Good evening all. David here.
First let’s start with an update of yesterday’s blog: Vicki was 10th in the time trial which moved her up to 24th on GC. Not too bad given what’s been happening this week.
I’d just like to say that I was right with my prediction that today’s race from Palmerston North to Masterton (112km) would finish in a bunch sprint. The break of four riders was caught just 300 metres from the line. Pity I can’t glory in my ability to read how a race will pan out - because Vicki was in the break!
After looking at the profile and with the benefit of the local knowledge of the Lotto guest director ‘Grease Monkey’ Vicki figured the rolling roads after the major climb of the day would suit her to a tee. After a couple of attacks softened the reduced bunch Vicki followed the attack of one of the Chinese girls and found herself in the break that stuck.
In the end a group of 4 formed - Vicki and three New Zealanders (the Chinese rider fell off the pace and returned to the bunch early on). They were never given much freedom with the AIS team doing a lot of chasing along with the US team. It didn’t help that some of the members of the break weren’t giving their all.
After 60 kilometres of being out the front it was touch and go as to whether the bunch would time the catch better than yesterday. With two kilometres to go the two girls from the NZ team started to attack the break. Bit silly really. With only about 20 seconds back to the bunch there was no way they would survive without working together. Sure enough the break was swamped 300 metres from the line. Vicki rolled to the finish with the front bunch whilst Shelley Evans took her third stage of the tour.
That’s the life of a break artist – you’re very fortunate if even one out of ten works. Still, Vicki gave it a pretty good shake – especially given that she is still pretty sore.
Tomorrow is the last day. The tour finishes with a criterium in the centre of Wellington. It’s quite a technical course so if a committed group gets away they might just make it stick. (Still, if you’re betting put your money on a bunch sprint.)
Until tomorrow,
Dave