Sweet As.

Team "SWEET AS" Bundaberg Sugar reaching new highs....

It was a fairly fresh overcast afternoon as six of the Bundy Sugar girls arrived at Nundah criterium circuit for the highly anticipated State Championship event. Simone, Angie, Sal, Nik, Nat and I (Brielle) met at the course in plenty of time to setup (with the help of Dave and Jason), warm up and have a lengthy discussion with our sporting director Terry about the tactical play of the race. Regardless of the fact all six of us had been unwell in one way or another over the past 2 weeks, we went into the 30 minute + 3 lap race feeling confident as a team that we could pull out something brilliant.

The race started out at a strong pace. The Sweet As girls took the first few leads to get the pace up and string out the field early. There were 15 riders in the bunch, containing national level competitors MB cycles as well as other strong girls we have become more than familiar with over the course of the year. There were a couple of early attacks: most containing a Sweet As rider and were thus covered under our race strategy. We each made our moves- either taking the front of the field bringing back a break, stringing the bunch out with a solid turn, making an escape, countering a former attack once it was brought back into the fold and so on, the Bundy Sugar team was well in control of the race.

A dangerous breakaway hit the field with about 15 minutes + 3 laps remaining in the race. Fortunately Bundy Sugar was well represented with the likes of Angie and Nik in the 3-rider break alongside Loren Rowney. For lap upon lap, the field behind sat in a mix of disarray as Sweet As riders, represented in the break, kept out of the chase but at the same time wanted to slow the pace in the field to give the break the best chance of staying away. After a few laps the field bridged back to the break and straight away a counter move was undertaken by Zoe Watters, a strong MB rider. Sweet As took it in their stride to bring back Zoe so Ange and Nik had a short breather after such a great breakaway attempt, the rest of us stretched our legs on the front. A particularly strong turn from Sal brought Zoe back into the fold as the field approached the 3 laps to go sign.

As soon as we hit 3 laps to go the pace slackened slightly as individual riders tried to hide and conserve energy and teams got organised for what would eventually be a final bunch sprint. A late breakaway attempt by Nik strung us out again but the bunch was back together very quickly. Coming into 2 laps to go you could feel the nervous energy in the bunch. Everyone was fighting for position and as we came around the final straight coming into the bell lap, an MB rider was on the front with Sweet As riders surrounding them. As we heard the bell I got onto the front and drove the pace up hard dragging the remaining girls as far as my legs would take me. Half way round I pulled off and found 3 MB riders on my wheel. They peeled off to the side with me, and made a gap for Sal to rev up her engine and, all power and guts, drag our girls the rest of the lap around to the line. With 300m to go riders went in all directions hustling for gaps in order to break into their sprints. Sal's lead set our sprinters up beautifully as Sim took off one side and Ange up the other. Sim was too fast for the field, taking a bike length gap with her as she sped up the road, crossing the line in the gold medal position!!!!

New State Criterium Champion.......Simone Grounds!!!

Solid day, amazing support, priceless teamwork and some very proud Sweet As riders.

Thank you to everyone for your support on the day, whether it be cheering us on the sideline or helping us setup our gear. The support really makes a mighty difference to the feeling we take into a race.

Until next time....

Brielle