Great Doherty dishes up great racing!
By Pip Read
The Great Doherty Tour (November 17 - 18, 2007) is a three-stage tour with two races on Saturday and one on Sunday. Saturday morning saw a very early start to arrive on the other side of Melbourne in plenty of time for a coffee and sign on.
Stage 1 was a 1-in-20 hill climb. My coach had me doing hill efforts in the lead up to this event, and even thought I think I may have driven up this hill about 25 years ago, it was not the best preparation! I did get ride up it once before the start with another competitor who knew the climb well and was more that happy to demonstrate a bit of local knowledge. The stage was basically a hill time trial so if felt a bit strange not being on the TT bike. I was advised to use my race bike and the first thing that happened when I started was I lifted the front wheel of the ground! I have a picture of me looking decidedly wonky after the wheel landed. I did finish third in the race which I was more that happy with.
Stage 2 was a 60km road race consisting of three laps of a 20km circuit with more that our fair share of climbing. I was about to fin out why this circuit has been nicknamed the 'Death Valley'. The rain started just before the race start and only eased to come back with vengeance. Myself and three other riders worked well for a lap and a half when two jumped away on the biggest climb with one chasing and me off the back. In total contrast to the first lap the sun came out and dried the road nicely also making it very muggy. I for one was very glad to see the finish line in fourth position.
Stage 3 was a criterium held in the rain. There was some talk of cancelling the last stage as it had been raining quite heavily but the race went ahead. Those with good legs jumped away after a few exploratory laps. It was a nice circuit in Thomastown and not that far between corners. I soon found myself racing on my own only catching a glimpse of the main bunch, and passed another competitor on the last lap. My cycle computer told me 47.5km per hour average for 27km so the legs must have come good; finishing fifth was a good result.
It was a very enjoyable tour and I finished fourth. The next race will be the 'Tour of Bright' on the first weekend in December.
Cya,
Pip