This is a pretty massive post but hopefully sums everything up well.
Here is a selection of races I have taken part in.
I started with the Tour of Southland in November with the Powernet team.
They were fantastic sponsors, looking after everything for the week.
My best result was 2nd after an all day break on stage 3.
Breakaway time, Just before I went off the front for the last 20km.
I then went to China for a couple of tours there.
Tour of Fozhou UCI 2.2
Tour of Poyang Lake
I had a great time over in China with a great group of guys from Norway on the Unaas People 4 You team.
I could write a few blogs on the crazy time over there.
Thanks to Emil Unaas for inviting me over for Poyang.
Also thanks to Daniel Curruthers for inviting me for the first tour.
In between times I hung out in Hong Kong which is a pretty chaotic city. Loved it though.
Best result 3rd on Mountain Stage in Tour of Poyang lake
On the front with the boys, drink time before the climb.
After I came back I got pretty sick for a week, due to pollution and lots of traveling.
Then it was onto Elite Road National Champs. The last couple of weeks trained through some pretty bad weather but made it through.
On the day it was a tough race. I got dropped with cramp on the second last time up the climb then got pulled out whilst actually 5th under 23. Go figure.
I then refocused on the track to make a push for Track nationals.
On the way there I won the 84th Gore to Invercargill race
Over the next 6 weeks I did some hard yards in training. Not many long rides but still good for 2nd in the first Benchmark Homes race that I won the year before. Sprint finish again this year.
The week later at the new Avantidrome in Cambridge I managed to come out with my first national senior title in the scratch race.
Results were as follows.
1st Place R&R Sport Tour
3rd place Benchmark 2 Hokitika
After Hoki with Alex team mate that won and the Colombia Strava sensation Carlos
Tour de Lakes 2nd place on GC by 1 sec to Alex McGregor.
I rode a very good tour as evidenced by the stage placings below. I rode one of the best races I have ever ridden in the last stage shutting down everyone from breaking away only to just miss the win after Alex put in a better climb to the finish. Another ride I was very pleased about was the Time Trial where I won by 3seconds from Alex. I put more emphasis on this in training and it was nice to get a result.
1st Sprint Ace, 1st Prologue, 2nd Stage 1, 1st Stage 3 Time Trial, 3rd Stage 4, 1st Stage 5, 3rd Stage 6
Bit stuffed on the final climb.
Club National Championships, 1st Under 23 Road Race, 2nd U23 Time Trial
I had a pretty bad time trial. Never really felt good.
More than made up for it with Gold in the road race. I went out front in the break making everyone work behind then recovered and made a few moves once caught. I then won with a pretty good sprint. Was second overall in the race to my team mate Alex up the road taking the elite men title ( I was under 23).
Benchark Round 3 Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura. 4th Place
After this round I am now in the series lead.
Big thanks to everyone that has helped me have this awesome season. Firstly Holly for putting up with me training and racing all the time. To Dad at Spincity Cycles for all the work on my bikes he does and advice that I sometimes follow... Also to all my extended family and friends for their support.
Big thanks my team Calder Stewart and Bruce for organising everything in the Benchmark series.
Also thanks to training partner and team mate Carlos for all his help in training and racing.
Now its time for a break before I am heading over to the USA for some racing.
In other news I will also finish my commerce degree at Otago University after this semester, finally!
Thanks for reading.
Brad
