Smiles say it all

Congratulations Cadel!

Photos thanks again to Cycling News.

More interesting reading here...
http://www.cadelevans.com.au/cadelsdiary.aspx

Fusion...

"The process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity."

Well I suppose that's what our criterium on Sunday was... a joining of lots of women's grades together into one race... 

only 30 minutes long, it was over very quickly...

but at least the sun came out, and it was not a wet and wintery day like the day before. 

The annual Scenic Rim Tour was due to be held this weekend, but not enough entries this year, forced the event's cancellation...

lucky HPRW is holding club racing this weekend, and the Charles Coin race (held by UQ) is on next weekend.

Thanks to Morbo and Fusion for the photos.
And on another note,
some Aussie women are once again doing well overseas...

in the Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen race...
Vicki Whitelaw was 2nd and Shara Gillow 4th in last night's stage.

Let's hope for more good results this weekend.
Thanks to Cycling News for the photos.

Carly Hibberd RIP

Like many Brisbane cyclists, I heard the sad news this morning that Carly Hibberd had died after being hit by a car while on a ride in Italy.  I didn't know her personally very well, but I do know she has many close friends and family in Brisbane who will dearly miss her. 

For me, she was an amazing role model and an incredibly nice person.  She was already strongly riding in A grade (competing locally and in NRS events) while I was struggling to advance from C to B grade.  I remember watching in awe as she raced at local events such as the Noosa and Southbank criteriums. 

In particular, I remember the two person breakaway with Carly and Kirsty (Broun) in the 2007 Australian Criterium Champs (Southbank Grand Prix), that stayed away to the end of the race, despite all odds that it would end up being "just another" bunch sprint. 

Carly seemed to me to be a gutsy rider who put everything into her racing and training.  I was fortunate enough to race with her a few times at local criteriums at Nundah and Murrarie, and even though she really had no idea who I was, she was always happy to say hello and even offer some racing advice.  I will always remember after one race at Murrarie, out of the blue she said to me, "You raced well today, but remember to keep your cadence up during the race since it will help a lot with your performance."  There was no "reason" for her to give me the slightest time of day, but she did it all the same. 

I know Carly was also friends with many local female Brisbane cyclists, and was a mentor for those moving up from the junior to senior racing circles.  A kind hearted, beautiful person. 
Thanks to Ben Manson for the photos.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cycling/cycling-community-rocked-by-rising-stars-death-20110707-1h384.html

Aussie in Pink for first time

As many of you are probably aware, over the weekend Shara Gillow (local Queenslander... originally from the Sunshine Coast!)...

secured a magnificent Stage Win at this year's Giro Donne

and this gave her the overall lead and the Pink jersey (apparently a first for an Australian female). 

Nice work Shara!  Hopefully this is just one more success in a very rewarding professional cycling career.

Photos thanks to Cycling News and Adrian Rumney.