I was very much looking forward to do a race, which goes from point to point and not around in circles.
After the start of the race I tried to stay on Sharon Laws’ wheel, I knew she was the stronger rider on the less technical sections.
During the first section of single track we had to pass a lot of riders and got hold up a fair bit. It was then, that Sharon wasn't very lucky and had a puncture just 15 minutes into the race. That meant I had to work by myself trying to get away from Jessica who was sitting not too far behind us.
I had a ball in the single track until I hit the fire road and fire road is no fun for me, especially with high winds.
Getting to the first feed station I had a comfortable lead on Jess and was looking forward to a new bottle and a banana as I was already very hungry but -as always- didn't feel like eating my bars. But to my frustration my water bottle wasn't there. Panic!!! While swearing on someone, who might have taken my bottle I opened the lid of the big heavy water canister, turn it around, trying to get some water into my bottle.
My bike collapsed between my legs and the water bottle fell over emptying itself...
I wasn't happy when I finally got back on the road, noticing that Jess was riding in the far distance in front of me. She must have passed me while I was fighting with the water canister. I was quiet upset about such a stupid mistake and swearing against the blowing head wind I saw her disappearing on the horizon. I was convinced that she must have had the luck of drafting behind other riders by the speed she got away from me.
Along the never ending fire trail/bitumen roads with their sadly dry fields, I was praying for some nice single track to come.
I loved the rain especially when we finally got into the last bit of single track. It was here that felt transferred back to the stage race 'Trans Germany', that I had done mid of this year. Rocky, slippery, technical single track in miserable rain, I just loved it. The rain in my face, the wind blowing, I felt at home!
I turned around a corner in this beautiful natural landscape and saw Jess just getting off her bike walking up a muddy trail. I took my chance and passed her suddenly feeling a drop of energy as if there was nothing left for the last 20kms.
I was happy to be able to make up for my previous mistake and was searching my pockets for my energy gel to get the boost back and to bring the win home.
As for my bottle drama, it was nobodies fault because I had mixed up the feeding stations while dropping the bottles off before the start and didn't provide a bottle for the first station and instead left it at the last one.
I was very happy about the very generous prize money which covered my last week bike repairs that were due after the Scott 24hr race in Canberra.
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