Tales of the 'ANGRY GINGER'

Alice Springs update after the 4th stage.

Well it continues to be official that I suck at rocks and sand. I now have to consider myself a slow learner as after 4 stages I am not getting any better. Still I continue to be consistent in not only my poor form in the rocks and sand but also finishing position with more 7^th places than anything else. Although today I may have been further back by a few but will see later.

Yesterday’s morning stage was a bit shorter and the pace was on. I tried to attack from the start but that only resulted in me blowing up on the first climbs. Opps. Got to try though. I bounced around on the rocks and again got caught by riders towards the end and finished in 7^th.

The hill climb was, well spew worthy. Its like burgundy in length and you just go hell for leather bottom to top. I did 51 seconds. Best was a junior at 44, then another guy at 46 and then Aiden at 48 then us. I think anyway just guessing.

So today was the 77km. The leaders got away then we came back together, then they got away again and we caught them on the 17km bike path section. Then the race became interesting. Steve Cusworth went off the front as soon as we caught them, then Nick Booth went off the front. Nobody chassed as neither are a threat on the overall. But the 3 leaders were not only not attacking they were sitting up and taking our speed from 35ish down to 20ish. 4 of us did turns but any time either Jason, Blair or Lefman got on the front the pace was back to 20. They were happy for Billy Soul to get away but every time myself or another rider tried to go up the road Jason brought us back. After several failed attempts at this I got a bit angry and gave them a server of the Angry Ginger. It was a full server. Then I attacked again but I was blown now and got caught not long after at which point my words were “Great now I’m Blown, you can all go and get F****ed, see you at the finish” Too funny.

They didn't drop me but not long after I crashed on a straight section of road that was very rocky. Some yelling at myself came directly after this. I caught back up and managed to stay with the 4 faster guys as the bunch splintered. Then we hit a very rocky escarpment climb and I was out the hoop and riding like a Nancy. More words had to myself. Got caught by some more guys. Got to the flat bottom bit, dropped my bidden with 5kms to go. Went back for it, more angry words said. Finally I got back. Hmm got some pressure on myself…….

Well time to relax. Tomorrow brings the 25km time trial in the morning and 25km night stage that evening. I’m going to go into those two relaxed. Time for the Angry Ginger to be put away.

I will say one thing, amongst all the yelling and hitting rocks the scenery is sensational. It's a pretty amazing place to be riding bikes. Worth seeing at some stage in any mtbers life.

posted by Rohin Adams @ 3:27 PM