As it happened recovery went as well as could be expected from both Coast to Coast and Godzone. I knew the effects of Godzone could still be lingering but all things being equal I was pretty happy as I began the 24 odd hours of travel to the start. Wenzhou is a moderate size prospering city in China with a population of 9 million small to medium sized people. From a racing perspective we had a great schedule for Wenzhou; arrive a day prior, leave immediately after, 8 days total so this was a short and focused trip. Our hotel sat on an island in the middle of the river sharing the space with a retro style theme park.
China has some crazy ideas about social media. Facebook is blocked nationwide as is my blog site making daily blogs rather difficult. What follows are my daily email summaries sent to Rach after each stage....
Day 1:
Day 1 complete. Bit quicker than expected. All done in 3.5hrs. You may have read Dougal's blog so have been updated but here's a run down anyway:
- 5km run, 4km paddle, 3km orienteering, 17km paddle, 26km bike, 25 flights of stairs then a 80m abseil.
The run went pretty much as expected (although despite Nath's worry about his pace I got dropped a couple of km into it and red lined the whole way). We entered the boats in 3rd or 4th but quickly cleaned up a fast running Chinese team and pulled into the island (middle of river) 2nd but overtook Braden and Dougal in transition. Nath showed his class for the orienteering but unfortunately there was no chance at losing the Wanaka boys or the Aussies who had a trouble free guided trip through the course.
Back onto the boats for a 17km upstream paddle to the next TA. With three boats all paddling similar speeds it was impossible to get a gap so we all took turns at leading so the others could enjoy the wash. The GPS showed we were paddling faster on the front but not enough to drop them off the wash.
Into TA together we were ready for another fast TA but Nath's front tyre was completely flat so we lost 4-5minutes with a tube change. The bike went pretty well I thought and caught the Aussies who also got a flat. Then it was up the stairs, and the 80m abseil. A little disconcerting with Chinese officials shouting at me what to do in Chinese but we got it sorted and abseiled to the finish.
Definitely disappointed about the flat as it was the bike transporters who damaged Nath's valve but such is life racing in China. On the ups is that we are both feeling good and ready to have another smash tomorrow. A new day and new opportunity!
Will try to update you tomorrow but it'll be brief as it may be late.
Hope all's well at home
Trev
Day 2:
Bad luck definitely doesn't come in ones when racing in China. After day 2 of taking our share its time for a clean day of racing....fingers crossed.
The day started with a 40km mountain bike so the bikes were waiting for us off the bus. Nath soon discovered his rear deralier had been damaged in transit. With time to spare he worked with Marcel and managed to improve the shifting to a satisfactory state. These races are filled with racers limited in bunch riding so getting racing off the front can is a great move if you can manage it and is exactly what Dougal and Braden did. The rest of us were left madly chasing to keep them in sight but they were racing strong and soon had a small gap. A small chase bunch had developed that we were sitting in comfortably (within reason!) but another dose of bad luck was looming. Nath had sliced his back tyre on something and wasn't sealing. It needed changing so within 10 minutes of starting we were off the road. Four and a half minutes went by along with the entire field making us dead last. On hindsight both of us were rather pessimistic at our chances of pulling back a respectable finish but as normal we said nothing and quickly got into chase mode. A puncture at the start of a day is worth much more to the opposition at the start of the race versus the end as everyone is fresh and travel much further in 4.5mins.
On the road again we rode like maniacs the entire way. When one of us would fade the other would set the pace. After 80mins at TA 1 we had passed 2/3 of the field and were just behind Jess Simpson and Stu Lynch who were third in the mixed section. Ahead lay a 17km run and there was plenty of chasing to be done. Luckily the red bull Chineese team were immediately in front of us and were great on their feet so we used them to keep us at a solid pace. After plenty of sweat and heavy breathing the highest point of the run of 700m came and went with the pace still respectable. One by one teams were ticked off fading behind us. At TA2 we sat in 5th position with 3 minutes up to 2nd. Dougal and Braden sat in a league of their own 12 minutes ahead. A good paddle could get us on the podium.
Into the boats we were paddling well but the fat boats and shallow water made any gains tedious. Just before half way we caught Marcel and Martin, James and Jarrod, plus Jacky and Mimi who were having a great day in the mixed section. The problem now was getting away from these teams as the wave behind them creates a perfect draft. Several failed attempts were made on our part and its safe to say we got fairly frustrated. We were the only team in the group capable of moving things at a decent pace and eventually gave in to them sitting in behind.
TA3 came not a moment too soon as gas levels had hit an all time low. We ran to the top of the abseil, descended a decidedly uninspiring bluff into the river and began a 500m swim to the finish on the other side. What a slog. Swimming with full kit on wasn't pretty but we dug very deep to claim 2nd in the stage.
Today has been a hard fight to claim what we deserve.....right from the start. After the events of this morning we are pretty damned happy. The racing is tough enough without punctures so fingers crossed tomorrow brings better luck.
Time for sleep
Trev
The day started with a 40km mountain bike so the bikes were waiting for us off the bus. Nath soon discovered his rear deralier had been damaged in transit. With time to spare he worked with Marcel and managed to improve the shifting to a satisfactory state. These races are filled with racers limited in bunch riding so getting racing off the front can is a great move if you can manage it and is exactly what Dougal and Braden did. The rest of us were left madly chasing to keep them in sight but they were racing strong and soon had a small gap. A small chase bunch had developed that we were sitting in comfortably (within reason!) but another dose of bad luck was looming. Nath had sliced his back tyre on something and wasn't sealing. It needed changing so within 10 minutes of starting we were off the road. Four and a half minutes went by along with the entire field making us dead last. On hindsight both of us were rather pessimistic at our chances of pulling back a respectable finish but as normal we said nothing and quickly got into chase mode. A puncture at the start of a day is worth much more to the opposition at the start of the race versus the end as everyone is fresh and travel much further in 4.5mins.
On the road again we rode like maniacs the entire way. When one of us would fade the other would set the pace. After 80mins at TA 1 we had passed 2/3 of the field and were just behind Jess Simpson and Stu Lynch who were third in the mixed section. Ahead lay a 17km run and there was plenty of chasing to be done. Luckily the red bull Chineese team were immediately in front of us and were great on their feet so we used them to keep us at a solid pace. After plenty of sweat and heavy breathing the highest point of the run of 700m came and went with the pace still respectable. One by one teams were ticked off fading behind us. At TA2 we sat in 5th position with 3 minutes up to 2nd. Dougal and Braden sat in a league of their own 12 minutes ahead. A good paddle could get us on the podium.
Into the boats we were paddling well but the fat boats and shallow water made any gains tedious. Just before half way we caught Marcel and Martin, James and Jarrod, plus Jacky and Mimi who were having a great day in the mixed section. The problem now was getting away from these teams as the wave behind them creates a perfect draft. Several failed attempts were made on our part and its safe to say we got fairly frustrated. We were the only team in the group capable of moving things at a decent pace and eventually gave in to them sitting in behind.
TA3 came not a moment too soon as gas levels had hit an all time low. We ran to the top of the abseil, descended a decidedly uninspiring bluff into the river and began a 500m swim to the finish on the other side. What a slog. Swimming with full kit on wasn't pretty but we dug very deep to claim 2nd in the stage.
Today has been a hard fight to claim what we deserve.....right from the start. After the events of this morning we are pretty damned happy. The racing is tough enough without punctures so fingers crossed tomorrow brings better luck.
Time for sleep
Trev
Day 3:
Hi all
Pretty smoked so will try to keep this brief. Staggered start today in the boats. Tried to get away from the 2 chasing teams but after yesterday I was feeling well below par. The paddle ended up being 3 boats working together as in day 1. Dougal & Braden, Jarred & James (AKA the Aussies) and us lapping it out on the front. Safe to say I suffered like a dog but couldn't have had a better team mate under those circumstances.
Next up was a 12km uphill ride.
Onto the bike went all three teams together but not for long. The Wanaka boys looked as fresh as daisies and after toying with us for a few minutes they got bored and disappeared off up the hill. My good feelings from the boat soon caught back up and under the tow of Nath we faded off the back of the Aussies in third place. Fortunately a compulsory 15 minute rest broke up the climb and I had a chance to cool off and get some food in. All too quickly we on the bikes again but only for 20minutes of climbing into TA2. From here we basically separated. Nath went up to complete a 90metre abseil while I ran down to meet him at the bottom. The few minutes wait I had were crucial and once back running again I felt considerably better. The run was to entail 1 decent climb of 450m and 3 smaller climbs of 1-200m and by now it was getting really hot. Luckily for us the course designers managed to keep us clear of water and shade most of the time. Otherwise it would have been far too comfortable!
Discomfort however presents opportunity. By the base of the climb we had caught the Aussies and Jarred appeared to suffering. Nath was also suffering after dragging me round on the bike but we thought lets have a crack anyway. Without a response from the Aussies we got a gap and set about lengthening it with steady and consistent running. I found the heat pretty hard to handle but we were moving well so kept pace for the remainder of the 15km run to the finish. It had been another hard day with close racing but we had claimed another podium finish and a 2nd place to defend again tomorrow.
Things could have been much worse today. Luckily our collective strengths and ability to suffer consistently won through.
The final stage 4 is tomorrow.
Will update after
Trev
Day 4:
Hi all
2nd again today in another close finish to take 2nd overall. Pretty stoked considering the issues from day 1 and 2.
Will get blog finished over next few days
Trev
The last blog says it all. It had been a tough race and we had to fight tooth and nail for our second place overall. The last day started with a bunch ride. We were situated on some islands off the coast of Wenzhou and my main memories centre around feeling nautious all day with a bit of mud and haze thrown in for good measure. I'm sure the islands had been stunning in their day but didn't have much to inspire me on day 4. The bunch ride went well initially until a change in pace saw me off the back of the bunch. Nath saw the problem and had me back in the action in a matter of minutes but I was suffering away like on day 3. Next up was 25km of paddling split up with a mud sled activity which was a bit of a laugh. The mud sleds are used by the local fisherman to attend their nets at low tide. A burst out of transition saw us establish a small gap leading into the remaining 12km paddle. The Aussies and Thule went against the rules opting not to put spray decks on. A bit annoying as if they had we would have avoided a group paddle across the channel.
To complete the day was a running section interspersed with 2 adventure/ rope activities. We thought the race notes had said a 1km run to the first AV then 5km to the finish so with this in mind we shot through transition leaving our life jackets on. Looking back we had at least 200m on Lone Star Wanaka(Dougal and Braden) and even more to the other 2 teams. What we hadn't factored in was our dyslexic course reading and that it was 5km to the first AV then 1km to the finish. Safe to say we were both a little concerned when after 15mins no AV had appeared.....it was a long kilometer!
I quickly nominated Nath for the Tyrolean traverse over some sea cliffs. 80m of traverse would be no match for his guns of steel! Soon reunited we set off not entirely sure of how far there was to go but psyching up for 5km. Luckily for all involved there was only 1km to go, and a 30m abseil to the finish line. I say lucky as Nath by now had ripped a sizable hole in his shorts creating significant glare. Unable to outrun him I was forced to stumble on with squinted eyes.
It was great to finish. It had been a tough battle all the way. The Aussies had pushed us all the way. Their ability to surge, time trial and create directional uncertainty in the boat is second to none and had us on the ropes. Luckily we were consistent across all disciplines and got an edge. Dougal and Braden were a class act and looked comfortable all the way.
Thanks to Nath for awesome racing.
Thanks also to our team sponsors:
SEAGATE, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Patagonia, inov-8 Footwear, GU, Awaken Energy Bars, Silva Lighting, Tineli Cycle Wear, Bridgedale Socks, Antichafe, Absolute Wilderness Freeze Dry Food, Endura Eyewear, Louis Garneau Helmets, Wildside Travel, Revelate Designs, O2B Healthy, R&R Sport.
No comments:
Post a Comment