2012

So I thought I should update on what my plans are for the coming season... After doing a good block of hard training for the elite nationals U23 time trial it was a great relief to take home the bronze medal as I had worked  hard for it in training with countless hours on the TT bike doing efforts-Thanks a lot to the Hub Cycle Center for Helping me out with a super fast Specialized Shiv. Pretty stoaked to open the year with a result and to step up to the U23 age group with a podium finish.

Nationals Finish

Pain.

After the Nationals in Christchurch I traveled back home for the local Hub Tour Based in Hawke's Bay. Four stages over three hot days meant for some fast and exciting racing. I managed to take the prolouge out on Friday night by 5s over Jeremy Vennell and Roman van Uden. The next day I went on the attack with about 5 others then we were joined to form more of a breakaway with about 12 riders with 1 lap to go. I covered all the attacks leading into the finish to retain the jersey for another stage. That afternoon was a long and fast Criterium which was a good hit out, coming down to a small break taken out by a fellow tall fellow Louis Crosby!

 Criterium fun

The final stage was going to be a toughy and with a slim 3s lead over Roman and 5s back to Jeremy It was always going to be hard to hold the jersey. So when the break got established early into the stage I managed to bridge across and start lapping with some of the local legends Blair 'Hindsight' Heney and Brendon 'Guns' Vesty which was fun. We got caught before the last hill and then Vennell and Roman attacked. I groveled over the climb and then started chasing back to the leaders. A slow leak in my front tyre added to the struggle but managed to pull the small group back to about 20s by the finish but it was too little too late.

Jeremy took out the tour and I finished up 4th, It was a good weekend even if my do or die move didn't pull off I still got some hard racing in over some challenging courses.

NEWS FLASH
On the 26th of January I will depart for Belgium where I have hooked up with the Rock Werchter Cycling Team for the 2012 season. Really looking forward to this experience and can't wait to get into the racing. The team travels to Benicassim in Spain for a team training camp for about a week and a half so it will be good to avoid the Belgium winter as much as possible and meet my new team mates and directors.

I have found a place to stay with a friend in Olen so that should make life a little easier and the best part is he has a dog! (1 more friend)


Rock Werchter is the main sponsor of the team and is one of the biggest festivals in Europe. http://www.rockwerchter.be/en/  so might have to go check it out!

Will update a lot more on here in the future as I'm sure I will have plenty of time on my hands.

Fraser