Oct-Dec 2011 Spring Racing in NZ

Winning the 2011 Armstrong Festival Criterium.

From summer to spring. Not bad. We're heading to summer racing here in New Zealand. Here's what we've been up to on the road.

21-23 Oct NZ Masters Games

Lami warming up for the Masters Games kermese
Friday evening.

After returning from 12 full-on weeks of racing in the states, we’ve had a fairly quiet spring. This year’s New Zealand Masters Games was held in Nelson in Oct. With the event right here in our own backyard, Lami and I decided to check it out. Over three days of racing, we were treated to all four seasons, from baking heat to gusting winds to chilling rain. Between us we collected three gold and three silver medals. Not bad. The Tasman Wheelers did a fabulous job hosting. I’ve heard rumors that the event will be returning to Nelson next year. 

29 Oct K1 / K2

The last weekend in October, we headed up to the Coromandel Peninsula for K2(www.arcevents.co.nz), touted as the toughest one-day cycle race in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also one of the most scenic and varied with the route travelling through subtropical forest, pacific coastlines and rural farmland. The event is further unique in that it incorporates four different start cities, starting in a different town each year. You have to race it four times to experience all four routes. Definitely recommended!

The event is named after Kuaotunu, a community on the wild eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. In Maori, the name Kuaotunu means “to inspire fear in young animals.”  The 2 represents the almost 200 km that the ride covers. By coincidence K2 is the 2nd highest, and probably the most difficult to climb, mountain in the world.

Gayle, Jeannie & Lami in Auckland

 
Lami had a great race finishing 4^th in the Masters Division, while I also finished 4^th in the Elite Women’s Race, K1. We had a fabulous time hanging out with our friend Gayle Brownlee, how took excellent care of us over the weekend. The best part of the weekend (for Lami anyway) was the espresso machine that he inherited from Gayle’s mom!

 

Benchmark Homes Round 4 Winning Team: Tom Filmer,
Chris Sharland, Chris Nicholson, Brian Grant, Warrick
Spence, Dean Fulton, Jeannie Kuhajek

19 Nov Benchmark 4

In November we raced the final round on the 2011 Benchmark Homes Series, the Oxford Grand Prix. The Tasman Team had an all around fabulous day with team leader Chris Nicholson taking 2^nd in the men’s race and me winning the women’s race. Strong placings by the rest of the team gave us the winning team for the day and second team overall for the series.

9-11 Dec Crit Champs & Harbour Ride

For my birthday weekend in December I headed up to Auckland to race in the National Criterium Champs (www.smartsport.co.nz) at Takapuna (while Lami held down the fort at home). The crowd turnout was awesome with loads of people stacked all along the start/finish straight. 

Leading the chase in the National Crit Champs at Takapuna

With strong winds and long, exposed straights, the course didn’t quite suit me and, after a busy week at work, my legs did not want to race. Serena Sheridan (Mico Protrain) rode a great race, riding off the front in various breakaways for most of the race. Once the bunch reeled her in, Pip Sutton launched with about a lap and a half to go, holding on to claim the Championship Jersey in style. Rushlee Buchanan (Colavita) and Kaytee Boyd (BikeNZ) took second and third in a close sprint and I somehow snuck in on Kaytee’s wheel for fourth. 


First bunch heading across the Harbour Bridge.

Sunday morning was an early start with the TelstraClear Challenge Harbour Ride (www.telstraclearchallenge.co.nz) scheduled to kick of at 5:50 am. Unfortunately the start was delayed and we spent quite a long time waiting on the start line. Finally, a bit after 7:00, we headed away as the first group of cyclists to ride over Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. Gusty, frigid cross winds made the crossing not all too pleasant, but once off the bridge we were on our way and racing. The constant up-and-down terrain over 110 km was a real challenge to already grumpy legs. Combined with an upset stomach I had a less than stellar race, finishing 10^th—although the field was pretty classy so no complaints.Emma Crum earned the win with a strong ride from beginning to end. The ride also doubled as a fund raser for multiple sclerosis, raising over $90,000. Thanks to every who contributed. Marion Webb was an incredible host. Thanks so much for the wonderful time!

3-4 Dec Armstrong Festival

The highlight of my spring racing was the first weekend in December when we headed down to Christchurch for the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling (www.festivalofcycling.co.nz), a Saturday-Sunday road race-criterium pairing. The Armstrong Festival has faced some enormous challenges this year with February’s earthquake wiping out the courses for both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races. Rather than being discouraged, Simon Hollander and the team at Tailwind Events put in a colossal effort to establish new routes and make this year’s Festival possible. Lami put in two solid days of racing, but with the lack of big hills on the new course, the racing wasn’t quite his style, finishing mid-bunch each day. However, putting in multiple attacks both days, he made the racing challenging for the other riders. In the Women’s race, I had a great start to the road race on Saturday, grabbing the Peak Fuel hill climb prize. The race was fairly dynamic but in the end came down to a bunch sprint. After touching wheels with another rider as we scrambled for position, I was forced to sit up in the sprint and rolled across the line in 10^th. The following day, I made up for it with what I would consider my best race to date. Taking advantage of the tight technical course well suited to my riding style, I was able to escape from the bunch about half-way through the race. Determined, I dug deep and held the gap for an awesome solo finish!

Armstrong Festival Criterium Podium: Sequoia
Cooper, Jeannie Kuhajek, Emily Collins