Sizzling Summer Series 2015, rounds 1 and 2

Our team racing debut for 2015 happened at round one of Logan Cycling Club's annual SSS.
Ladies (A grade) racing for Koiled-Petbarn-Seight during this early criterium season include:
Melanie Parker, Alex O'Dea, Faye Goodyear, Rachel Edwards (team captain) and myself.

25 women were there to complete in women's A in round one.  Pretty good numbers for a local Brisbane race. Local teams included Data #3, Campos and Koiled-Petbarn.  A few NRS and international riders were there to keep us honest too (Kat Garfoot and Macey Stewart from Orica GreenEdge, Hayley Jones from Bicycle Superstore, Nicole Moerig from Boss Racing, and Ellen Skerritt from Rochelle Gilmore's new Aussie High 5 development team).

The pace was high from the start, with lots of attacks (as is typical for the SSS series).  No breakaways stuck, and the bunch sprint saw Macey finish a comfortable first, with Hayley second, Nicole third, Faye (Koiled-Petbarn) fourth, and Rachel (Koiled-Petbarn) sixth.

First prime Macey (Orica), second prime Zoe Watters (Campos).

Round two was similar, with good numbers of ladies racing, and the pace was kept high for much of the race.

No-one was keen to see a breakaway go, so it came down to a bunch sprint again.

This time we were slightly more prepared than 2 weeks earlier,

and we gave Faye a good lead-out, so that she could demonstrate her developing sprint prowess.

Faye (Koiled) first, Macey (Orica) second, Nicole (Boss) third, Rachel fourth.

First prime Macey (Orica), second prime Jazzy Hurikino (Campos).

This means we head into the third and final round of the series this weekend with two riders in the top six.

Should make for an exciting final race.

Photos thanks again to Pete Dunlop, ESI photography and Logan Cycling Club!

Gold Coast Cycle Fest Criterium

Designed by Robbie McEwen, this tight 850m criterium circuit was set up in the central plaza area of the Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium.

Not long after the start-finish line, riders entered a tight left handed corner (it almost turned back on itself), before then negotiating another tight right hander, followed immediately by another tight left hander.

This led into a straight section of around 300m which then became another slight right handed corner, which also then became a tight left hander.
This last left corner then led you back to the finish line straight.

In summary, 4 tight corners in around 1min30 to 1min45 depending on the level of attacks in the race.  That meant lots of out-of-the-saddle sprint efforts in that period of time.

From the first lap, Nikki (Koiled-Tineli) and Ellen (Holden), applied the pressure and strung out the field.

Then only a few laps in, Ellen counter attacked one of the other women on the front, and got a slight gap through one of the tight corners.  From then on, Ellen continued to attack and found herself quickly in a one person break.

Only a lap or two later, Nikki attacked the already tiring bunch, and found herself also in a one person solo effort,

chasing Ellen in front, yet being chased herself by the remainder of the bunch.

Due to the tight circuit, very soon the chasing bunch was reduced to only five riders (Rachel and myself from Koiled, Sharon, Abbie and one other).

Neither Rachel nor myself were willing to chase down a team mate (Nikki), so that left 3 riders to do the pursuing.
Not surprisingly Ellen hung on for the win (with her current terrific NRS form),

with Nikki coming in second, followed by Abbie (3rd) and Rachel (4th).

Definitely an exciting race circuit and a lovely weekend. Thanks to Pete Dunlop for the photos again (with start line photo by Stacey Bowden). 

Balmoral metropolitan criterium champs 2014

Another great example of the support behind women's cycling in Brisbane was at the 2014 "Metro's". Balmoral Cycling Club holds this event each year, with a criterium at Murrarie on Saturday and a road race on Sunday at Mt Alford.  Good numbers of women competed in all grades across the two days.

For us in women's A on Saturday, we had ladies from Campos-Avalon, Koiled-Tineli, Total Rush, Liv-Giant, Specialized Securitor, MB, Jayco AIS, and my own club KPCC.

It was an interesting race, with little place to hide for anyone.

Many riders initiated some aggressive moves off the front in an attempt to break up the field.

Nikki Orlic (Koiled) spent a lot of time instigating some breakaways, but was consistently chased down,

particularly by Corissa (designated workhorse for the day for Campos).

With only a few laps to go, Kat Garfoot (AIS) put everything on the line and jumped away from the bunch.

After a little too much hesitation, the chase was on, but Kat's power kept her away to get another notable solo win.  The bunch kick for second and third saw Louise Betts (Campos) get to the finish before Rach (Koiled) and then Jess (Total Rush).

Thanks to Pete Dunlop for the photos!  Podium photo c/o Rachel.