Finally.....
It was only a local Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club, Glenvale criterium, but all the same, it was a win, and it was my first since i left for the States in February (not including my heat in Athens Twilight CompuTrainer)! I shouldn't really say 'only', as it is the best weekly criterium you will find in Australia, and every week of racing always brings a great field. I can probably talk it up, as there were a few World Champions, heaps of National Champions, and a ProTour rider in the field, and it was the hardest Glenvale i think i have done, so yeah... Wicked!
My last race in Priority Health gear, and i notched up a win! That's T-Mobile rider, and winner of Readding and Philly, Greg Henderson in second, and my Priority Health team-mate Richard England in third! I think i got lucky coming into the last corner - the dudes in front of me baulked coming around the corner, just as i was taking off up the inside, so i guess they lost their run, just as i was starting mine. I will still take it!
It was a seven man sprint, after we had lapped the field, then attacked the hell out of each other for the next twenty minutes, so i hope my form will continue to improve, and i can be going good for the Bay criterium series in the New Year!
This tradition started a couple of years ago, when i used to win all the time! Ha ha! I think the last shot i did like this i had thirteen fingers up (with Deano helping out)? Still wearing the best gloves in the world -TUFF! 
It's a pretty common sight in Melbourne to see a heap of bikes stacked up outside a cafe, anywhere in the vacinity of Beach Road. Here is birthday boy Johnny Clarke getting ready to hit the "frog'n" after his birthday brekky today! Happy Birthday champ!
Johnny's SouthAustralia.com/AIS Bianchi, with the wicked-cool looking top tube paint job, complete with kangaroos in the desert sunset. The cutlery set in the background is not meant to be there, it is just where his bike happened to be when the photo was taken!
Jez and i stopped for our twenty seventh (we lost count after five - lucky i am riding for Jittery Joe's coffee in 2007), strong skinny latte of the morning, and i decided it was just the perfect photo opportunity to again show off how lucky we are to be training in Melbourne's summer! Sorry about carrying on, Teddy! This cafe is actually 'on' the beach, you can see the sand and water right there! I guess today was just the perfect day really, weather wise.
Jez and i have been doing a bit of training together, and we are both finding that we are becoming VERY fast! You should have seen the Hell Ride lead out on Saturday, i think i wound it up to about 70+ km/h - although each time we talk about it, it gets faster - it was so fast, only Jez could hold the wheel, and by the time he took over, it was too late for anyone to pass him!
This coming weekend is the 'Christmas Special', so everyone is encouraged to come down and try their best to claim the most prestigious Hell Ride of the year. Saturday morning is the "Big One" - in form riders include Hilton Clarke, Simon Clarke, Jez Hunt, possibly "The Bus" Wilksch if he can get up early enough, myself (obviously!), and watch for the early move from Johnny Clarke. I would probably put my money on Jez if i lead out, or me, if Jez leads out! Hopefully Hendy doesn't show up, cos he's really fast too! Also, if "Leroy" DeLuca makes an appearance again, he will be in with a shot.
For those who are more likely to opt for being spectators, we will arrive back into Black Rock at about 8.30 - possibly early this week with the honour at stake, and the chance of a much higher pace!
"Me and my bike!" Jez did an article in a European magazine, and had to pose with his bike, so we thought it would be a bit of fun to do a re-enactment! Comparing the two photos, you can see that i am clearly not the seasoned pro here! I am struggling to hold back a laugh, or cheesy grin, while Jez has the focussed, model-like pose! You can also see that my attire is not up to scratch, with my wind-vest puffed up, making me look fat, and my sleeves rolled up (i say to minimise tan-lines), but they should have been down for the photo! Also, my bike is on a funny angle (Tyrone!), and doesn't give the reader the chance to see the bike in all its glory.
This is what a seasoned pro looks like for a photo shoot ("seasoned" is a nice way of saying "old"!)! Jeremy Hunt rides for ProTour team Unibet.com and knows how to strike a pose! The former Great Britain National Champion will have a red hot go at all the classics this year, and if he continues his sprinting form, will probably be up for a win or two!
Clearly i have learnt from this experience, and what you will find, is that next time i have to pose for a ("me and my bike") photo, i will look the goods, and be ready to step it up to Jez's level! The thing that i find important though, is that i am more ripped and muscular than Jez, even though he claims to be the winner there, so if you don't mind, please begin a bit of a poll in the comments section saying who is more ripped!
Ok dudes, have a good one, and hopefully i get an update in before Christmas. Make sure y'all leave comments!
Laters dudes...
posted by Huck at 1:15 AM
12 Comments:
Congrats mate on your win. I wish we had races this time of year, to help keep a touch of fitness. But all we have are those funny little races where people ride through grass and run. Its just not the same. The weather sure looks beautiful along with the landdscape Keep it up. looking foward to reading about your great win come new years.
Good job on your win! And thanks for putting up pictures of you this time! Youre looking good (definatly win the contest on being more ripped!) I get more and more jealous of how beautiful it is there everyday.
XOXO
Keally
It was a funny angle! Tyrone, you could park a jumbo f*#$ jet in there!
Nice lookin' set of pipes you got there. You been doing like a dozen pushups daily?! Sheesh.
a la naturale mate, although i have this great trick where i do like 10 push ups a week, if i remember, and have good genetics for it! wait till you see them in real life, and when i flex, they are even better!
Good win,only 12 to go!! Of course your more ripped!! Go Aussies!!
Tommy, good to see u back at glenvale!! No doubt u smash the competition when it comes to rippage, n uve even skipped on the oil! Looking fitter n hotter than eva! =)
I need to know who wrote the last two comments! Mum says it wasn't her, so i am stumped! Was it you Keally?
Back in the counrty ah bro! Been to NZ for work.
As if I'd miss the 'Xmas Classic' Like it's been side before, don't come to my backyard and think your gunna have it your way!
Leroy! LSD
I wrote the first one and hope a chick wrote the second. (Just another reader of blog.)
ha ha, yeah, hopefully it was a chick!
Props on the win, man! It's always good to see PH come through the line first. Keep it up.
And yes, your arms are way bigger. Nothing compared to mine, but bigger than his, anyhow. With a little practice you could be modeling with the best of 'em.
Merry Christmas to you too, amigo.
Isn't computer imaging awesome. How did you cut and paste my arms on to your body for the fake shot, lion tamer ? And I hear you take the prize for the Christmas Hell Ride - only about 26 people have ever won that title. Someone should work out how and where to keep this Hell Ride hall of fame info, so future generations of riders can look back and enjoy.
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