Tour of Southland 2015 Team Skoda Racing

The Tour of Southland brings to mind the same images in the collective memory of riders past and present. Think kilometres of flat, rural landscape whose endless nature is broken only by the odd molehill of a climb. If it wasn’t for the lashing of branches, chattering leaves, endless wind and rain the race wouldn’t be all that memorable. Invercargill doesn’t aid in the appeal. The city is like a weak cup of tea that fails to satisfy; a dated cluster of buildings, slumped power poles and a few monoliths of a society lost in time. After that sentence I may not be welcome back.

A superb choice for a tough week of racing

  

Although I’m far from the region’s biggest fan, there’s still an odd attraction to the race that throws everything in Mother Nature’s arsenal at the riders. Having ridden the tour in 2012 and again in 2014, I wouldn’t say no to a repeat of last year but respect the inclement weather for which the race is famous.

We were fortunate to have the 'Le Race' Octavia alongside our new, spacious Superb. A compulsory cookie stop kept us going for the drive from Christchurch to Invercargill 

Time Time Trial and Stage One

For 2015, I lined up alongside Joel, Alex, Sam, Nick and Callum with the Team Time Trial (TTT) start on Sunday 1^st November. Taking off in that order, we posted a solid showing around Queen’s Park, a course that rewards those who set a consistent pace coupled with a logical arrangement of riders. To our delight we were heading the leader board until the last teams bettered our time. In the end, we finished a respectable fourth trailing the Avanti Racing Team, Kia and Powernet. 

From left to right- Joel, Callum, Myself, Sam, Alex and Nick

On the following morning it begins to sink in that you have another six days of racing, with stages longer and harder than those typically offered on the domestic circuit. Scanning the race guide and seeing a mixture of stages in excess of 140kms is particularly daunting when you consider the amount of fatigue accumulated by the end of the week. The only solace was a slightly shorter route.

When racing commenced the topic on everybody’s lips was the seriously next level wind. It took well in excess of five hours to complete the 159km course, with a low average speed hampered by strong head and cross winds. The scenery to Lumsden wasn’t all that memorable given the amount of time we had to enjoy it. Not much else to say because it looks like every other stage with the added bonus of a trip through Nightcaps.

Windy doesn't do it justice. Credit: Envious Photography

All in all, the day treated us rough. Callum practised his off-road skills while the rest of us were similarly punished. If you can imagine one hand on each rim, pushing the lowest point of both wheels you’ll have some appreciation for what we were experiencing. Not nice, and soul destroying by the end of the stage. 

A bunch of broken individuals. Hard day on struggle street

The road to redemption

Nick and Sam saved the day on the way to Bluff come Tuesday morning, making the breakaway that stayed away. Transforming our fortunes, the former wrested the Under 23 leader’s jersey off the shoulders of Ryan Christensen (ORF) as Otago’s Brad Evan’s (PNL) assumed the overall from team mate Roman Van Uden. Defending Nick’s lead quickly became the agenda for the rest of the tour with Callum’s hopes dashed by Monday’s raging nor wester. 

Nick and Sam got it done. Looking good in pink! Credit: Envious Photography

Wednesday’s stage was the start of the traditional trip north towards Te Anau away from the metrological nightmare of New Zealand’s deep south. The climb of Black Mount at the mid-way point was the day’s objective where positioning was critical. To achieve this we fought tooth and nail to occupy space towards the front.

For those yet to experience an elite peloton, cycling real estate is a difficult thing to own. Accepted currency is power in numbers and a legitimate reason for a spot on the best street. NO GC place or NO jersey typically equates to NO respect which pushes you to the back. With Nick’s U23 lead, supported by our showing in the TTT, we reserved the right to space and fought accordingly for every meter.

We maintained a train towards the front in order to protect Nick heading into the climb. He was able to retain the jersey as the race stopped for the night in Te Anau. Credit: Eugene Bonthuys Media

 

Tourist moment

I’ve got a soft spot for Te Anau and having only spent three days there in my 22 year old history, the stopover is always far too short! As a quiet tramping/fishing town, the lakeside community’s tranquillity is its biggest merit. This place is a real gem, tucked away in the shadow of Otago’s tourist meccas. While the peloton favourite would have to be Queenstown I always look forward to spending the night here. There are few places in the world where natural beauty hasn’t been suffocated by the hype and enormity of every man and his dog coming to check it out. It’s a true secret that hasn’t been disclosed. As such, it remains every bit as enchanting as the glossy photos in an airline magazine. If you haven’t had the chance to spend a night in Te Anau it’s well worth doing; just don’t bring too many mates.


Crunch time

On Thursday the peloton headed further North towards Coronet Peak on what was to be one of the defining stages of the tour. Nick had retained the lead into Te Anau and sought to minimise losses up the climb to our nearest rivals in Liam Aitcheson (CLM) and Nick Katsonis (BSB). A reduced distance due to the start in Mossburn did little to negate the pace while the breakaway formed. Surviving a fast start, it was onwards to the climb and a leisurely ride to the top. Having struggled with a few health woes prior I’d begun to develop all the hallmarks of a classic winter ‘cold’ so was keen to tick off the remaining days. Unfortunately Nick lost the U23 lead to Aitcheson on the climb but not without leaving the door ajar for the penultimate road stage into Gore. 

The climb is always worth the view! No worries fitting everything in the back of these two cars.

Stage 5 was another marred by the wind. Its destructive force, aided by a growing fatigue among the riders, saw a decisive split form straight out of neutral. It would become the final decanting of the tour with Joe Cooper (ART) taking the stage and Nick in arrears to reclaim pink.

 

Nick's one day hiatus was long enough. Back to the podium with arms aloft. Credit: Envious Photography

The final day is never a procession despite clear time gaps forming ahead of the short time trial around Winton. Early starters pushed on with no rain but were restricted by a growing nor’ easterly that made the last kilometres tough going. Joel and Sam stepped up to post strong times under trying conditions that firmed our place in the Team GC as the leading ‘all kiwi’ squad. Things weren’t so rosy for Nick as rain set in and he came unstuck on the final corner. Words can’t describe how disappointed we were to see him running across the line. There’s little one can do in a situation like this except look ahead and embrace what we had already achieved.

Swim, bike, run. Nick's triathlon career holds plenty of promise. Credit: Eugene Bonthuys Media

Despite losing the jersey and a place on GC, Nick’s resolve didn’t falter in the appalling conditions through to Invercargill. Injuries and all, he did us proud to finish the race around Queen’s Park having had an extremely successful tour. The final dash into town was fast, pushed along by a strong tail wind and the control of Avanti Racing who set about adding the sprint jersey to their haul.

All in all, with three days in pink, a high placing in the TTT and 5^th in the Team’s Classification we had exceeded our expectations for our first Tour of Southland. We’ll look to return in 2016.

A big thanks to Wayne Hudson who managed the squad, catering to our every need; Marcel and Tomo for their support; Skoda for two stunning vehicles, the Superb and Octavia; Pro4mance for race day nutrition; Magellan cycle computers and the rest of our sponsors who make it happen. 

On a personal level I have to pass on my appreciation to Dean Jamieson who ensured my bike didn't skip a beat. 

MM