25 Mar Benchmark Round 1

Round One Top Women's Team: Kat, Gabby, Jeannie & Aimee

First win for Soul Star Racing!

Soul Star Racing earned its first win on Sunday, taking out the team honours in the first round of the Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling Series. The win made up for a not-so-great day on Saturday with both me and Kat sustaining injuries. Kat, however, was the star of the day on Sunday. After spending the Saturday afternoon at the hospital getting her injuries checked out, she still got on her bike and started the race—despite a whopping headache and broken shifter on her bike. Kat’s enthusiasm exemplifies the awesome attitude and commitment of the whole SSR team!

Kat, Gabby and Jeannie waiting for the start

Sunday’s race was Round 1 of the 2012 Benchmark Homes Series. The series, which debuted in 2005, offers some of the best elite racing in the country. Benchmark follows a European format of teams-based racing with each team backed by its own support vehicle in the race convoy. The Benchmark Series has no doubt elevated the level of racing in New Zealand and some incredible talent has emerged from the series.

With seven rounds over eight months, this year’s Benchmark Series, for the first time, is offering a separate series for female riders. The women’s series is an exciting step forward for women’s racing in New Zealand and SSR is excited to be a part of it. With the separation of the men’s and women’s races, the Benchmark series is apt to help grow women’s racing in New Zealand just as it has men’s.

While five four-rider teams have committed to the series, only three teams were able to race on Sunday due to travel constraints for the southern teams. Despite the small field, the twelve women racing put on a dynamic and exciting race.

All three teams were active right from the start with everyone having a go. Over the first 35 km of racing, attacks and counter attacks went constantly as each team fought to get the right mix in the break. Unfortunately, with me and Kat both feeling quite worse for wear, Gabby and Aimee were left to do battle with limited support.

Julia and Gabby working the break.

They both put in some serious attacks but, despite all the activity in the bunch, we hit the base of the climb as a bunch. As the road headed upward, Gabby upped the pace with only Karen Fulton (Tasman Team) and Julia Grant (Benchmark Homes) able to match her pace. The three were well clear by the turn around point at the top of the 4 km climb and, with a tailwind home, lapped it out together to build their lead. With less than 10 km to go, Gabby’s attempts to break free for a solo finish were denied. In the end, it came down to a sprint for the line with Gabby taking an awesome second behind Karen with Julia third.

Aimee triumphed in the bunch sprint where she put in an amazing finish, holding the front over a gruellingly long sprint. Watching from behind I was sure there was no way she could hold on for the long. So proud of you Aimee! To cover all the top even spots, I crossed the line in sixth. With team ranking being based on the top three riders from each team, sixth was sufficient to give us the top team finish for the round.

Aimee leading the bunch into the finish for fourth. In fifth place
is super emerging talent junior rider Caitlin Holmes
(Tasman Wheelers).

We’re excited by the opportunity and support that Benchmark Homes and series organiser Lisa Ward is offering women’s cycling. We’re hoping that the great start to the series will entice more women to join in the fun.

Kat and I will be spending some serious time healing and recovering while teammates Gabby, Aimee and Laura up their training in preparation for our next race. We’re on the road again next weekend at the Vital Signs Tour de Lakes in Queenstown.