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.

24 Mar GrapeRide

Not such a good day on the road for Soul Star Racing at the Grape Ride in Marlborough today with two riders crashing on wet, slippery conditions. In its eighth year, the Grape Ride traverses a 101 km circuit through some of the most stunning scenery in NZ. The race starts from Forrest Estate Winery in Renwick, the capital of the NZ wine industry, then heads north to Picton. From Picton, the road climbs along Queen Charlotte Drive around the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds offering stunning views of Ngakuta and Momorangi Bays. A short bit of flat road leads onto Mahakipawa hill and more breathtaking scenery, followed by a descent to the mussel capital of NZ, Havelock. The race finishes with 30 km of gently rolling terrain back to the start.    

SSR was represented by me, Gabby Vermunt, Aimee Burns, and Kat Jones. Kat and I both ended up hitting the deck on the decent into Havelock where a diesel spill turned several corners into dangerous slick spots. Kat’s crash was pretty serious and she was taken to hospital with a suspected concussion. I came away with bruising and grazes on her elbow and knee, the worst impact being to the same hip I injured 5 weeks ago when I was hit be a courier van. Fortunately I was able to chase back on to the bunch after the crash, although damage to my rear derailleur meant that I had limited gearing for the finish. I also found out after the race that I also damaged the buckle on my shoe and ended up spending a significant amount of time after the race trying to get my shoe off.      

With several women in the bunch unmotivated to race, we were caught by four strong male riders at the front end of the recreational ride with about 25 km to go. The joining of the two races was unfortunate as it upsets both the women’s and the men’s finish, but for Julia Grant (Benchmark) it was absolutely gutting. Julia put in an awesome race, riding away from the bunch heading into Picton, taking out the KOM and staying away till within 20 km of the finish. Awesome riding Julia! Also, welcome back to racing Tracy Clark after hip surgery.  It's great to have you back in the peleton Tracy. 

Heading into the finishing shoot, Gabby did a great job getting position at the front of the bunch for the sharp turn into the shoot. The Grape Ride finish is a bit different from the traditional sprint finale with instead windy, technical finish. Not being familiar with the shoot, Gabby ended up losing a few spots before the line and finished an unconfirmed fourth. First across the line was four-time winner Karen Fulton (FreshChoice Team).      

So, while quite a poor race for our second outing, especially considering Kat’s serious injuries, but we’re focusing on the positives. The team has an exciting positive energy. We’re getting to know each other and learning heaps with each ride. Gabby, Aimee and I (assuming I can move!) will tackle Round 1 of the Elite Cycling Series tomorrow. We’ll miss you Kat. Heal quickly!

I'm on the hunt for some photos and will hopefully add some soon.

17 Mar Oceania Road Champs

Soul Star Racing got things off to an awesome start with an exciting performance in the Oceania Road Champs in Queenstown on Saturday. The team was represented by four riders: 2009 NZ National Road Champ Gabby Vermont, 2011 Canterbury Centre Road Champ Aimee Burns, 2012 World Paralympic Tandem Pursuit bronze medallist Laura Thompson and me. Not only our first hit out as a team, the race also marked Laura’s return to racing after a two year hiatus from the road.

View of Littles Road hill

Queenstown turned on a stunner day for us and we were blessed with beautiful blue skies, dry roads, warm temps and calm winds. The course, four times around a challenging 25-km circuit including an exhilarating 100 kph decent followed by a short but punishing and brutal climb up the not-so-little Littles Rd hill; the hill was highlighted by a particularly enjoyable (or NOT!) section near the top with a slightly uncomfortable gradient of 18%. The first time up Littles Rd hill, only 3 km into the race, defending champion Shara Gillow (GreenEDGE-AIS) pushed the pace and the bunch splintered immediately. A crash on the climb caused chaos mid-bunch, leaving several riders, including Gabby, Aimee and Laura, to chase hard to regain the bunch. Laura, having been brought down in the crash, had to put in a massive effort to get back on. She then put in some powerful pulls for the team, showing impressive strength that, with a few more races under her belt, will no doubt become a serious weapon for the team. 

Gabby away solo off the front

With the pace off on the back side of the course along Speargrass Flat, Gabby took the opportunity to launch off the front, rapidly building a lead of almost 2 minutes. As we cleared McIntyre’s Hill, the second major climb of the course, and made the turn back towards the start/finish along Malaghan’s Rd for lap 2, several riders became motivated to get away. With three laps still to go and the testing course not well suited to a solo ride, we were quite keen to have someone join Gabby up the road. Optimistic at the pairing, we let Australian TT-specialist Bridie O’Donnell (Vanderkitten-Focus) escape the bunch.

Gabby and Amy powering through the feedzone.

Unfortunately Bridie, an experienced international pro cyclist and 2010 Oceania Road Race Champion, was confident to go it alone. She blew past Gabby in a massive attack, leaving Gabby still solo, but now chasing. Traveling at more or less the same speed, but individually, the two remained off the front for another lap. We reeled in Gabby the third time up McIntyre’s Hill and then Bridie not long after along Malaghans Rd. And the race was brand new once again.

With the bunch all together and the pace slow heading along the back straight I jumped clear until the top of McIntyre’s Hill when I was joined by five riders, Australian pros Gillow, Gracie Elvin (Jayco-AIS), Rachel Neylon (Abus Nutrixxion) and up-and-coming and massively talented kiwi riders Georgia Williams (KiwiVelo) and Reta Trotman (Otago). Georgia, Reta and I put in efforts to drive the pace but the three Aussies, being speedy sprinters, were less than motivated to work. 

Me and eventual winner Gracie Elvin.

We were eventually joined by five more riders with less than 10 kms to go. Gabby, ever the fighter, once again took the opportunity to launch on a solo vie for the line. She was quickly chased down by Gillow. My turn to put in one last dig but I was hunted down and countered my Neylon with only 3 km the go.

To complement the testing course, the race ended with a challenging, uphill sprint. Aimee was in the mix, putting in a strong performance. The Australian pros proved too strong in the end, sweeping the podium with Gillow leading out Elvin for the win. Gillow maintained position for second, with Neylon taking third. First-year senior Williams was the top finisher for NZ in fifth place. While we left it all out on the road and didn’t have much left for the finish, we couldn’t be happier with our first outing.

We'll be back at it next weekend in Blenheim with the Graperide on Saturday followed by the first race in the Elite Cycling Series on Sunday.

Soul Star Racing

After kicking off my New Zealand summer season with an exciting weekend at the Armstrong Festival of Cycling in early December, including grabbing the QOM in the road race and scoring an awesome solo win in the criterium, I’ve had a rather quiet season. To balance out the lack of blog-worthy news, I have two exciting announcements.

Leading the bunch through Corner 1 in
Tour de Vineyards Stage 1

First, a bit about my season so far. The final week of 2011 I get off to a good start in the Tour de Vineyards, placing fourth in the opening prologue and winning the bunch sprint for second in Stage 1. Then, a latent sinus infection swamped my immune system and I was forced to abandon the tour after Stage 2. Essentially, in addition to a general complete lack of energy, congestion in my head made it difficult to stand without feeling dizzy—not such a ideal state for riding a bicycle.

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Early attempt to escape from the bunch at
Elite Roads Champs.

Eight days later, unsure as to how recovered I was, I headed down to the Elite Road Champs in Christchurch. Buoyed by the excitement of riding a ‘new’ bike (Brian and I decided to swap frames, his Specialized SL2 being a bit lighter than my aero-frame Litespeed), I went in with a positive outlook.  But seven times up “the hill”—a 1.5 km climb with an average gradient of 7.5%, up to 13.4% in places—was not something my body was keen on quite yet. I finished thirteeth in a disappointing and unremarkable performance. But, I did finish, a not so unremarkable feat given the successive cramping of every single muscle in my legs each time up the hill.

Feeling pretty worn out, still periodically dizzy and with lots of congestion in my head, I set training aside to focus on re-establishing some equilibrium in my body. After about 6 weeks, I was gradually feeling better and decided to start back doing some formal training again. Unfortunately, I encountered a slight stumbling block when I collided with a van that pulled out in front of me on my way to work. My bike took the brunt of the impact with the van, which was substantial given the damage to the frame and fork, while I did battle with the road. I landed hard on my right side/back. Cleared of any fractures or organ damage, I’m still working through exact issues. I am, however, extremely fortunate to come away with only minor injuries so fingers crossed.

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Holly sporting SSR kit

Now for the exciting bit. Team announcements! I’m happy to announce for 2012 my involvement with two women’s cycling teams. Over the NZ winter, I’ll head to the US where I’ll join the Chicago-based PSIMET Racing women’s team. Stay tuned for more about PSIMET Racing closer to May. While in NZ, I’ll be racing with the nearly formed Soul Star Racing (SSR). We’re planning to kick things off next weekend with our debut at the Oceania Road Champs in Queenstown.       

The SSR team is packed with talent with riders Serena Sheridan, Aimee Burns, Gabby Vermunt, Kat Jones, myself, and junior development rider Holly Edmondson. Headed by Team Manager Glenn Te Raki, SSR is a registered domestic trade team, I believe one of only two women’s team to be registered in NZ. Awesome progress for women's racing in NZ and we're hoping that SSR will help stimulate the emergence of lots more women's teams. We’re working on our official race schedule, to be announced soon, with racing planned for the next four weekends.

To help the team meet the costs of racing, we’re trying out a Team Membership Club. Membership is open to anyone who wants to join and there are two membership options, “pro” and “supporter”. The Pro option ($250) includes an SSR team jersey (your choice of pink or blue) and the Supporter option ($120) includes an SSR team polo. If anyone is interested a lesser (or greater) membership, I’m sure Glenn is open to discussion. All funds will go toward rider development and racing costs. Any proceeds beyond the expenses of the team will go to St Johns Ambulance. For more information about the SSR team, visit the Soul Star Racing Facebook Page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-Star-Racing-NZ-womens-cycling-team-SSR/347928735231222