So I had my first race today and I was really excited and was feeling pretty good and confident. I really wanted to have a solid race and maybe even take it out. It was a cold day today so I went to the race fully prepared with all my warm kit ready. I stood outside when I got there trying to figure out what to wear. It didn't feel too cold just standing there so I thought maybe just a short sleeve thermal and arm warmers will do because I thought I would heat up anyway during the race. The race started and made my way up to the front of the bunch and was feeling pretty good. It was quite a technical course with 17 laps of sharp slippery, muddy and cracked corners adding up to 125km. On the second lap a few riders were trying to go up the road but it all came to nothing pretty quickly. I decided to have a crack off the front to test the legs out and they were feeling pretty awesome. I lasted about 3k by myself until a little group of riders caught up to me. The group got caught after about a lap and then two other riders went off the front (one of the riders being the Belgium Elite Champion [He wasn't the Pro Belgium Champ so no it wasn't Tom Boonen unfortunately]) and I chased up to them. The three of us spent about 5 or so laps up the front then another group of 3 riders caught up to us. We had a lead of maybe one minute on the bunch after about 10 laps so the pace of the breakaway was starting to pick up. My choice of clothing and my theory of getting warmer as the race went on was failing miserably. I had thin short fingered gloves on and I couldn't feel my hands and fingers anymore. I was starting to get really really cold coming close to the 2 hour mark. My legs and arms were starting to seize up and my heart rate was dropping. I was starting to find it really hard to keep up with the breakaway, my legs just lost all power and feeling in them. After two hours of riding I was becoming almost hypothermic and I dropped from the breakaway. I couldn't hold on to the peloton either I was just that cold. I decided to pull out and get warm again because I had lost feeling in my hands, feet, arms and legs and I was shaking more than Michael J. Fox. Luckily, Andrew (the team director) had a friend who lives on the same road as the race finish line so I had hot drinks and a hot shower at his house and got warm again. I hope summer comes soon. Supposed to snow on Monday and Tuesday which will be kind of cool but I would prefer summer to be honest.
Overall I am really gutted with the race having to pull out with being cold when I could've easily dressed warmer and if I did get too hot I could just take layers of clothing off but hey, I learnt. I loved the race though, it was so much fun and completely different from New Zealand racing, we started with about 120 riders and were riding a small circuit 17 times and riding on very small and technical farm roads. Can't wait to do some more races soon!
Tomorrow I'm going to watch a race with other Terra Footwear riders racing so it will be cool to finally meet up with the rest of the team and watch some racing. Also tomorrow, Taylor Gunman who is a kiwi rider from the Shore that rides for the team will be my new roommate which will be cool. Finally get a roommate!
Hey Nick - shame about the race. Sounds like you were doing really well and would have made a good place. As you say, you have learnt and hopefully that will stand you in good stead for the next one. Sounds like a very interesting circut! Glad to hear a roommate has arrived. Will be much more fun now you have some company :-). Take care. A Jo.
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