11 Sep Benchmark Round 2 (Healing Old Wounds)

Back in New Zealand after 13 weeks of crit racing in the US, a bit of a break from racing is in order. But not quite yet. Two weeks after returning home, some unfinished business beckoned.

Round Two Tasman Team: Brian, Garry, Warrick, Chris,
Daniel, Sean, and Jeannie with Kieran on camera duty

Three and a half years ago, I crashed badly in Round Two of the Benchmark Homes Series in Timaru, making an ambulance exit from the race. Given the severity of the crash, I was extremely lucky to come off with a concussion, broken collar bone, and some missing skin. I don’t recall much about the event, having hit the ground more or less head-first and blacked out for some time, conveniently coming to just before the ambulance arrived (= short wait!), but it hangs over my head as the race I didn’t finish. That is, until now. This year, the Benchmark Homes Series returned to Timaru for the first time since 2008, and with it my chance to finally finish the race.

Saturday afternoon, I met up with my Tasman teammates: Brian, Chris N, Daniel, Sean, Tom N, and Warrick, and Managers Garry and Kieran, himself healing from a broken collarbone suffered when a car drove into him while he was racing in France, and together we made the long drive down from Nelson to Timaru. Rain forecast for Sunday thankfully held off. Roads remained dry and we were presented with an overcast but otherwise beautiful day. Temps were a chilly but constant 13 °C (40 °F) and the winds fairly innocuous—especially for a Benchmark race.

View of Centennial Park Timaru, Photo by Steve Attwood

After 3 months of flat, smooth roads and short, fast racing in the US, 115 km of mixed rolling terrain, punchy climbs, and long false flats on rough New Zealand chip was going to be a challenge despite good fitness. The course was the same as in 2008, a short 15 km lap through the narrow, windy and scenic roads of Centennial Park, followed by three 33-km laps through rural Timaru. With 96 starters from 15 teams, including 12 females and plenty of top-notch riders returning from over-seas, the race promised to be full of excitement.

And exciting it was—right from the start. As per usual with Benchmark races, the pace was fast from the drop of the flag, with lots of teams keen to establish riders in a break. Luck was not on my side and I punctured less than 30 km into the race. I pulled off the road for a wheel change and Garry and Kieran were at my side in an instant, ready with a new rear wheel in hand. Unfortunately, while we completed the swap, the bunch disappeared in the distance, blasting away from us at over 60 kph, carrying momentum from the biggest descent of the course. Not good timing. With no chance of regaining the leaders, I was lucky to rejoin a small group of eight, including fellow Tasman rider and current series leader Karen Fulton (Team Orbea). With a badly synched gears and over 80 km left to go, company was much appreciated!

Brian descending

Bike NZ rider Lauren Ellis (Warmup Pushbikes), carrying excellent form from several months of racing in the States, held on to the front group of guys to take the win, while Corrinne Smit (Cycling Otago) put in an impressive ride for second. Karen and I finished together, duking it out in a sprint for third. Both being from Tasman, Karen and I race together regularly and she normally kicks my butt in a sprint. This time, with Karen just back on the road after a bit of a break, the roles were switched. I grabbed third with Karen finishing fourth, enough to maintain her series lead.

So, while the race didn’t quite go as well as hoped, a puncture is definitely an upgrade from a crash any day. Most importantly, mission accomplished. After three and a half years, I finally finished the race. The team put in an awesome effort with Daniel Ellison finishing 6^th, Chris Nicholson 9^th, and Warrick Spence hanging on to the Masters Leader’s Jersey.