Australian Road Race Titles

Yesterday I played the happy feeder role for a mate, Richard England at the Aussie National Titles. It is always a fun day on the hill watching the events unfold. I was kept company by Little Cam for the trip up and the duration of the race. Always a good day sitting road side watching the spectacle pass by with the occasional bit of argie barge to get your rider fed.
It was good to catch up with some familiar faces and shoot the shit as it has been a busy summer for most local and OS based riders.
The race was one of the more exciting ones of recent years with Trent Lowe getting himself in a early break with 5 others and managing to get the break out to 5 mins. The screws were turned up both in the break and the bunch and there were riders being shed from each group. Eventually the break was caught and then the games really started. After a flurry of attacks the final split was holding all the favourites and come the last lap the Dodger was going it solo attack mode up the final climb but was caught by little known McDonald. Eventually it came down to a 3 up sprint, Hansen, Rogers and McDonald. McDonald hit them and showed them a clean set of wheels to cross the line and take the title.
Hats off to Drapac, this team has nailed the title twice in as many years showing up other local teams and some big names based OS. Speaking of other local teams it is disappointing that you see riders pulling the pin after a couple of laps. This is the pinnacle of the Australian road racing year and most domestic riders should be able to go the distance. I would question the abilities of some riders and there spots on these teams if I was a major sponsor.
The crowd was the biggest I had seen in a long time with both sides of the feed zone on Midland Hwy full of spectators. There was quite a good atmosphere everywhere you went at the event. When driving the course 2 hours before start time there were crowds gathering at the KOM, some already had the barbie cooking and the wine flowing.
Richie gave it his all and got pulled with 2 laps to go. A little disappointing than last year but still a awesome effort. Chris Winn gave it a fair nudge for his first nationals and hung in there for a long time but eventually was one of the many casualties of a brutal course.
Today I am placing my order for a new road frame with Ewen @ Gellie Custom. The cost of sorting out the Ti frame with shipment back to the US aint worth it. So the plan is to go with a steel fillet brazed frame with a few little independent touches that you get when ordering a handmade frame. If it turns out like the 29er SS then it will be bliss.
Back on the roller skis today to get ready for the Canada trip. I just have to remember that pain is my friend cause it is a fair effort getting the muscle memory back into gear, but the fitness aint to bad given the lack of ski time since the end of the ski season.
Happy Trails!