TDT Race Women’s Team entered a modified team for the Honda Hybrid Women’s Tour, with the focus of developing our U19 riders (Natasha Langedyk and Stacy Hocking) and giving them the opportunity to experience racing at this level. Joining the U19 girls in her debut ride with the team was new member Rebecca Domange, U23 rider Danielle Nyikos, our favorite Kiwi Rosy McCall, as well as regulars Felicity Wilson and Chloe McConville.
Stage 1- 55km Road Race Anglesea-Anglesea
Stage 1 of the Honda Hybrid Womens Tour began under very overcast skies. 73 girls rolled off the start line under neutral conditions and as soon as the flag dropped the racing was on. An incident at a roundabout approx 1.5km into the race, saw our under 19 riders (Natasha Langedyke and Stacy Hocking) as well as Danielle Nyikos get caught up, however all 3 riders got back on their bikes and finished the race. The QOM climb came 3 km into the race and had an immediate effect of breaking the field in half with a bunch of 35 (including Chloe, Rosy and Rebecca) taking a 50m advantage over the top. Felicity was in the next group of about 10 girls and worked hard to rejoin the leading group a kilometer or so later. Jo Hogan (Prime Estate) made an attack over the false flat section at the end of the climb which saw her away, but always within sight, for a couple of km’s. With the tactical teams racing she was never going to be let go. Rosy counter attacked Jo and a NTID girl went with her, but again only a couple of k’s later they were reeled in. From then on the attacks came from everywhere, but with the strong team of MB cycles looking after team captain Kirsty Broun and the HP Pinarello girls keeping everyone in sight no one was able to get away. The two intermediate sprints had time bonuses up for grabs and Chloe placed 2nd in one to grab a 2sec bonus which proved to be very handy for GC rankings! The final 4 km of the race was pretty much suicide, the heavens had opened and the rain was falling hard while the main peloton of 45 girls were descending down Anglesea Hill (at almost 70km an hour.) The placings were pretty much decided by whoever hit the roundabout first and most likely who was the most insane. Rochelle Gilmore (HP Pinarello) took the win, ahead of Kirsty Broun (MB cycles) and Davina Summers (Felt/City Cycles) Chloe managed to get herself up there finishing 8th in the sprint and with the 2 second time bonus finished up the day 5th on GC. Flick, Rosy and Bec were all given the same time and were in the top 30 on GC
1. Rochelle Gilmore 1.27.53
2. Kirsty Broun same time
3. Davina Summers same time
8. Chloe McConville same time
20. Rosy McCall same time
27. Felicity Wilson same time
30. Rebecca Domange same time
62. Stacey Hocking 1.40.38
64. Natasha Langedyk 1.40.38
65. Danielle Nyikos 1.40.38
Stage 2 - 10km Individual Time Trial Geelong Waterfront
Again the skies were not promising for the start of the 10km IRTT, and the heavens well and truly opened up halfway through the start list, making the tight and technical corners of the course even more dangerous. All of the TDT Race girls managed to stay upright and posted some good times. With the likes of Vicki Whitelaw (HP Pinarello) who has not long returned from the World Championships, it was always going to be tough not losing too much time on GC. However Bec, Flick and Chloe all finished in the top 20, with Chloe’s 12th place (59sec back) the best result she has ever achieved in time trialling.
At the end of the day GC reflected the TT results (due to the bunch finish in the RR) with our highest rider Chloe in 12th place 59.69 sec down on tour leader Vicki Whitelaw.
1. Vicki Whitelaw 15:34.9
2. Amber Halliday 15:37.0
3. Carly Light 15:44.5
12. Chloe McConville 16:34.6
19. Rebecca Domange 16:48.9
20. Felicity Wilson 16:51.1
38.Rosy McCall 17:34.4
53. Natasha Langedyk 18:13.5
55.Stacey Hocking 18:15.1
65. Danielle Nyikos 18:54.5
Stage 3- 45min + 3 lap Lygon St Criterium
Finally the sunny skies were shining and all of the girls were pretty nervous heading into the final stage. The chance for Chloe to move up on GC (and into the money) would rely on getting at least 4 seconds worth of time bonuses. After Stage 2 only 11seconds separated 12th from 5th. After a team meeting prior to the race it was decided the girls needed to get straight out of the blocks and be aggressive, with thoughts that a breakaway was probably the way the race was going to pan out. Chloe lead the attacks early and was off the front of the peloton solo for just over a lap before being chased down. Bec, Rosy and Flick also lead aggressive attacks but again the other teams were just too strong and no-one was getting away. The field was strung out for most of the race courtesy of the high speeds and hot dog corners and resulted in only 35 girls being left in the main peloton. Unfortunately for our younger riders they couldn’t quite hang in with the main bunch but dug deep to finish. Bec gave Chloe a great lead out for the first intermediate sprint, but unfortunately she finished just out of the time bonuses in 4th place. The 2nd intermediate sprint went the same way, with a drag race right to the line that again resulted in a 4th place and no extra seconds! The final 3 laps saw the pace increase even further and position was everything heading around the final hot dog corner. Chloe managed to sprint up into 8th place after just missing the HP Pinarello Steam train lead out off the corner. Bec, Flick and Rosy all raced extremely well to be up there in the main peloton of only 35. Again sprinters dominated the top 3 positions with Rochelle Gilmore just sneaking in ahead of Kirsty Broun and Davina Summers.
1. Rochelle Gilmore 56.14
2. Kirsty Broun same time
3. Davina Summers same time
8. Chloe McConville same time
24 Rebecca Domange. same time
31. Felicity Wilson 56.29
34.Rosy McCall 56.50
62. Stacey Hocking 1.01.25
64.Danielle Nyikos 1.04.30
65 Natasha Langedyk 1.07.35
At the end of the tour, the top of GC hadn’t changed much with Vicki Whitelaw winning overall ahead of Amber Halliday (MB Cycles) and Carly Light (NTID).
General Classification
1 WHITELAW, Vicki (HP Pinarello) 02:39:37.92 00:00:00.00
2 HALLIDAY, Amber (MB Cycles) 02:39:43.99 00:00:06.07
3 LIGHT, Carly (NTID) 02:39:51.52 00:00:13.60
12 MCCONVILLE, Chloe (RACE) 02:40:39.61 00:01:01.69
19 DOMANGE, Rebecca (RACE) 02:40:55.88 00:01:17.96
24 WILSON, Felicity (RACE) 02:41:13.13 00:01:35.21
56 HOCKING, Stacey (RACE) 03:00:18.07 00:20:40.15
59 NYIKOS, Danielle (RACE) 03:04:02.53 00:24:24.61
66 LANGEDYK, Natasha (RACE) 03:06:26.49 00:26:48.57
Thank you to all of our sponsors, without your support we wouldn’t be able to continue racing in tours such as this. Also thank you to all of the people who lent our riders various equipment during the tour and for the cheering on the sidelines and to Kimbo for getting us every step of the way with our training. The girls look forward to getting more great results soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
