The Radmaraton

Fantastic weather, a well policed course and about 800-900 riders.....incredible.

My course was 63km and since I started off at the back, I spent the first 2km overtaking all those struggling on the first of only 2 really challenging hils (actually not too challenging, but there were alot of town bikes on the road.

Someone crashed behind me, so I stayed with her until the ambulance arrived and then proceeded to  overtake everyone all over again!  I had a ball..at one time I realised I  had developed a tail and after a while one of the tail took over the lead and from then one I was drafting.  There were 2 feed stations but I didn't stop..I'm not sure food is a necessity on a 60km ride!

So that's the end of racing here in Deutschlandsberg both this year and forever since next year the Weltradsportwoche moves to Hartberg which is about 100km further north.

I'm here for another 3 days and with great weather forecasted will spent alot of it training however my main task is to try not to put back on the weight i lost due to the gastro!

Racing Again

So after 4 days of feeling "off" and not being able to stray too far from the bathroom, I'm back "racing" again.

Today's race was the ¬20km TT..Since I'm a tad low on energy (although probably a few kgs lighter too) my aim was just to take it as a fast training session. I felt ok until about 5km from the finish when the lights flickered and threatened to go out completely. 200-300m later and a timely downhill allowed me to re-engage and at least finish looking as though I was working hard(!). I was 3rd.  There were >400 racers today...only 8 in my class though.

The weather today was perfect..no wind, mid 20's. I'm holding my breath for the next fortnight's weather as it's been super for 5 weeks now....can it keep being so good???....pretty please.

This week here in Deutschlandsberg

YES! & then Nooooooo!

Next week in Sankt Johan in Tirol

Tomorrow's ride is the 63km Radmaraton which is a first for me as normally I'm hurrying up to Sankt Johan immediately after the TT..more on this next post.

Change of plans

RACING

Unusually for me I've managed to get in the way of a virus and so have spent rather lot of time over the last 3 days feeling a bit off. I felt really crap on Tuesday, raced the pairs TT on Wedneday at less than 100% and since then have spent rather alot of time fast asleep and with no appetite whatsoever. I never intended racing the hill climb today and now will also skip the road race tomorrow. The Saturday TT remains a hope..sort of depends on how much I improve tomorrow.

ACCOMMODATION

 I thought my plans to move over to St Johann on Sunday were set in concrete, so it came as a bit of surprise to discover I wasn't expected until Thursday! Luckily I can stay here for the extra days, so no real drama.  For the first time I'll get some time to explore this area as a tourist, rather than as a racer.

Today I went to see a Roman Village close by here but was mightily disappointed...I expected more but just got to see some photos, a few bits of pottery, a couple of walls and this, whatever it is:

This is just downright depressing

I might just have to stay over here for a wee while longer!

Competing, buying, posting + update

Competing

 Today's race was the 300m  straight line sprint. I got 4th in the qualifying round and so will race later this evening. Quietly I'd sort hoped to get 5th so as to have a longer rest..but 'twas not to be..however.....mustn't grumble. I'm up against a tough looking Czech chick and she's got no need to resort to mind games...I'm already shaking in my shoes!  More later after the finals.

UPDATE: got 3rd! and I'm feeling pretty smug! Only problem is I'll have to dress up a little for the podium!!!!!;-)))


Buying

 I am a lucky lucky person.  This morning, mooching around town, I wandered into a sports shop..as you do...and found some of my favourite Craft bib knicks. Checking them out I noted that of the 3 in my size, 2 had the inferior chamois and 1 didn't. I then checked the price and saw that they were all the same price..whoops...bit of a mistake there. Anyhow, the price was VERY favourable...89 euros instead of approx $A200, so I bought the one good pair and that's when I discovered there was a 20% discount...end of season sales......lucky, lucky, lucky...well, ok so they are Radioshank branded, but at that price....!


Posting

 As usual I'm posting parcels off to myself  with all the clothes I no longer want/need with me, maps, books, souvenirs, etc etc. It's much cheaper than excess baggage and it's fun getting parcels in  a couple of month's time..sorta extends the holiday a bit

Some things you just gotta have..no matter what you have to do to get them

and this cute old skool back pack plus it old's skool drinking bottle falls into that category.

And what did I have to do to get it???...well I could either buy it for 40 euros, or I could enter the marthon for 40 euros OR since I'd already entered the weeks races en bloc, I could enter the marathon for an added 20 euros. DONE!

 So on Sunday, before driving up to Sankt Johan in Tirol,I'm riding the Radmaraton. Choices were 22km, 63km or 90km. I chose 63km and will make it a relaxed 3hour ride..no stress. The parcours mentions the word "flat"..but this IS Austria and I've learned their concept of "flat" is not quite the same as mine!

 Just goes to show where the money is though...the back pack waas stuffed full of goodies..food, wine, soft drinks, commemorative pen knife and with a promise of a 20,000 euro raffle after the ride......


Sprint day today...first up effort at 0925 and if in the top 4 another blast at 1700.  For the sceptics, what with 2 fourth placings so far,  I guess I should mention that actually there are more than 4 of us in my age grade!

Translation and proof reading fail

Memo to self...stick with the bunch!

  just a proof reading error...or perhaps not!