Day 9 – Launceston to Swansea – great weather, great countryside…..and a race!
Tassie scenery is great – the contrast between the Snowy’s and the Apple Isle is tough to pick a winner, but both are fantastic riding tours.
Todays schedule was more of a fun day than a ‘commitments’ ride, being Saturday there are no school visits to do and we had no corporates to visit either, instead today was going to include a team time trial race, where the entire full peleton would be split into its 10 teams and those teams would participate in a stage race, timed across 8km for the entire team to complete the distance.
The morning began with the usual before daylight breakfast, this time in the front carkpark of the Hotel Grad Chancellor. We only ran two peletons today with reduced numbers in the field and I was P1. There was 40kms of transport riding before the time trial and subsequently lots of jostling up the front to not be the lead rider for too long so as not burn all your energy prior to the race. I was caught in the front 6 for a bit, somehow some riders managed to duck and weave to place me there. Soon it was my time out the front and I was ok to sit there. Once it was time to roll I signalled the change but not many were keen to allow me to move back it seems, from the calls I got.
We arrived at the start point and teams broke into their groups to discuss tactics. Team Optus really had no ‘racer’ type members so we simply agreed to give everyone a turn on the front and when a member got tired they would roll to the back.
Our performance was a bit lacklustre as we struggled with the start from issues with one riders cleat having mud caught and not allowing it to clip into the pedal properly. Once going we made decent pace and crossed the line.
At the finish we found a cropduster doing his job and spraying the fields, some pictures we staged and we also had some fun doing some video footage with him doing some low level flying over the peleton whilst Sunrise filmed the performance – it should look really good on tv.
Lunch was at a very nice lake setting and was a welcome break from some 80kms riding continually after going through Campbell town. From there was the long 14km descent into Swansea which everyone enjoyed as it was an opportunity to hold some very impressive speeds whilst in a bunch. I held back behind Berrets for a while then cycled past and found myself on my own. Pedalling heavy for a good few kays saw me move onto the back of a couple other riders cycling solo. We formed a trio then quattro to bring it home together – a lot of fun.
In Swansea was the best surprise for the tour, my sister had driven Yvonne, my wife to Swansea from Hobart to watch us finish the stage – they had a sign ‘Go Oosty’ which lots of riders saw and asked if I new the girls holding the sign 🙂
It was great to catchup with my wife and introduce her to other riders she had not already met. Also to get to thank my sister and her friend Nat for the fundraising they have done for me here in Hobart. Jane (my sister) even got her photo with Beretts so she is happy).
Just a short stay for them as I had to get to my accommodation and prepare for dinner. Dinner was arranged by the locals and businesses and featured fantastic local produce and fare. A great meal of Abalone, Oysters, Eye fillet and wines with cheeses. Just great! The country folk in Tassie are very friendly and eager to participate.
Couple of photos below – alas still not of me on the bike, apart from ths rear shot – I am on the right, sorry. There is a pro photographer here who does have a couple of snaps of me that I expect will look good, but having trouble acquiring them.
On an absolutely fantastic note – today I reached $20,000 in donations – Jason Mrak – you are a superstar – your generous contribution to take me to this mammoth milestone will be well spent. Thankyou
Daily Stats – 154km, 1564m ascent 301 TSS
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