Geelong Women's Tour, February 22-24, 2005
I am now down in Geelong after racing the tour, getting ready for the first round of the 2005 World Cup Series.
Riders have come from all over the World to battle it out on Sunday. I am crossing my fingers that one of us Aussies takes the win and the jersey on home soil!
While I have been racing the tour this week but I have always been thinking about the important one on Sunday. After suffering during the first couple of stages of the tour I finished second on Wednesday, but more satisfying than the result was the way I felt. It was not a hard race, it was flat and fast with perfect weather but positioning and accelerating with ease was a good indication that the form is there. I managed to tack onto the fastest wheel in the bunch - Oenone Wood’s wheel with 2km to go. At 200m to go I saw someone jump down the left side of the road, I was behind Oenone on the right, I kicked around Oenone but the American had already gapped us.
Thursday's stage was tough; the course took us over one of the hardest hills that organisers have ever sent women over! As expected, the Europeans did well on the climb but Oenone matched them to hold onto the leaders jersey. I took it easy, having little chance of matching the best on the climb.
I am really looking forward to the World Cup on Sunday!
More news to come after Sunday.
