We got there at around 6.30am to get warmed up before Laneo's 7.05am start. It was a cold and foggy morning and the start line was packed already with eager MTB enthusiasts. We tried to warm up by riding around but it ended up being warmer to stay still while we waited. Its really amazing to see that many riders in one spot with everyone kitted out in riding gear and perched over their bikes, which must have combined to be hundreds of thousands of dollars worth. With over 2000 riders, some from Canberra and probably more than half coming from inter-state, you start to get an understanding of how popular Mountain Biking has become and what a better place to have my first race than on the wonderful trails of the ACT.
Laneo started in the 3rd group at about 7.05am and with a surge of riders he was off. I had to wait another 30 minutes before my start and it was actually lucky as my body decided that 'number 2's' were immanent and I had to push through the pack to the porta loo's for an 'evacuation'. Once I had taken care of business I eased back into the pack and worked my way forward to find my starting group. Having seen the better more race savvy riders in previous groups dart off the starting line like there was a tidal wave rolling in, it was quite comical to see the different level of urgency in my group and the ones behind. There was a count down to start, I was at the front and looking behind you could have mistaken everyone for being in a cafe chatting and sipping on latte's if not for their bikes. Anyway we were off and racing and pushing forward up some pretty brutal hills towards Mt Majura and the start of some single tracks. My lunges were burning breathing in the cold morning air and it was a real struggle, but I was keeping pace if not edging forward a little.
We got to Majura pines single track network and almost instantly it was gridlock with lines of riders all bunched together trying to find a safe spot to pass. If one person was to stop or have a fall then all the others behind had to wait and sometimes walk. It got pretty frustrating at times as you would start to get in a bit of a flow and then be braking hard as the domino affect of stopping riders rippled down the line. Sometimes riders would fall and knock 2 or 3 others over too as they were all clipped in. I finally broke free a little and found a rider that was of similar riding ability and speed to me and we worked our way out together to another lunge bursting hill (Which was one of the "oh my god I feel like shit" hills) and the start of the untimed transition period through suburbs. I caught my breath pretty quickly as its a fast downhill fire trail run out to the streets. It was nice to finally not be staring at someones back as was the case for most of Majura.
Once we finished about 14 kms of transition and got to Black Mt, the start of the second timed section I had gotten my second wind and found myself passing a lot of other riders through the undulating hills towards Mt Stromlo. It was a lovely ride through there with fast fire trails and time to turn the pedals over, get some fluids in and clear my nose and throat that were constantly leaking from the cold air. Luckily there wasnt anyone behind me at that point! As we made our way closer and closer to Stromlo I could see the observatory in the distance and knew I was almost there, although at this point my legs felt like jelly and I was really pushing hard to keep the pace. But I knew I was in good shape and still had some extra in the tank.
The climb up Stromlo was brutal. Although I have done this exact route many times I was already in pain before the first incline and knew it was going to be a nasty 8 kms or so up. Behind me was a rider that had been on my tail for a while and together we pushed forward, egging each other on up the typically tricky technical sections of Stromlo's single tracks to the top and the realisation that its all downhill from here! And what a downhill it is, cruising along 'Skyline' and picking up some serious speed before hurtling through the bridge and onto the 'Luge'. There was no one around, just me and the awesome run to the finish line. As is often the case with knowing you are closing in on the end of something tough, you tend to relax and lose a bit of focus, this is when you are most likely to have an accident. So I concentrated hard on picking the right line, slowed down a little and tried not to make any mistakes.
Finishing up speeding around a part of the Criterium circuit and over the line to masses of people, tents, bikes, marquees and of course my lovely wife and kids together with the Lanes all smiling and cheering. Laneo finished in a blistering time of (estimated) 2 hours and 45 mins. While I was around 3 hours and 30 mins. We will find out the exact times when they are posted online and also check out some of the thousands of photos taken on the day by an adventure photography company that had cameras everywhere along the 50km stretch.
Just a magic day, the sun was out for the entire race and although trashing my legs I felt pretty good later in the afternoon and woke up the next morning fine. In fact Laneo and I took the bikes out for a little spin around the Mulligans flat reserve the day after and then came home and bathed our babies (the bikes, not our kids) for the rest of the day.
A weekend of mountain biking heaven.
The cold wait before the start
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The sweet moment of finishing
The support crew
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