Mountain Man in a Flat Land

Stage 1: Cairns loop

27km - 630m climbing

Day 1 done and dusted

My race plan went out the window today, as I won my age group. That was not the plan, so now I will have to race to keep the position. The plan before todays stage was to take it easy, and see what happens towards the end of the race. I will bank the boomerang I won today, and am happy to have got one on my first stage of the Crocodile Trophy.

A good day on the bike you could say, much better than planned. I thought it might have been OK, when I passed the guy who got second in my age group last year, and rode away from him. Better than planned as I won by 1 min 30 sec, so I will bank that and take that to the next stage. I also had the fastest time for a lap in my age group, so not so bad for a non-mountain biker. I am guessing it was the long straights where I could use some of my roadie power. My other piece of good luck was hitching a ride with another kiwi, Steve, in his Dad's truck back to Cairns, avoiding the 15km bike back into the headwind. Thanks guys, and much appreciated.

Todays stage was 5 loops of the Smithfield Mountain bike course (a short 15km ride out of Cairns), the same course as was used for the World Championships a few years ago, and I hear the year that Roberto rode. The course was fast, and twisty, although it had a flat and quick section at the end, where my road bike training of riding into the headwind paid off, as it was rough, but still fast. A good fun course, and by lap 5, my mountain biking skills were coming back to me, andf i was really enjoying it. I think a lot of people went out too hard, as after the first lap no one passed me, and I passed a few very red in the face riders, as it was also hot. In the end my time was 1hr 45mins, and the overall winner did 1hr 30mins. 

The Podium shot :) The guy wearing the Smart Cycling top got second in the age group last year.

That was today. A good day on the bike you could say.