Bikeforce Australia

R.A.C.E. WOMEN’S TEAM

Date	Race	Result
January 6th, 2010	Elite & U23 Scody Women’s Time Trial, Ballarat	Rebecca Domange - 20th
January 7th, 2010	Wattbike Elite & U23 Women’s National Criterium, Ballarat	Kendelle Hodges - 8th Jenny Macpherson - 17th
January 9th, 2010	Elite & U23 Scody Australian Open Road Race, Ballarat	Rebecca Domange - 26th Kendelle Hodges - 27th
January 22nd, 2010	Exact Mining Services Women’s Criterium, Adelaide	Jenny Macpherson - 8th
January 31st, 2010	Neometro/Prime Estate Women's Race, Port Melbourne	Jenny Macpherson - 1st Rebecca Domange - 5th Kendelle Hodges - 8th
February 7th, 2010	Adventure Capital/Total Rush – Race #3, Port Melbourne	Jenny Macpherson - 1st Kendelle Hodges - 2nd
February 28th, 2010	Adventure Capital/Total Rush – Race #4 (final race of 4 race series)	Jenny Macpherson - 1st and 2nd overall in women’s series

NEW ZEALAND WOMENS TOUR
The Tour started with some bad luck, it was evident that I was going to have a few things to deal with. Chloe rung me 4 days prior complaining of knee soreness,and within 24hrs had to withdraw, that was a blow to the team as chloe has this way of making the girls aggressive and is always up for some hard racing. My strong team of 6 turned to 5, Oh well I thought we will just have to get on with the task without chloe.

The flights were great late as usual but you come to eccept that with Qantas, but no extra luggage fees were a bonus, as anyone travelling with bikes to races knows the equipment we have to take. Jorge was there to meet us with a bus that took us to our accomodation, and I must say we were accomodated in some very nice motels and the meals were very good. I picked up the hire car early the next morning I wanted to save money so didnt want to have it extra days.

Managers meeting at 11am all went well ,I picked up the girls numbers and transponders. The mechanic Ken Lawson worked hard that morning getting all the girls bikes ready for the first stage, everything was going so well until Kendelle received a phone call to say her 2 year old cousin had been killed,it was such a shock to her and all the girls. That was one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in cycling so far as a manager. Kendelle was so upset and this went through the whole team,as they are very close. We had to get on with the job we were there to do, I called a team meating and we all discussed our feelings, the girls were very professional about it and prepared to race, Kendelle was determined to start as well and I was very releived as I knew she had the form to be our number 1 GC rider.

Stage 1 Martiborough to Masterton via te wharau hill 95km. The girls were transported by bus to the start it was about a 1 hour drive through the mountains, they all lined up to start at 2.30pm, 10k into the race kendelle punctures we got to her fast and got her back into the race,but I could see that she was not handling the situation, but the girls rode around her and showed her support, 50k into the race she was on the back of the peloton in tears, it was eveident than that this was not going to be her tour, Felicity and Emma tried to get her back on the bunch but they were putting themselves in a bad position which is why they lost time on the first stage, but being a part of a team is about helping your team mates. This was a good step to team riding for the girls.Overall the first stage looking back at it was our worst, a combination of inexperience nerves plus trying to support a team mate lost us time.

Stage 2 Masterton to Palmerston North via Pahiatua track 114km.10am start This turned out to be a really good positive ride by all the girls, our american rider Liza and Rebecca had only finished 28seconds of the leaders. Emma was in this bunch but crashed on the decent just a lack of inexperience,but managed to pick herself up and finished in the bunch with Felicity only 3.48min down, I was happy with the way they had ridden today they were all very positive. I pulled Kendell out of stage 2 as she was not coping, I made the decision to send her home, my way of thinking was that she would not be good for the girls and I needed to keep them positive and she needed to be with family.

Stage 3 Palmerston North-Ashhurst circuit and return 87km 10 am start This was our best chance for a stage win, we had our usual team meeting and the way GC stood we definately had a chance to take a stage, but this was not to be and I think if the girls had that stage over again one of them would have at least taken the opportunity to have a go. I was a little upset with the team today as I gave orders at the team meeting I want you in every break as this was a chance for riders not on GC to pick up a stage, and being a curcuit they would be more comfortable with what lay ahead, but the girls made no attemp and were happy to finish in the main peloton, a break did go and the girl that one the stage is definately not as strong as our riders. I made my point that we are here to race and its not acceptable to be so negative.

Stage 4 the time trial 11km.This was the worst stage of the Tour, it was very dangerous.It was on a major Highway and was meant to start at 5pm peak hour traffic anyway it was delayed until 6pm but it was still very dangerous. The girls all rode well.

Stage 5 Palmerston north to Masterton 112km 10am start another disaster for our team Emma comes down in a bad crash just before the major climb of the day, the mechanic worked hard and got her going again, but it was going to be a long day for her as she was now at the tail end of the peloton a shame as she had been getting stronger as the tour went on, Emma did finish but rode the stage with her shoulder dislocated so would not be starting the crit the next day. Rebecca had a fantastic day and finished up with the lead bunch, getting over the big climb with them, this was great to see her riding stonger as the tour went on.

Stage 6 Criterium in the City of Wellington.I hope next year we have our full team lining up to start.It was a very fast and aggressive criterium which half the field were shelled out the back in the first 15 min,it didnt help that the teams were called up in order of GC,so we were near the back to start of with, Liza was our best performed rider today and the experience she has, helped her to get through it.The end of the tour,we all had fun and the experience I gained will help in future tours.The girls have all come back with really positive attidudes to go on with the Australian rd season and hopefully we can pull off a few wins. I would like to extend a big thankyou to you dean for the help and to our sponsors, TDT and BIkeforce and Championsystems with there help we have been able to gain valuable experience.

Kim Howard

A brief report, stage by stage, Felicity Wilson:

Stage 1. 98km Martinborough to Masterton
Well what a learning curve….stage 1 and crashes everywhere!! You soon learn that down the back is not the best place to ride a bike race with 110 women.
The hills proved to be a tough learning curve. With the race splitting up on the initial climbs I chased hard to regain position only to regain contact with the main peloton and yet another climb with attacks off the front. Eventually regaining momentum with a small group of girls we chased hard but also missed a turn and headed off in the wrong direction eventually crossing the line 13min behind the leader.

WILSON Felicity

RAC

3:02:28

+ 13:09

Stage 2. 114km Masterton - Palmerston North via Pahiatua Track
Stage 2 proved to be equally as tough but my legs started to come good and I only lost 3.48min in today’s stage.
The climbs towards the end of the stage proved challenging for everyone, I finnished this stage with Rochelle Gilmore and a small group of girls.

WILSON Felicity

RAC

3:16:46

+ 03:48

Stage 3. 87kmPalmerston North Ashurst Circuit - Palmerston North
Stage 3 started with an initial steep climb and then proceeded around a circuit. This was the day we should have been in the break. The conditions were a little more like home, open roads with short sharp climbs. The whole team stayed in contact to finnish with the main pack, missing the breakaway group which won by 10sec.

WILSON Felicity

RAC

2:21:39

+ 00:10

Stage 4. 11km Individual time trial
The time trial was raced in the afternoon with competitors tackling peak hr traffic, it was a solid time trial course with a series of small hills to yet again test the legs. I finished in 41st position.

Stage 5.112km Palmerston North to Masterton
A tough stage with a 4km climb only 10km into the race. Unfortunately a crash at the bottom of the climb included one of our riders. I waited hoping she would be right to stay in contact with the main bunch but with the gap opening I chased to regain the peloton at the bottom of the climb. Once I reached the bunch Ruth Corset attacked causing the bunch to split. Once again I was chasing with a group of 12 riders. The bunch worked well together but with the time already lost from the climb it was a matter of not losing too much time and working solidly to finnish the 112kmn stage

WILSON Felicity

RAC

3:05:23

+ 17:03

Stage 6. Criterium Wellington

Depending on where your team was ranked that was the position you started on the start line. We were towards the back, and the race was on straight out of the blocks. Unfortunately you were pulled out as the race proceeded only 20 of the 100 starters completed the crit.

WILSON Felicity

RAC

42 laps

In summary:
The tour was an amazing experience and would not have been possible without the assistance from Kim, Ken and Peter. Kim ensured we were all well informed if there were any stage changes. Our kits were washed and ready for each stage. Ken was an amazing help with the maintenance of our bikes, ensuring they were washed and ready for each stage. Peter ensured our tired muscles were in working order for each stage.

It was fantastic to have Liza in the team for guidance and support. Emma Lawson was also a great member of the team who was one of the youngsters in the team with a great future in the sport.

I really believe this tour was an excellent base to start the National series, and all members of the RACE team should only improve from this experience.

I would like to thank the RACE team for all their support and assistance in making opportunities such as this tour possible. Without RACE and Kim Howard, competing in races such as the New Zealand tour would not be possible.

Thank you.