Beat Cancer Tour - Day 6: Stage 3 - Glenelg to Cambelltown

KM.s Ridden Today: 171km
Total KM's Ridden: 579km
Pre Ride Weight: 78.4kg
Post Ride Weigh In: 79.6kg



Yesterday was a really hard stage, lots of climbing, a fast pace, and the heat of the day as well.  My legs were feeling pretty sore when I woke up this morning, and we had a 139km stage ahead, plus the ride of 12km to the start line, plus another 7.2km race neutral, which added up to 158km - all with the Corkscrew climb just 6km from the finish - oh joy!!

We got a bit of a sleep in today with our breakfast time being 6am.  Because I am usually rushed in the mornings, I decided to get up a bit earlier and go down to breakfast early - what a was of time that was as they 'weren't open' before 6am!!

My usual breakfast now is 10 spoons of museli with half an apricot, half a pear, and a full banana, which fills me up nicely and gives me some lasting morning energy.



Just About To Start Stage 3

Our team briefing was a 6.55am, however some were running a little late so the briefing lasted all of 30 seconds with the introduction of a couple of special guests joining us, one being Grant Stevens, the SA Police Commissioner, and also Rochelle Gilmore, the owner of the women's professional team Wiggle High 5. 

The BCT Riders At Team Briefing

It is so good getting a police escort combined with a green light corridor, and I waas lucky to be on the front heading down Anzac Hwy where Catie and the boys had got up early and were on the side of the road to give us a cheer as we went by!!

We stopped at the official start line at Glenelg, then proceeded along Jetty Rd, where we had our first mishap - one of the riders got stuck in he tram tracks and went straight down!  Luckily no damage done to her, but the bike was so she had to jump on one of the spare bikes.  The stop caused a 10min delay but soon enough we were off again.

We then headed up Brighton Rd, Diagonal Rd, then over to Marion Rd before climbing the climbing began at the start of the Southern Expressway.  We took it really easy going up here to give the riders at the back a chance to stay on and not get dropped.  We did pretty much the full distance of the Expressway, some of it being long decents where we just freewheeled which was and easy way to pass the kilometres!

We continued south into Old Noarlunga before taking the turn towards McLaren Vale.  As soon as we were in the foothills we noticed the temperature drop which made for perfect riding conditions.

The pace today waas alot tamer than yesterday, and as mentioned the temperature alot cooler so that made the day all that much more enjoyable.  The route was also magnificent and not too difficult with what felt like a fair bit of descending, with some parts where I reached 70km/h.

We continued on past McLaren Flat, passed Clarendon bakery (no stop planned here unfortuantely), into Chandlers Hill before riding some of yesterday's route but in the opposite and easier direction through Stirling and Mylor.

From Hahndorf the road gradient was then undulating on the way to Lobethal, then made our way to Cudlee Creek, but taking a longer route which included a steep hill!!  Before too long we were on Gorge Rd, went passed all the undulations, then stopped just before the decent.  Here the climbers in the group got rid of as much stuff in their pockets as they could and also got rid of one of the two drink bottles, all in the order to save as much weight as we could.

The descent down Gorge Rd waas great, then we turned left into Corkscrew Rd, and as soon as we turned there were people everywhere!!  The Race for the KOM was on from almost the turn and Jason went first but no one followed him, then Matty, went followed by Cahn.  I know this climb very well and knew that if I went this early then I would blow up so I held back hoping that would happen to the others, but also bearing in mind that these three riders are all stronger than me.

I rode as fast as I could, tagging onto people that were passing me when I couldm but soon each one was dying off so I would try and get onto thhe next one.  By the time I got to the switchbacks (the really steep bit) there was no one else that was doing my pace so I was then relying on my own steam.  I could see Matty ahead  of me but didn't have enough in me to quite catch him, and was fourth to the line.  We all re-grouped at the top so therefore had quite a good rest by the time the whole group had made it to the top.
(Once back at the hotel I loaded up Strava and saw that I set a PR for the Corkscrew climb by 22 seconds in 10m03s which I was stoked about considering it was about 150km into today's ride, and also after such a hard ride yesterday!!  I also saw that I beat Matty's overall time by 2 seconds overall!!)


Climbing Corkscrew At Full Pace

We descended Montacute Rd and then crossed the finish line again the cheers and claps of the big crowd that was waiting along the sidelines!!

I relaxed for a little - mailny because I was so stuffed, then headed over to the Cancer Council Tent which was in a great position just before the finish line.  Ate some lunch, then had my customary afternoon nap, then it was time for the pros to arrive.  As expected it was another close finish where Simon Gerrans just got over the line before Rohan Dennis - a thrilling finish.

We then had rode back from Campbelltown to the Tour Village, dodging all the other cyclists and cars that were also oon their way back into town.  Organised my laundry, then went for my massage, which was super painful due to the terrible tightness my leg muscles had!

We had the Team Briefing at 6.30pm, then the family picked me up and we went out for dinner.  Another relatively early night tonight as we have another early 4.40am breakfast time tomorrow!!