Tour of New Caledonia Report.
Ben has put together a report the Tour of New Caledonia where he finished 18th over all....well done Ben!
Jean-Marie LeBlanc (Tour de France Director for 18 years)is guest of
honour. The field is very strong, with current continental professional
and ex professional riders.
11/9/08 Prologue 4.4km
Strong trade winds made the course quite interesting. Riders equipment
varied enormously from standard road bikes, to those of us who added aero
bars, to those with time trial bikes - mostly locals. Eric Drower (NZ)
took out the first place helped by his full kit: skin suit, aero helmet,
and time trial bike. The first part of the course was closed to traffic,
the last part marshalled by gendarmes who managed to have 5 cars stopped
in the road blocking the road before a sharp right turn into the
velodrome. Losing probably 10 seconds negotiating brakes and the narrowest
gutter space squandering all pace, I was reasonably happy to finish mid
field 38 seconds down on the winner.
12/9/08 Stage 1 109km
Carnage. The 4km Category 1 climb had everyone at the limit, splitting the
field into several groups. Happy to be in the first bunch, I thought the
General Classification was all over when I punctured and had to wait a
long time, watching 2 bunches pass me. Luckily, once I reconnected with
the 2nd main bunch, é teammates helped pace me back up to the front bunch.
The stage finished on a dead end road at a tribal community in end of the
earth paradise. Only the road was tar sealed many moons ago, and it was
covered in red-brown mud - sometimes thick, and always slimy. Then it
began raining. Of our sister team of kiwi riders, four out of five of them
fell, none seriously. Mulitple punctures later, water blasters were
required all round. I managed to stay upright and finish in the front main
bunch.
13/9/08 Stage 2 83km
A fairly flat stage - relative recovery day. Crept up General
Classiciation to 27th out of 65 starters.
14/9/08 Stage 3 103km
Todays 7km long Cat 1 climb was not as tough as the previous one, although
it still split the field. When then enjoyed 50km racing down a river
valley with a strong tail wind, with 2 teams pulling us along chasing the
days break. Racing was neutralised for a section after a crash, luckily
no-one seriously injured. The climbing was short but fierce over the last
two Cat 4 climbs. Again a front bunch finish for me. There was a
party-like presentation at the tribal community at the finish, with
copious gifts for all the riders, and as prizes. The publicity caravan and
Jean-Marie LeBlanc offered gifts in return.
15/9/08 Stage 4 110km
This stage lived up to its’ expectations as a fast windy course along
narrow, twisting coastal roads. A number of us, including the yellow jersey
got caught on the wrong side of a bunch split, and then got repeatedly
chased down as we tried to break away to bridge. Eventually everyone
accepted the situation, and we lost 90 seconds on the front bunch. One of my
teammates attacked the front bunch 30km out from the finish, but was outdone
by another solo rider, to finish 2nd.
16/09/08 Stage 5 84km
A fast 30km lead into the major climb of the day: the Cat 1, 4km, steep Col
d’Amos, with it’s even steeper and treacherous descent on the other side.
The climb will be quite pleasant once the roadworks are finished. 95% of the
climb was unsealed. And those that chose and inside line on the steepest
corner ended up having to walk. I led 4th rider up to the col, just
overtaken by the leader of the King of the Mountains competition before the
summit. After the descent, there were 3 riders out in front (including the
new yellow jersey) and a small chase group of 7 of us followed, with the
rest of the field in smaller groups behind. The rest of the route was
rolling and hilly, ending at an inland tribal community following a moderate
col and tricky, gravel strewn descent. Wanting to ensure I stayed upright I
lost a little time on the descent to finish 9th for the day. This moved me
up to 15th overall. The sixth new yellow jersey holder today would be set to
keep it.
17/09/08 Stage 6a 75km
A relatively short stage, the climbing and attacking in the front group was
fierce over the first 4-5 climbs. After that the rest of the flat stage
settled down, a chase group reintegrating, and with the team of the yellow
jersey taking control with a steady pace, the break of 3 was reeled in just
before the line. I punctured front by catching the edge of a nasty pothole,
as we all rode down the gutter (due to a crosswind). Luckily a quick wheel
change meant a relatively easy ride up past the vehicles of the long caravan
got me back into the main bunch.
17/09/08 Stage 6b 12km Individual Time Trial
Most stages were morning, and this afternoon’s stage was to be hot. My legs
had not recovered from yesterday’s hill effort, and refused to work at high
output. I had to be content to cruise, and finish 35th. Slipped today to
17th overall. Kiwi Eric Drower made it 2 with a blistering ride, moving
himself up to podium potential overall.
18/09/08 Stage 7 95km
Today’s stage was going to be made for me: flat stage finishing with a 12km
HC or “outside category” climb to a mine, 77km overall. A strike and
blockade of the mine road meant a change of plan was needed, and we were
told the stage would be 115km ending with a different 10km to a tribe. My
legs felt good. I realised a bit late, that the distances were all wrong,
and we were fast approaching the lead into the climb. A little too far off
the front for comfort, we smashed down the rough approach to the climb. To
call this section and the climb a road, would be an insult to all other
roads, including good kiwi metalled gems. The track was dusty, stony and
rutted. Hammering along the approach track at 40kmh, there were punctures
everywhere; including my rear, just at the base of the climb. I had to wait
a long time for a change, and received a wheel with a lowest 23 cog instead
of the 27 I was riding. The climb was steep, and hard. It took me several
minutes to work out that the mechanic had put my brake cam full on (with the
new rim much wider than mine), and the back brakes were rubbing. Loosening
it off felt like the hill got a whole lot less steep. Still however, the
steepness and loose ground made for tricky climbing, and very sore arms. I
elected to stop again and change wheels for one with a 25 cog. Re-overtaking
those climbers I had passed, mixed in with support vehicles, I coughed up
the climb dodging pickups and riders, often on the loose part of the track
in clouds of diesel and dust. I elected to try to limit my losses without
wrecking myself, and climbed back to mid field for the stage losing 7
minutes to the stage winner. The guys I had been climbing ahead of, and
with, previously finished 3rd to 5th on this stage. Amazingly, I slipped
only one place on General Classification to 18th overall. Had I climbed
without mishap, I would have been about 8th overall.
19/09/08 Stage 8 116km
A flat stage with a large bonus prime offered to the stage winner. The very
strong team of the yellow jersey maintained control today, allowing a break
of 3 riders who were not threatening overall to get away. The bunch cruised,
and never caught the break. My teammate Frank was again second, beaten on
the line by a tyre width by kiwi Justin Kerr.
20/09/08 Stage 9 73km
Feeling very fresh for the final stage, I got into a large break of about 12
riders. With about 2 riders from most teams, and no one a threat to the
yellow jersey it looked good, even though only 4 of us were pulling
stronlgy. I attacked on the first line to claim maximum mountain points, and
our increasing time checks were looking good for me to take the 2nd climb as
well. However, the time checks must have been quite delayed in getting to
us, because just after we had a minute gap, up rolled the bunch headed by
the yellow jersey’s team. The climb was fiercely contested, and a new break
including the yellow jersey formed soon after. Alexis Merle, my teammate
secured his position of sprint prime jersey leader, and attacked the break
with Frank to take the stage just as the bunch rolled in. I maintained 18th
overall.
I finished, glad of the fantastic experience, disappointed not to be in the
top 10, and with too much energy to spare. Next year I hope for better luck,
and to finish more tired, with more to show for it! Thanks all for the
interest and support.
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