Stage 5 ITT

It was blistering, on the edge of you seat action, for the ITT. The Alice Springs Golf Course was the host to the start of today's stage of the ICME. Young Kyle Ward sat in the hot seat early with a sub 50 minute ITT, after having mixed performances through the week. The flowing single-track of the course was still damp from overnight rain, making it smooth and tacky, perfect recipe for quick times. But it was Andy Blair's powerhouse abilities and technical skill that saw him catch his team-mate Lewis and then young gun Crosbie on what was said to be a "pedally" course. But in the end the gaps were not significant with the top eight male riders times all within 2 minutes.

After yesterdays leg stretch, Jenny Fay was once again on fire with a stellar time. Rowena Fry lost 40 seconds to Fay but this wouldn't make much of a dint in the overall GC. Fry continues to lead the GC followed by Fay and Terri Rhodes, back some 20 minutes.

It was close racing in many of the categories as well, you could have thrown a blanket over the riders at the finish had they not stated at 30 second intervals. In the Veteran category of which we have been featuring Steve Billington, Steve was only 30 seconds off the pace of the eventual category winner. There were seven riders with times within 2 minutes of the leader, over a 22km/50min course. Steve placed 4th in today's stage.

Local resident and 2012 category winner, Paul Darvodelsky, clinched the lead lead position in what would have been unfamiliar conditions on a very familiar trail. Peter Selkrig placed fifth and almost 3 minutes down on Paul after having been in contact with the contagious loose-your-seat virus.

photo: Rapid Ascent

Tonights stage is a night race and could quite possibly an all-or-nothing moment for some competitors. Recovery, bike and body maintenance will be key going into the final two stages.

Stage 4 with Steve

With Quantum Racing's Steve Billington to help, we have brought this remote marathon stage alive. 

ICME Stage 4, 88km of dusty 4wd tracks and as flat as a pancake. The stage was custom made for the roadies amongst the pack.

It was an early start, the bus leaving the hotel at 5am for the long drive out to the Santa Teresa. The local community school was the location for the 7:30am start. The local indigenous kids had gathered to wave off the riders and watch the spectacle of lycra clad cyclists warming up, some of them showing off their trials skills. Everyone was smiles, there might be some inspiring cyclists in the little community of Santa Teresa.

As expected the pace was again so fast we could have all made sizeable donations to the lactic acid bank.  The front group of about 30 broke free and I was struggling to stay in touch and was dropped after about 15km.  The Rowena Fry road train came through and I got on board, Ben was in the front pulling us at around 35-40km/hr, albeit to say no one was talking. It was through the low hills at this point, with a bit of bull dust, then onto the distinctly flat, fast sections.

photo: Rapid Ascent

We caught a remnant of about 10 from the front pack after the first water point at 40km and there was a brief respite.  My average speed to this point was 30.3kph.  The top 3 vets were in this pack so it was game on. It is some amazing sandstone country, if you take the chance to look either side of the trail, rocky ridges and pinnacles that ooze their desert country magic.

Suddenly a piece of mulga scrub jumped up and jammed itself solid in my drive chain.  Dammit, it took 30secs to clear it and the pack had gapped me by about 70m.  I went into over drive slowly dragging them back, over a rise and the course turned onto the road and although I was only about 40m behind, the pack took off, the train had left the station and I wasn’t on it.

At this point it can be very easy to go to a bad place mentally, but in stage races you need to keep going as anything can happen. Since the rest of the field was so far behind, I had to solo it for the next 40km and didn’t that hurt. While the tracks were fast and flat, there were a few bits of sand, not deep but enough to suck you in.

photo: Rapid Ascent

At the 85km I was expecting the end, but I was still on a track chasing tyre treads.  A group finally caught me and we ended up going halfway back into town, we were lost.  Luckily someone knew where we were supposed to go and we made our way back to finish having ridden an extra 4-5km.  This had happened to the first 30 riders who finished in 3 groups, so they gave everyone in the group the same time after a lot of protests.  I would have finished 3^rd in vets but for the detour, but have only dropped one place in the GC to 3^rd in Vets so a good outcome to a bad day. A bit of an outback adventure stage.

Tomorrow is a 23km time trial in the morning and a night race on the same course that night, look OUT!

How are the locals handling the inclement weather?

Stage 2 with Steve

Ahhh, Alice's award winning event the ICME, Stage 2 with Steve Billington .

At 300m long and close to 100m vertical, this is one intimidating hill, especially after already racing this morning.

200 riders set out starting at 4.30pm in 30second intervals in reverse order from the finish Stage 1 this morning, the 42km race. The atmosphere on the hill was electric, as the sun set on course the fans and spectators were yelling, ringing their cow bells. As each rider ascended the challenging tarmac course, they were greeted by waves of enthusiasm and a wall of sound. Then it was over the false flat and around the last corner to the plateau and the Anzac Memorial at the highest point of Alice Springs.

My pre-race warm up started with a bang.  We were pumping our tyres up to the stated max of 55psi, but my team-mate Aaron went to 60psi “because they never get that right”.  Rounding the first corner out of the hotel room and BOOM….latex party, Aaron was in drag and essentiallydeaf in the right ear. The entire tyre had completely blown off the rim.

On the start line, Rowena Fry launched before me on road rims which looked funky on a mountain bike and posted a scorching 54secs.  Dang.  I was up next, having smashed a gel 15mins before and was pumped and full of caffeine and sugar. I began with a track-stand, clipping both feet in, then it was go, go, go. Had a great start pumping the pedals, then the lactate started rising and my heart was trying to explode out of my chest. I was only just reaching the false flats of the car-park when this was happening, there was still more climbing before me. The crowd at the car-park flat spurred me on and I virtually fell over the finish line, cooked and ready to puke. 57 seconds.  I was 2^nd in category, beaten by 1sec. Happy with that.

Stage 4 - The Big One.

A point to point stage, the new Stage 4 crosses through remote desert terrain starting from the Ltyentye Apurte Community (Santa Teresa). The country surrounding Santa Teresa is rich in rock art, artefacts and ceremonial sights.

It is this sort of stage where groups of riders form, taking turns pacing on the front. The most efficient rides or the best sprinters then fight it out for line honours over the final few hundred meters. But after 80 or so kilometres and with possible attacks throughout the ride the lead bunch would be a pretty select group.

While the results are live, there was an issue with the course marking in the final section of Stage 4. It will be interesting to hear from the riders who completed this beautifully outback enduro stage. All the bunches, splits, horses, fences and compasses?

Local guru Paul Darvodelsky was sitting in 2nd overall for the 50-59 (Vintage) category after Stage 3 but during Stage 4 he lost close to 10 minutes to some of his closest rivals. Peter Selkrig (from the Hunter Valley) was the biggest winner in the category finishing 3 minutes in front of Laurie Berryman and John Allison. Peter will now sit pretty in the Vintage overall GC as the number one rider, with a more substantial buffer. Steve Billington (from Sydney) looks to have finished with a respectable time, at this stage it is most likely to hold onto the 3rd position in the Veteran overall GC.

photo :: CHLOE GERAGHTY

In other exciting news, it was announced yesterday that the Territory Government are investing in the Alice Springs area with funding to improve facilities. This has a two pronged effect, bettering locals lifestyles and also increasing tourism potential. One of the items on the cards are a series of trails at Telegraph Station, that will be graded for all levels of competency. Go mountain biking in Alice!

Stage Upset

Almost a continual flow of single track through some of the best trails available in the region. This was the setting for Stage 3 of the ICME. At almost 50km it is the second longest stage of the event and a good opportunity for the more technically experienced riders to shine.

Victorian hot-shot Michael Crosbie (under 23 rider) shone in todays stage when he lead Shaun Lewis over the finish line. While back a little way Andrew Blair had some mechanical issues, he fought to return just insight of the leading duo, rounded out the podium for this stage and retaining the leaders jersey.

Rowena Fry seems to have the measure of her counterparts now and finished minutes faster than Jenny Fay. It is unfortunate to see Jenni King not complete the stage but this has given Terri Rhodes a chance at this early stage to podium. There is sure to be more great racing from the girls in days to come.

In other news, Steve Billington is remaining steady in his age category, placing 3rd in this stage. And central coast resident Peter Selkrig placed 1st in his age group after some difficulties out on course.

Tomorrow, Stage 4, is the biggest individual stage at a massive 88km. This is where threshold loving time trial experts may come to the fore on the dirt roads of the outback. But it will be essential to carry sufficient water as this new route will be a mission in many sense.