New Years and Bay Crits...

Howdy y'all!

I have been back in my slacking ways, so there hasn't been much in the way of updates lately. I have been on the run a bit, and busy, so i haven't found the patience to sit down and load photos, and type.

The first thing that i should report on, is to let you know i got second in the New Years Eve special Hell Ride! I did a lead out for Hendy, just so he didn't have his confidence shattered before departing to Mallorca for the T-Mobile training camp.

Here is a picture of the Hell Ride as it heads off in the morning from Black Rock. The picture doesn't really show the bunch too well, but i did my best considering i was riding, and wanted to stay upright, as well as avoid looking like a tourist - i am not really the type who takes a lot of photos! The USA National criterium champion is showing off his colours here in the front of the picture, complete with his new Champion's Jersey!


Here is another shot of the Hell Ride, a bit clearer, but doesn't show how many riders there are on the ride. Hiltz is again hogging the photo, and trying to show off his jersey!


Cafe Racer is pretty much the most popular cafe for cyclists i have ever come across. This picture doesn't really show how many bikes are usually parked out the front of Racer, there are still a heap behind me. Every morning of the week there are hundreds of cyclists and other locals enjoying the great coffee here.

For the Jayco Bay Criterium Series, the Aussie Jittery Joe's riders, Trent Wilson, Jeff Hopkins, Cody Stevenson, and myself, joined Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole) to ride for the Skilled composite team. We have one other Aussie in Jittery Joe's, Chris Jongewaard, who didn't race the Bay Crits.

The picture above was taken on Stage Three, the Geelong Waterfront crit, where we got on the front and brought back the break, in order to set our team leader Mark Renshaw up for the win. I am leading our Jittery Joe's sprinter Hop into the turn. If i must say so, i reckon we did a pretty good job on the front, and Hop was going like a machine! Unfortunately he crashed out after someone decided to take a dive in front of him - last year's winner of this stage, and my team mate of last year, Rich England. It was a bit of a bummer for Jeff, as he was riding into form, and ended up having to watch the rest of the series from the side lines with a badly sprained wrist.

I am pretty pumped about seeing the team line up like this over in the States this year. This was one of our first races together, and we are already getting it happening pretty well!
All our hard work to get our man, and series leader, up for the win was destroyed when Robbie McEwen stole the win from us! Mark, in the yellow jersey, came very close to rolling Robbie on the line, but second was enough to keep him in the lead on the GC. It would have been awesome if he had won, seeing as we were actually able to help him in this stage, and i must give a big thankyou to the great journalist for the Bay Series, Mal Sawford, who even gave me a mention in the race report for Stage Three...!

Mark beat Sun Tour winner Simon Gerrans in Stage Two, at Portarlington. This circuit is a killer, and i think only about eleven dudes made it around. The win saw Renshaw take the leader's jersey from Stage One winner Jonny Clarke. It was nice of Mark to do so in front of his team mates too, as we were all sitting back in the tent after our early exits from the stage!

Mark went on to win the Overall by a huge amount, and was never really threatened all week. It was nice to be part of a successful team this year, and to be able to ride with a ProTour rider too.

After the series was over, we donned the suits and headed out to the gala dinner, a Bay Crits' tradition. It is always funny to see all the guys we usually only see in lycra, dressing up in suits, and the best dressed was a hands down winner; Jeff Hopkins! He chose the three piece suit for the occasion. Above we are modelling our outfits while hanging off one of the metal statues in Swanston Street in the city. The statue is about to go to work, and wasn't impressed with our behaviour! I should add that while i may look like i was drinking here, i only had one light beer (Australian light beer) for the night, so don't get the idea that i am a party boy or anything!

Get a load of this! If you thought the previous photo showed Hop striking up a bit of a pose, then have a go at this one! Does anyone have a cigar for him? This shot was taken using the candlelight mode of the camera, and really accentuates the lighting and vibe of the place. The lense used was a ......... ! I have no idea actually. I can tell you though, i am looking forward to many more fun times as the year rolls on, and am really excited to be spending the year with my new team mates.

I will shoot out a new update in a few days of the National Road Race Championships held at Buninyong, but for now, get the comments happening!

Happy New Year everyone, even if i am two weeks late!

Laters...