Sam Miranda Strade Nero road race
The Sam Miranda Winery ‘Strade Nero’ is arguably one of Victoria’s best one-day races. It is one of only a handful (perhaps country wide) to offer significant dirt sections, and many of us enjoy a race with a difference.
After two hard weeks of racing earlier this month, at the last two rounds of the National Road Series, my legs had felt slow and heavy for days. I was having doubts about helping my team mates produce a result this weekend. However some wise words from my coach on Saturday morning gave me hope and motivation. The first 10km I spent watching for dangerous breaks instead of trying to force one as I might normally. 5km later a break moved away with every team represented, but only one rider from our team. With no apparent way to bridge, watching the break slowly increase its advantage was agonising. I pushed to the side of the bunch but still there was no apparent way forward. It was time to take a risk. I stepped out onto the rough verge, and did what was required to get by the bunch and across to the break.
After bridging and working with the others to see who was chasing, we all got to work forcing the pace and opening up a time gap. Once our advantage had extended to over three minutes the group relaxed. This was the break for the day. With the likes of Brodie Talbot, Mitch Cooper and Nathan Elliot in the peloton, we maintained a solid pace so that we could get to the bottom of the climb with a sustainable advantage. Stu Smith took all of the sprint points while Dave Kelly and Sam Crome fought out the KOM points. I sat and waited for the day’s main climb, still unsure of how my legs would go when everything heated up.
We turned right and saw the dirt ahead, everyone was together at the time but that wouldn’t be for long. Stu Smith took the dirt head on and I did what I could to stay there, soon joined by Jacob Restall, Dave Kelly and Mark Jamieson. By the top of the climb the five of us were still together and we started our descent. At the base we were joined by Tyson Chambers but lost the powerhouse of Dave Kelly to a rear flat. Without words all five of us rolled hard to hold off the chasers, all until 5km to go when Stu Smith was the first to attack. It was covered instantly. Next to go was Mark Jamieson at 2km to go, he was left to hang until Restall covered the move with 1km to go. No one wanted to lead out the sprint, but Jamieson was in front and kicked at 500m to go closely followed by Restall who made his move at 350m to go. I followed Stu Smith as he kicked only 100m before the corner. I followed him through and broke late up his inside with 100 metres to go and I gave it one last kick for a very satisfying win.
Full race…
Best 20 mins...
Sam Miranda handicap
Handicaps are generally the same format: roll hard and hope that the marks fall into pace so that you have an opportunity for a result.
Leaving the Sam Miranda winery in the scratch bunch, we all rolled hard and it showed straight away with time gaps to the bunches ahead falling fast. We caught the 3 and 6 minute bunches in quick succession, for a while there was almost 30 riders rolling through to catch the front markers. With 20km to go we were still 6 minutes behind the leaders so a few people decided to save themselves for the finish. As we rolled past the 10km to go sign more and more people chose to sit on and wait. With only 10 guys chasing and still a 4 minute gap there was no chance that we would be fighting for a win, but fastest time was still up for grabs. I chose to sit with team mate James Rendall (check out his outstanding non-cycling efforts here) and let him expertly guide me to the finale, and that is just what he did. A right hand sweeper met us at just under 1km to go before a small right-left to take us into the final straight. Just like Saturday I wanted to be first into the final bend with such a short straight to the finish line.
It really was a successful weekend personally and for the team. I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. A great weekend’s racing put on by all of the organisers and volunteers. I would like to thank my coach, Tim Clayton, my African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team and team mates, who often (as they did this weekend) sacrifice their own chances in favour of a team result, and our sponsors including Cannondale, Enve Composites, SRAM, Powerbar, Fi;zi’k, Sportful Clothing and Lezyne.
Race stats…
Duration: 1:56 hrs
Distance: 88km
Power: 270w raw for the 1:56, with 590w raw for the last 60 sec and 1305 max
Distance: 88km
Power: 270w raw for the 1:56, with 590w raw for the last 60 sec and 1305 max
Full race…
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