You bloody ripper!! Stage two of the Woodside Tour de Perth welcomed all 150 riders to Kalamunda with some stunning weather, perhaps become a little warmer than ideal as we edged closer to the end of the race. 116km’s around an undulating course saw the pace on from the start and it continued that way until the very finish.
As soon as the neutral section had finished attacks flowed thick and fast with a lot of the smaller teams hoping to get themselves in the days move, it wasn't until the first time up the KOM climb did a move start to stick. With four riders up the road the bunch eased on the quicker parts of the course, while Drapac and Avanti hammered it up the climbs hoping to string the peloton out and the consistent attacks by Drapac popped guys lap after lap. After four of seven laps a small group of nine moved away, the break got as far as two minutes up the road and as close as 100m alas they stuck to their guns and stayed away for the win. Meanwhile back in the peloton everyone was constantly jostling for position as the road headed up and down, surges came more and more often as another attack moved up the gutter only to be bought back half a minute later. Eventually the elastic band broke on the second last climb of the day and the peloton shattered, guys were taking risks to make it back to the bunch and ended up in a ditch while others like myself sat up with the knowledge that I was happy with my performance and it was time to spin the legs in order to get ready for tomorrows time trial.
The stage was won by Tim Roe of Budget Forklifts solo 22 seconds ahead of Travis Meyer in second place. The best AWS result was Rhys Gillett taking 10th following James Rendall’s 5th place yesterday. The team is off to a good start so far this year and the morale within keeps improving as we progress. Tomorrow see’s the tour travel to Rottnest Island for a 20km Time Trial, although the cream has risen to the top the time trial will ultimately decide the overall placings. Legs are feeling good so hopefully I can pull out a good time as well. A tough and certainly draining day all round but thats why I love this sport.
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