30 June 2004

Ronde Soulor Aubisque
2.24 Espior

A 5 hour car trip South West would see us racing in the Pyrenees on the French and Spanish border in a beautiful town called Nay. After a rather difficult night we saw racing kick off with a 108km road race in 40 degree heat. Not the best however the heat favours me so I was keen to get up amongst it. The heat didn’t phase the racing and Attacks were going everywhere and Myself, Joel and another team mate made the decisive split of 30 at about the 15km mark. The group was away and gaining time on the Peleton fast, however the group was too large and not working so attacks were constantly going. Seb made one of these splits and just as I joined it he clipped a wheel and unfortunately fell and only I was left in the front with Joel to join shortly after. As soon as he joined Joel found himself in a attack off the front in a group of now around 15, realising this was the race I attacked and road across 5km solo just joining the group as we hit a Berg, being stuffed after just chasing on my chain decided to come to the party and jump off, stopped put it back on and just managed to join the group by the top, barely hanging on. Unfortunately Joel had been as causality on the climb leaving me the only rider in the front. 30km to go and 2 riders made a moved and quickly opened up a lead of around 50 seconds and I thought that this was the race. With around 20km to go mark I hit out with another 2 riders trying to make the best out of a bad situation and ride for 3 position however as hit the hardest climb of the day we rounded a corner to see the leading two barely 100 metres infront, we joined these two and upped the tempo getting rid of 2 riders now leaving 3 of us in the front with 10km’s. The strongest rider out of the 3 attacked us and opened up a lead of 100 metres quickly and myself and the other rider we left with the hard work of closing the gap, we were slowly bridging back and with 5km to go and 20 metres off the back of the leader I took a wrong turn, some of the Motorbikes decided they would go straight on and the other half would turn making it a 50% chance and I got the wrong end of it. Quickly stopped got going again and in a display of total sportsmanship the rider I was riding with waited for me, I quickly joined him, thanked him greatly for his sportsman ship and we then joined the leader, 4km’s to go, 1km berg at 8% then all down hill. We all knowing this berg was the race it was all or nothing and the Boulangerie rider hit us several times however I was able to go with him. Last 500 metres we rounded the final bend and I lead him out easily winning the stage. Joel rolled in shortly after and we all celebrated the win.

Sunday would see us do a 20km TTT and a 95km road race in the afternoon going over the Hors category Climb Col l’Aubisque 17.5km at an average gradient of 7.5%

First to kick off was the Teams time trial and after a fast start the team settled into what we all thought was a good rhythm however by the finish we found out we had lost not only the time trail by 1:30 but with it the maillot jaune. I guess these things are inevitable and we weren’t really expecting to hold it as the team was very exhausted from the day before.

The afternoon rolled round and the race begun in usual style with attacks and this time two of our teams mates managed to join the break and gain a sizeable lead before we hit the big berg. Joel did his best to help me move up to the front of the bunch however the pace was on 100% and I got swallowed by the bunch and caught a bit down from the front. After just managing to move my way to the font of the bunch the group had already split and I didn’t have the legs at all, as the climb got steeper, the pace slowed and the legs hurt more, Joel came bombing past me to catch the 3^rd group and finish in a real good position of around 10^th. I rolled in some minutes down not sure of my position or GC however still happy to get a stage win.

Cheers
Higgo

JOEL PEARSON's Race Report

LE CHEYLARD - FRANCE

26th/27th June 2004

Ronde Soulor Aubisque

This week we travelled south-west to the Pyrenees for a rather large Espior tour. The racing over the weekend consisted of two road stages, one of which climbed the massive col d’Aubisque, and a teams time trial. We started the race with a strong combination in the team but only had 5 riders when all the teams consisted of 6.

We arrived in Nay on Friday as the car trip was huge and needed a day to make it comfortable. The accommodation was in the dorm of a catholic college so sleeping conditions were difficult but with ear plugs we managed to get a few hours in.

The racing begun late on Saturday in the souring 40 degree heat. As per usual the peleton was real aggressive in the opening km’s and a number of escape’s were attempted but non of which were successful. As the race wore on the peleton split into pieces due to the heat, three of us made the front group but Seb had a crash and only Shaun and I were left in the front of the race.

With about 60km to race the race went over a berg, not very big but enough for me to become a victim of the heat. I rode in in a small group while in the front group Shaun was on good form and looking good. He made a decisive move with 20km left to race which put him off the front of the race with 4 other riders. Over the final couple of hills he and a rider from Montaubarn team got clear which left a two up sprint which Shaun took comfortably. The biggest win of Shaun’s career and a good one for the team.

The following Day saw the real difficulties of the tour, the teams time trial and the climb up the Aubisque.

In the teams time trial we had a fair crack but considering we only had 5 riders and Clement our 5^th rider didn’t really participate in swapping of for the 20km effort we didn’t really get a good result. We finished in 12^th out of 21 teams, 1min 29sec down. We lost the yellow jersey and Shaun dropped to 6^th on GC.

The final stage consisted of 3 categorised climbs, one cat3 one cat2 and a hors category obviously up the Aubisque. Two breaks got clear of the peleton over the first cat 3 climb with Seb in the first one and Vancent in the second. When the bunch hit the start of the major climb which went for 17km Shaun was a bit down the field so I done a big turn for him to get him up to the head of the bunch. He rode away in the front group going out of sight. I found a good tempo and found myself riding up through the shattered peleton. Before long I came across Shaun with the leader of the climbers jersey, he was in a bit of pain from his ride the day before and I rode straight past his group. At the top of the climb I had passed my other 2 team mates and a heap of other riders that cooked themselves in the early parts of the climb. I had an awesome descent and found myself in a good group to ride to the finish with. We picked up a few more riders and I won the bunch kick for 10^th in the stage. Seb and vancent came in in the group behind and shaun a short time later.

We didn’t stay around for the GC results but my director thinks I snuck into the top 20. I’ve finally shaken off my bad form just in time for the busy part of the season.