Fiona Southorn
Silver at the Waikato / Bay Of Plenty Time Trial Champs
I recently completed the 4 day Tour of Northland, a legendary event that attracts many riders from over NZ. This was my first tour, I was looking for something different a new challenge and the training would be good for racing later in the year. The Tour is a very social time and challenging, so I was pleased with a 3rd finish in my age group and 3rd Northland women.
The event I was really looking forward to was the Long distance TT champs in the Waikato last weekend, I had forgotten how cold it can get, with no thermals I had to race 40km, all riders had 1 minute inbetween so we raced against the clock and no drafting is allowed., there were a few names I recognised and a few I didn’t, it’s been about 15 years since I have done a TT of this distance so I need to pace myself. Trying to forget about the cold and wet weather I headed off chasing a very good time trialist from Tauranga, only a few km’s up the road and I knew I was going to catch her but I didn’t want to go hard out too soon so stayed at the same pace and caught her and a few other riders just before the 20km turn around. The two of us had a good battle for the next 20km’s taking turns passing each other. I knew I just had to keep close to her as she started 1 minute ahead so I had beaten her in time. I settled for second place, another rider from Nelson that I couldn’t catch won the race. I was very happy with my time of 1 hour 4 minutes, however I was frreezing cold and in much need of warm soup.
In June I go back to training for track racing, I’m hoping to compete at the Masters Worlds again this year in Sydney and get another Bronze or better.! 
Fiona Southorn
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