New Zealand Elite Senior & U23 TT & RR Nationals

[RoadRaven]

OK... fantastic day today... light easterly - a bit fresh at times, but not too strong.

Some cloud cover occasionally, so not too hot.

I helped with a couple of things at the school the event was based from before taking my partner and 14 year old to the start line. My partner got to ride in the lead car for the women and for the elite/senior men. My 14 year old got to hang out with John Bridges and do sound systems etc.

My nearly 17yr old and I went and parked about 6-7kms from the start/finish line and waited. We had visibility for about 3/4km one way and nearly a km in the opposite direction.

Just awesome watching these people riding - but the thing that really struck me was that although so many of them had spent $$$$$$$$$$$ on gear, aero-helmets were negated. So many riders kept looking down - some as many as 8-10 times in the 500 metres either side of where we were parked. They had little points up in the air and I kept muttering - dont look down, dont look down... garrrgh, I was getting so frustrated with them negating the possible effect of their aero helmets!

Here is a link to "live updates" that were posted on the net:
http://www.ramblers.co.nz/blogger.asp


Anyway - the official results are in...

Alison Shanks was placed 3rd, behind Rachel Mercer (2) and Melissa Holt (1)
Holt had the winning time over the 25km course of 36.20.41 and an average speed of 41.28kph
There were only 11 seconds separating the three women.
Gee, Shanks looked smooth and comfortable on a bike...
One of the rides of the day might have come from Rushlee Buchannen... although she was placed 16th of 24 women, on the return leg she went by dripping sweat, spit from her mouth and giving it everything she had. Most impressive.


Women's Results (both ages raced together - U23 and senior)
http://www.ramblers.co.nz/Nationals_Elite/tt_female.pdf


Now, these guys were amazing to watch. Some of them made it look so effortless but boy, were they motoring along.
Most impressive rider for me? Tim Gudsell. He was the 9th rider to leave, and the 5th rider home. He may have "only" got 4th... but to see him come motoring past on the return leg - FOUR MINUTES ahead of his minute-man... wow...

1st Elite/Senior male - Logan Hutchings - he completed the 40km course in 51.26.20 with an average of 46.66kph
2nd - Paul Odlin - 34 seconds later
3rd - Gordon McCauley - last years champ

Glen Chadwick - from Hawkes Bay and last years NZ TT Champ came in with 5th place, 52.56.58 minutes averaging 45.33kph

And our own Under 23, Westley Gough, looks so much older than his 19/20 years. - He did well with second place - COME ON THE BAY!!!
Clinton Avery won U23 with a time of 53.23.44 (thats a 44.96 average)
Matt Haydock was 3rd.

Men U23 & Men Elite/Senior Results
http://www.ramblers.co.nz/Nationals_Elite/tt_male.pdf

I'm looking forward to the road race on Sunday - women go at 8:30am

Tomorrow its normal racing for our club - we go around Sundays course and have opened it up to all visitors/elite supporters etc. Should be an interesting day. Luckily I only have to race once around the 26km course tomrrow. On Sunday the men go round it SEVEN times