Musings from one of the punter participants...
EVENT
la grande fondue
TRANSPORT
the new Steve territory with flashy mags and sideboards, literally just off the presses, smooth and commodious
ACCOMODATION
Chez Lew, for most of us; an expansive spread with magnificent view up on the point roadnight hill at Angelsea, brilliant accomodation from our urbane host
PREPARTY
at the local Locanda del Mare, we were their best client for the night for sure; excellent food, italian chef just back from Italy, some specials ordered by the G.C. hit the spot, for mains I chose rabbit (very good), on the theory it might help
PREPARATION
Staying with Lew were 4 of his "younger" mates, that night, for them:change all tyres and tubes to new race spec, limber up with linament rub downs, last minute bicycle tune ups
BREAKFAST
started early with the young guns at about 5 (it seemed), later they headed off for their warm up ride from Anglesea to Lorne, most of us breakfasted about 6.30, left about 7 (drove, but thanks for asking)
EVENT
4000 riders filling the main drag of Lorne, corralled into lots of 200, each lot let go at 90 sec intervals; first lot left at 8, last about 8.30; we were all in the 3000's so had about 20 mins to cool our heels before being let loose
WEATHER
cold but didn't rain during the event, the predicted rain duly set in mid afternoon
ON COURSE
after the start there was 1.5km to spread out a little before the timing start, once over the start timing tape it was on for young and old, we had started so far back that all the fast groups were well outta town so it was just a constant business of passing people and groups most of the morning, vainly hoping to catch a faster group
COURSE CLOSURE
people come from all over Australia and one also from Germany to do this event b/c of the closure; we had been briefed by Mr Plod the evening before that we could ride the RHS of the road as all access roads and farm/ house etc openings were (in theory) closed
This was truly brilliant b/c it meant you could safely pass riders and even very large groups on the RHS as non passers kept to the left lane; this meant fast descending was, for once, safe. this is what made the event, huge difference from other mass stuff eg ATB
ACCIDENT
one young woman came down very hard on a fast descent (don't know why-?touched a wheel?front blowout?hit something on the road etc) head injury with spurter (forehead artery laceration) blood everywhere, ambulance turned up promptly but haven't heard outcome
HOTTIES
the young guns afterwards "we were riding insane speeds and taking ridiculous risks", I'm sure the hotties would have been doing 100k on some of the descents and the roads were often a bit wet in amongst the rainforest sections, all the dangerous descents were clearly signposted so everyone was forewarned, no surprises
WOMEN
a lot of very good women riders-check out the younger age categories- and many just thrashing the males, one 20 or 30 something beauty who, like me was overtaking the groups on the Forrest -Deans Marsh bit "where are all those strong aussie males when you need them"
TACTICS
mate of mine (3.30) said their group just HAMMERED it the whole way. that's whats needed for a 3.30 type time, and of course the legs for seriously fast climbing
TIMES
winner 2.52.36
Peter English 8th at 2.54.39
young guns staying with Lew, 2.58; 3.01; ~3.20 . (roughly)
male 65plus winner 3.23.40
cutoff Q time for the male 65plus age group 3.49.41
REFLECTIONS
great event, the road closures makes it very special; excellent to have shared accom with a sub 3hr, that'll get a lot of airplay at work this week; thanks to Lew for sensational accom; somehow have to flatten out those hills!; if you want fast and furious its the one.
cheers
Bob
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