was time to race.

The bunch headed west out of Glen Innes at a tame pace, towards the first points up for grab at the Waterloo Range QOM.  The bunch stayed together at the base but started to string out as we neared the end of the 2km stretch.  I put the pedal down to the QOM line to grab the maximum 3 points.  Myself and two other girls had now gapped the bunch and we pushed hard to increase the gap on the group down the other side of the hill.  As the rest of the bunch crested the hill and began their descent, Angie was stoked to set her own PSR (Personal Speed Record) down the hill on the wheel of Sal, who is back conquering those descents (after some recent nasty falls).  Great teamwork and gutz!  

Myself and the other 2 girls stayed away for another 5km before the first chase group reeled us back in, joined a few kilometres later by the second chasing bunch with Sal and Angie who dictated the strong pace on the front to get their group back onto the main peloton.  Sal and Angie were both stoked because this was the first time they’d caught a break in a race.  Getting stronger girls!!  I was stoked because my teamies were back with me.  Sweet As was reunited (cue for you to feel warm and fuzzy).

With the bunch back together the pace went back to a steady tempo and after a few solo efforts to encourage the pace and an intermediate sprint, we were at the Wire Gully QOM.  This played out similarly to the Waterloo Range QOM with the bunch stretched again and me holding off some last minute challenges to get maximum points and secure the QOM jersey.

From the Wire Gully QOM a bunch of 6 of us got away and worked together well to stay away from the chasing bunches.  As we rode into town, we could see the banner and the street lined with crowds.  I took a deep breath and prepared for business time.  In a very tight sprint finish I claimed 4th on the line, 0.19 seconds behind esteemed young Australian cyclist Lauren Kitchen, who won the event.

Back in the chasing bunch Angie was proving her worth as a team-mate by sharing her water with Sal who, like me, had run out well before the finish – it was thirsty work at this stage of the race! Sal and Angie stormed home from there to claim a credible 15th and 17th respectively.  With their continually improving form, they will be racers to watch!  We are all definitely excited about the prospect of getting to a sprint finish together.

The race presentation dinner that night was an affair to behold!  With a smorgasboard dinner, almost bottomless gravy boats, a Heinrich Haussler (official ambassador) tribute, Mike Tomalaris as guest speaker, a karate display AND dancing podium girls!  We all enjoyed some social time with fellow cyclists and had time to chat with Scott Hodder from Monadelphous - one of our illustrious sponsors.  Afterwards most of the team headed back to Glen Innes for a good night sleep while Simone dragged Jason out for some more socialising at the Aussie Hotel.

Time for a few happy snaps:

Team Sweet As post-race after a lot of rehydration and the odd wet washer on the head.

While we were hanging out in the team tent we had the pleasure of meeting 3 awesome young girls.  We met Bree, Jorja and Tayla (L to R) who had travelled all the way from the Central Coast of NSW.  I thought our trip from Brisbane was long enough!  I personally think they’re brave just for standing next to us after a long race like that -  we weren’t exactly fresh as daisies….  We look forward to catching up with you again guys!

Even though I won the Macintyre Hot Bread QOM jersey, when I heard that there were no more cookies left, I wasn’t happy.  Or was it because there were no podium boys?

Last but not least we have to sincerely thank our Manager, Dave Mohr and Soigneurs (“Swannies”) Jason Billsborough and Wayne Northey.  And of course our sponsors!  Without them we wouldn’t be travelling in as much style as we do, wouldn’t be as organised or we wouldn’t have any shade to lounge around in after the race!  We love you guys (sniff…).

Don’t go far.  State Time Trial Champs are over the next two weekends.

Ciao for now,
Simone