number21 wrote:Just a quick note about ToB. So glad I went, had such a great time. Finished mid pack, avoided the big stack 6.5kms into stage 1(just) so I took that as a positive sign, weather was perfect, great roads. Learnt a lot about racing, lots of seriously good riders down there. Hopefully can get an entry next year and try to improve.
Hope all the others on here had a good time also and for those in C grade missed the neutral zone crit pile up!
Nice to hear. I was the ACT Vikings rider somersaulting through the air in that c grade stack

Pretty disappointed with it. Was hoping to go top 20 on the gc. Luckily i just lost skin, and was bruised but somehow my bones held together! Managed to snap my seat off, slightly buckle the wheels, smash my quarq, bend my rear derailler hanger, destroy some cables and shatter my helmet...
I kept racing since I had my TT bike there. TT went ok, not ideal, but gave it what I had left. With some help we patched up my bike using bits from the TT rig, and a few borrowed pieces.
Sunday I felt pretty good, a little stiff and sore, but once I warmed up was ok. Decided I wasn't going to sit in, so counter attacked on the first pinch out of town, and went on a solo break for 8k or so and took the first sprint point. Though since I was out of gc, it didn't count, but it was a bit of fun. Stayed near the front for the next sprint point at harrietville, wasted a bit of energy and got caught a little short when the road went up. Missed the front pack, so had to work my way back once I got to the false flat. Was pretty happy with how I finished the climb, managed to get just outside the top 20.
Plenty of lessons learned, would like to try to get back next year. Need to support my mates who got automatic invites, and pursue personal glory as well of course

Despite the crash, it was a really fun weekend.