Tommy Nankervis

Oceania Road Race Champion!

// February 16th, 2009 // A Day Down Under

So I don’t usually write race reports, but this is a bit different, because I don’t usually win big races! In saying that, I do hope that is all going to change for 2009, and I am thinking this is going to be a breakthrough year for me! I have started on the right track, winning a lot locally, and on Sunday, I won the Oceania Road Race Championship!

On Saturday night, my friend Chris and I headed down to Barwon Heads to stay with Fergus and Hamish McLachlan. Ferg is an U19 Carnegie Caulfield member who I train with sometimes, and his Dad lives down at Barwon Heads, which was not far from the Portarlington start. They put on a great feed for us, and it was nice to have such a short travel to the start the next day.

Going to the race I was pretty nervous, but all the same confident with the way my form is coming along. The races here are tricky to read at the moment though, with all of the Continental teams here in Australia now, and the racing can be very negative. I knew I had to be lucky to get in the break that would stick, so the first part of the race was very hard, making sure I was in every move. I eventually made it across to a pretty good sized break, and before I knew it, we had about 30 seconds. The break had about 20 guys, with 2 Drapac Porsche, 2 Budget Forklifts, 2 VIS, 2 Praties, 2 Kiwis, 2 Panasonic, and a few others. Chris also made the break.

Everyone worked pretty well most of the time, and we built up a decent enough lead. The break started about 30km into a 155km race, so we had a good hard race. Attacks were starting to splinter the break a bit in the closing laps, and the numbers were dwindling. We were down to 9 with 10km to go. Cameron Hughes went solo before the bell, with about 13km to go, and there wasn’t too much co-operation from the group, so I had to bring him back on my own. I knew if I could bring him back, once we turned to have a tailwind, I would be set for the finish.

I had a great run at the line, and started my sprint pretty early, and with about 50 metres to go, was pretty sure I had it won! I would have liked to do a good two-handed salute, but it was a little bit windy for that!

It is great to get a win like this when I have been trying so hard to get a team. I tried so hard to get on an Australian Continental team too, but without any luck, so it was great to be outnumbered in the break, and come through with possibly the biggest win of my career. There are a few people who deserve the most thanks for all the help:
Fitzroy Cycles Carnegie; Bill and everyone there have just been fantastic. Bill makes sure I am on a great bike – Specialized SL2 – and has just been the greatest sponsor for all the years of support he has given me.
Mum and Dad and Keally and the family; for everything!
Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club; Australia’s best club!
Coach Gord Fraser from Carmichael Training Systems
Everyone I forgot to include!

Here is a great picture of the finish. I must say a huge thanks to Jarrod Partridge for finding me and sending me the photos of the race!

So there you have it, I think that is the first time I have done a race report for one of my races. I hope it doesn’t cost me some readers, I pride myself on giving something a little different and entertaining for the readers! By the way, thanks for all the comments on my last post!

The English Channel is two feet higher on the French side, due to centrifugal force.