Greetings from greyton, our stage town for the next 2 nights.
it was a pretty long walk and ride to get her today. The hike a bike mid stage was as advertized, long. I don't really enjoy pushing by bike for over half and hour up a steep loose rocky slope, but that was what the course designer (who's nickname incidentally is Dr Evil) planned and so that's what we did.
Right off the line we went uphill. Tough to get it going full on at 7am with some breaky still in the stomach, but nonetheless after yesterday downhill start it seemed quite tranquil infact to be climbing up the loose rocky 20 percent grade as the sun was rising.
Today we did have some company from the 2nd placed mixed team up the first climb. There was a pretty technical descent after and we got a gap and did not see them again til after the finish. The competition in the mixed category is pretty strong this year and I considered at the start there were 5 teams in contention for the win. I would never have preficted we would have such a good lead at the half way point. Its so hard to make up time in a stage race after the first few days have passed. Everyone gets tired and slows down. Unless someone gets ill I've never seen a team loose a lead at this stage due to another team coming on strong.
Still a lead in mtn biking stage races can never be too big. Anyway ill discuss tonight with my teammate our tactics for the second half. For sure safe riding, but probably its worth to ease off the gas a bit too. Though sometimes easier said than done. Nico and I are a bit too similar in our 100 percent race style.
This race is incredible for the amount of media it generates. More than I'd guess any mountian bike event on the planet. Everyday after the stage finish we do an interview for the stage press release, then a sit down tv interview soon after. Usually also we see the tv cameras defore the start for a few words. Right now I'm sitting in a field by the tent camp next to a portable tv studio they are using to record the "supercycling" show. Its an hour long show every week here that's all about competitive cycling. Pretty cool. Once each year they tape the show from the epic race site and tonights show is a 1h recap of the race thus far. Next week (on tuesday) I think they do a race recap show. I'm one of the guests tonight about to go on soon. I can only imagine how much it would benefit cycling in canada to have such a show each week in canada.
Anyway better start to pay attention here by the studio, think I'm up next.
Cheers
Alison