Building Momentum - 2015 Dynamo Winter Series

Having deposited valuable hours following the team camp it was back into racing for the Dynamo Winter Series. With three rounds in as many weeks, the fun rides take one and all for a fast paced tour around the Waikato.

My goal for the series was to walk away having gained the form I was severely lacking in July. For new readers the entire month was bad; so only a protean shift would suffice.

Preparation

Returning from injury, I struggled at the camp but came out the other side motivated to pick up the ball. This meant not only preparing to race through training, but also ensuring my equipment was up to the task.

Avanti Bikes Corsa DR in for some TLC with Richard and the team at A+ Newmarket

Step one was a quick trip to my local bike store in Newmarket for a drivetrain clean and to fit new cables. I’d persevered with shifting worse than 8 speed Claris for far too long through no fault but my own laziness. Not only did this betray the elegance of my shiny Dura-Ace, it was becoming an annoyance of the highest order. So after a quick pit-stop and helping hand from the team at AvantiPlus, my shifting woes were a thing of the past.

A well organized workshop exudes confidence and the promise of a job well done

Round One started in Matamata on a fine day for the time of year. Alex, Connor, Harry and myself comprised the team for the first two rounds with young Kiaan riding as an ambassador for Nature Valley. At just 14 years of age I’m sure he’ll make an appearance in the squad over the next few years.

TRR at Round One in Matamata

Writing in arrears very little happened throughout the day with a number of determined riders prepared to keep things together. Jack Sowry and Steve Furminger made a valiant effort to evade the bunch early on without reward. It was impressive to watch but a fruitless expression of power on a course which denied even the most concerted of efforts.

As things panned out we had two viable options to win; one with myself in a sprint and two, by launching an attack. The finish suited me well with 500 meters (thereabouts) to go after the final corner. This minimized the importance of positioning/technical ability (a couple still managed to find a way to fall off!) through the last turn, allowing ample time to negotiate the pack. Both situations were advantageous in that we could take a free ride if we had someone up the road or engage in the kick if the latter failed. While we didn’t set out with a firm strategy at the start, we were all aware of what was likely to occur and communicated well. As far as I was concerned, I wanted each of our riders to have the freedom to enjoy the race and try their luck; as long as we didn’t work against each other. 

Alex and I heading into the final turn - right in the middle of the madness. Credit - Bob's Bikes

With a couple of kilometres to go Connor attacked after three riders were reeled in. He held it to the line taking Waikato youngster Jared Gray in tow. I wasn’t far behind leading the bunch home for third.

Connor wins Round One - 1st and 3rd for TRR. Credit - Dynamo Events

Round Two was strides ahead as the most enjoyable of all three. Leaving Hamilton bang on ten, the route out was mostly flat followed by two laps of a circuit that featured a small climb before returning to the start/finish. Still unsure of form after the previous week’s cushy ride in the pack I thought it better to get going early. Myself, Logan Griffin, Steve Furminger and Josh Aldridge forced a small margin from the gun, continuing to rotate until being caught a few kilometers out from the climb. That set the benchmark for a positive day of racing with most riders having a dig at some point. I had a couple more cracks on the second lap but missed a later split that appeared to have the win at arm’s length. Feeling a little worse for wear I was contemplating packing it in last time up the climb but decided better of it, seeing the lads on the front. Steve chipped in as well and together it came down to another bunch finish. Although we wound up slightly too far back through the roundabout, Connor did a commendable job helping me scoop up a few places for 2^nd (he came home in 4^th).

 

TRR at Round Two in Hamilton. Alex (second from the left) rode impressively and was dependable as usual helping me make my way around the bunch.

The final round was held around the emerging cycling town of Cambridge. Once again, the weather played ball with no rain and a touch of wind. 

Stephen Cox and the team at Dynamo Events never let the riders down - 'fun, friendly, safe and affordable'. Credit - Dynamo Events

Racing commenced at 10am with a surprising amount of vigour. Another flat course, less challenging than the previous week made things dull and frustrating once the initial pace abated. I weighed up attacking at times only to snuff it after a quick glance at the speedo. The question was, how long could I ride in excess of 45khm? The answer, not very without a determined group off the front! So I left it at that, chewed my bottom lip and waited for an opportunity that never really came.  

Cambridge was another slick event, run professionally with the competitors in mind but mirrored the frustrations I felt in round one. The high average speed was due to the terrain, which sympathised with those aiming to ‘hang on’. No shame here as I’m often in this boat myself and it helps to create the type of finishes I usually enjoy. Such a scenario however, is as much a double bind as a blessing in disguise. That is, any attempt to breakaway becomes very difficult!

While pace was hot on paper the reality tucked away in the bunch was vastly different. Riders surging through to the front on small undulations made a fast pace, an axiom of the series. We weren't where we needed to be at the finish of Round Three. Credit - Dynamo Events

The result in Cambridge was a disappointing 4^th where I was never really in the game at the end. Round 3 was won by Speedwork’s Josh Kuysten who used astute positioning and an excellent blend of flat out pace and technical ability to take the win.

In spite of this, it was a mostly successful series for the team. I left happy with the sensations and aware of the improvements necessary to go one better.

Where to from here?

Through September, October and November TRR will be involved in a wide range of domestic races. Towards the end of next week we’ll line up for the first round of the 2015 Trust House North Island Series.

I’ll let you know how we go.

Thanks for reading!

MM

2015 Team Camp July - Back Into Gear

The 2015 TTR winter camp was based in Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula, a summer hotspot abandoned by Auckland holiday makers throughout July. The Mullaly family kindly hosted the entire squad, providing all the comforts of home in their seaside bach. It was a real pleasure to have at our disposal. Warmest of thanks from the team.

This place would be easier to qualify as a luxury home than holiday retreat

Context

Before touching the bike I was found wanting for confidence having sustained a nasty muscle tear on the 20^th of June. I was told to have at least a further week of easy kilometers before ‘loading’ the muscle again but couldn’t resist the chance to dive into the camp. Despite the excitement, I still had my apprehensions, concerned about the possibility of another set-back.

How it happened is an entertaining but short tale of personal embarrassment and carelessness at the end of a long (short) day. I needn’t delve into the details, but I’ll put it out there that riding into a wall is far from recommended. Having not turned a pedal in anger since my last addition to the blog, I was somewhat underdone for the task ahead and just a wee bit sore.

Friday

With a full complement of riders and management arriving on Friday it was all go by early afternoon. For the journey, Skoda New Zealand generously provided the team with two Octavia’s. These Tour de France machines greatly expanded the scope and safety of our ambitions helping the ‘out of town’ riders get to the camp (I’ve dedicated a few words to both vehicles further down). After brief introductions we hit the road for a quick spin along the coast to Whitianga.

The Octavia Wagon and Avanti Bikes Corsa DR

Those of you who frequent Matarangi during the busy summer months will be well aware of the surrounding terrain. For this reason alone, leaving later than the rest of the team was probably a bad way to start proceedings. It was only by a couple of minutes, but minutes nonetheless that had to be regained in order to reach the bunch. Turning onto the access road, myself, Sam and Scott lapped it out making contact by the time we hit the highway. That old adage ‘if you’re late, you chase’ is a firm part of TRR rhetoric and I vouch that it’s something better said than done!

Friday was mostly social and a great chance to ponder what lay ahead

The first of what seemed like an interminable flow of climbs commenced just a few kilometers in. Given this is a ‘G’ rated blog I’ll refrain from expressing my true feelings about it on paper, just to say that it was pretty bloody steep and a real shock to the system. Heart in mouth stuff! Over the other side there wasn’t much to complain about. Blue skies, a touch of warmth and sea views made for a top notch trip. Even the traffic passing by gave the impression they were happy to accommodate us with a few gentle waves warming the collective heart of the team.

Get that summer feeling... only a few arm warmers give it away!

Saturday

It wouldn’t be too far from the truth to suggest that most undertrained cyclists are fairly aware of their limitations upon a return to training. What was achievable just a few months prior may not be the case anymore, so it’s important to plan accordingly… Saturday’s agenda was an unforgiving venture into the testing climbs north of Matarangi in less than desirable weather. As part of a small contingent of ‘not so conditioned’ riders, we hatched a cunning stratagem worthy of the ancient Greeks in case of premature detonation. Jared and Scott tactically positioned a vehicle in Thames, wisely predicting the struggle in the second half of the ride. The original plan was to complete a full loop of the ‘K2’ course weather permitting. This was shortened slightly with most of the riders completing 160kms odd to Kopu return.     

TDF data anyone? Nah, just a mudguard to look after the kit. It was vests off after the first climb - not for long

Saturday morning started with dragging my sad façade down the stairs just after 6am all geared up to confront the joys of kiwi riding. I was pretty motivated when you consider just how much I love riding in the rain on roads covered with the aftermath of our staple industry! First up, it was coffee with the lads, followed by a smattering of simple carbs and straight into kit for a classic winter ride.  

Out on the road it was nice to finally put some faces to the names in our 2015/2016 roster having stuck to myself on the first day. Amongst the talent, the team is sporting some of New Zealand’s most promising riders from Palmerston North who have taken the Secondary School scene by storm. Joel and Mitchell who raced with TRR at the Tour of Taranaki were present, alongside Robert Stannard and Chris Denholm.

Robert and Chris with Joel just out of shot. Talent to burn

Together with the new faces, a few old ones made an appearance as well. Jared Holmes and Scott Mullaly, both former members of the team contributed to the fun. This season, Jared will be stepping into a management role assisting Scott (Fairbairn) and Brad with the finer details. Considering both were co-conspirators in the Thames escape, I was glad to have them by my side.  

Scott Won the Tour of Northland in 2014 racing for TRR

Callum and Jared exchange a few words - the latter a stalwart of TRR over the years

A longer day in the saddle also gave the riders a chance to try some of the new product that’ll be powering the team over the course of the season. Pro4mance sports drinks and gels were invaluable, keeping us on the happy side of the carbohydrate balance. The Magellan Cyclo 505 was another popular item for those looking to give Strava a nudge. The big touch screen helped detract from the general morbidity of wearing more layers than your average Antarctic explorer.  

Sunday

The final day took us beyond Coromandel Town to the gravel road that leads to the edge of the peninsula. It was a flying start with touch of aggression up Whangapoua, bettered only by a riveting descent down the other side. Sam captured the moment on our new GoPro session (this will be up in the next few weeks).

Some of the smaller climbs along the way suited me well as my legs finally regained a sense of normalcy. As with the previous year, we stopped for lunch along the way this time indulging in country cuisine at Hereford ‘n’ a Pickle café (Colville). Run by a tight crew of locals, there was no shortage of quality food and coffee on hand. Turf in a spoonful of frontier atmosphere to top the whole experience off and it was a fitting interlude before the 50kms back to the bach.

Hereford 'n' a Pickle served up a winner in our books

Up front, Robert and Callum locked horns challenging each other as morning became afternoon. Back at sea level, I spent a fair part of Sunday riding with Sam who is returning from a well-deserved break. This was good for me but probably not a great sign of form for him; Sam currently holds the KOM up the hotly contested Whangapoua climb, not the side panels of the Octavia! Returning to fitness is an unforgiving task but makes one appreciate the demands of the sport. It took a while but we both made it back after a mostly honest climb of the Northern side of Whangapoua.

Skoda New Zealand

As I mentioned earlier, Mitchell and I had the privilege of the latest Octavia RS to and from Auckland. Personally I was taken aback by how classy this car was to drive and really wanted to share my thoughts. I wouldn’t mind a job with TopGear, so consider below a formal job interview. Add in Clarkson’s voice if you wish.

Skoda Octavia RS - the best of both worlds with no time for compromise Simply Clever

It all started in the collection area of Auckland International Airport as I rescued Mitchell from the boredom of the arrivals lounge. With two bikes between us and enough kit to last a season I was surprised at how easily our glossy red Octavia ate each and every piece of equipment without protest.

The interior was championed by an intelligent centre display that offered in house GPS capability, four different driving modes, plus Bluetooth paring and a wide array of relevant telemetry. All of the above was brilliant in its ease of use and wouldn’t strike a challenge to even the most brain dead of individuals.  

What the RS graced in practicality however is not engineered at the cost of flawless handling and raw performance. The 2.0 litre TSI engine is capable of achieving 0-100kmh in a fleeting 6.8 seconds (manual) along with a blistering top speed of 248kmh. Yes, that’s right, not even Greipel can match those numbers! When asked, the Octavia responded without question, easily navigating the sinuous roads that bank the Firth of Thames. It would be a gross overstatement to say I came close to unlocking the full potential of the RS; at most I got a taste for what it’s capable of. There is no doubt the Octavia has the propensity to attack the crudest of roads with all the venom of a battle hardened supercar. With the push of a button, vRS function tweaks the engine and optimises steering, transforming the everyday into the exceptional.

Wouldn't have been possible without this trusty steed playing gatekeeper 

Complementing the endearing attributes of the RS, the Octavia diesel wagon was our mother-ship all weekend long. Housing a range of wheels, fresh kit and extra nutrition, the ever patient Alex (Chris’s father) made sure we were adequately supported from behind. Although I only had a few kilometers in the wagon, I can confidently say it’s the perfect match for the team.

Thanks Greg and the team at Skoda New Zealand for making it happen. It’s going to be a great year.

Cheers for sticking it out to the bottom folks. See you out on the road.

It's our own Koru Club back here 

MM

Knocking on Winter's door - The last few months

There’s no denying we’re in the icy grips of yet another Kiwi winter with temperatures dropping and fewer taking to the roads on those especially nippy mornings. The club racing scene here in Auckland is ticking over but takes a break for the ritual viewing of Le Tour throughout July. Although the call of the couch might be tempting, it’s worth thinking of the opportunities just beyond the horizon and holding on to the promise of warmer weather! For myself, currently enduring a forced break, I’ve decided to hit the keyboard and recap on the last few months with the Rolling Revolution (TRR).

In cycling’s ancestral homeland, TRR stalwart Nick Bain has been busy accruing success with a number of early season results. Riding for the Belgium registered Pro Race Cycling Team, Nick secured his first European win in the Ardooie Kermesse riding clear of a breakaway group and remaining in front with time to spare at the line. Having raced alongside Nick, this result comes as no surprise given his propensity to turn 10 seconds into 2 minutes! Other highlights include a second place in the GP Dussessoye Andre as well as selection for the NZ National Team. For more on the above you can follow Nick on his blog. Link below

http://nickbaincycling.blogspot.co.nz/

Credit- DPM Photo

                                               

Back in NZ, the month of April witnessed the annual running of the Club National Championships which returned to the picturesque Hawke’s Bay after a two year hiatus. TRR came away with a number of top ten results across road and time trial disciplines. Alex and Callum led the charge with 5^th and 6^th respectively in the U23 road race, remaining comfortably in the bunch despite the challenging terrain. Though we were unable to nab a few medals, valuable experience was gained.

Across the final days of April, John represented the team at the Rotorua to Taupo Flyer; a race TRR has won the previous two years. With myself battling a cold and Sam unable to attend, he fought the inclement conditions by himself but was unable to finish as a result of a nasty spill. By the sounds of things it was trying day had by all and one likely to remain etched in collectively memory. We will be back next year for sure! Only a few days later, Auckland rider Connor Brown rounded off the month taking home the Connell Shield on our national day of remembrance.

Over Queen’s Birthday weekend at the end of May the team headed to the Powerco Tour of Taranaki having gone full circle since my first contribution to the blog. Powerco is an intriguing tour for several reasons which make it unique on the race calendar. The famous line ‘there is no need to go to Southland to experience all weather conditions’ espoused in the handbook generally rings true; last year being a notable exception to the norm. All weather aside, the timing also makes for an interesting field. Some riders target the event while others are found questioning why they entered in the first place. I’ve been on both sides of this equation and genuinely believe that like Southland, it demands that little bit more and should be treated accordingly.

Having walked away in the previous edition with two classification jerseys we were eager to better our performance. This time around the 30^th anniversary tour replicated the route of 2014 barring the final stage which reverted to the same course used in 2013. My personal favourite is the first road stage which is a large rectangle, starting and finishing in the small town of Kaponga. I was hoping to make the break in order to defend the sprint jersey from last year and make up for the disappointment of falling one point short at the HUB Tour. Beyond those ambitions, a high GC placing for the team was of utmost importance.

After three days of racing with an absolute stunner on day one, the squad finished up with Callum third on GC, a stage win, myself in sprint and three riders in the top ten. We couldn’t be happier with our performance and the strong bonds formed out on the road.  The 30^th edition was another well run race with a positive atmosphere generated by the competitors. I’d like to take the chance to thank Alex, Callum, Mitchell and Joel who rode selflessly throughout the tour to achieve our mutual objectives.

You’ll be hearing more about the new additions to the team in the near future.

TRR Powerco Squad 2015

That’s a wrap for today, thanks again to our partners in Nature Valley and Avanti Bikes. Bring on training camp in mid July! Until next time stay warm and upright.

MM      

Tour of Northland

The BDO Tour of Northland is a personal favourite and provides some of the most affordable yet challenging riding at the tail end of the New Zealand summer. For 2015, Nick, Cam and I represented the team with a mutual goal of attaining a high general classification finish. Nick spent all four days in the yellow last year but came out second best to team mate, Scott Mullaly.
I hope you like my synopsis of the tour. It’ll save you the entry fee and sore legs at the end. Enjoy…


Stage one takes the riders from Whangarei to Dargaville via the Tangowahine Valley with predominantly flat terrain all the way. Conditions weren’t great and we soon experienced the cold hand of passing showers which intensified beyond Titoki. A break formed a few kms out from the left hand turn onto Tangowahine Valley Road with four riders prepared to make a good go of it. Glen Carabine and Ben Johnstone were two of the strongest and pushed the margin out beyond 1 minute 40. With most of the main contenders still in the bunch, we banked on bringing the race together for a mass sprint in the final 10kms. Nick and Cam pressed the issue while I opted for the Koru Club membership around 15 wheels back.
Further up the road, the four man break swung out onto the state highway having conceded around 40 seconds of their lead through the valley. To cut a long story short, Johnstone attacked his breakaway companions with 3kms remaining taking the ever resilient Stephen Lewthwaite in tow. Unable to stay in touch over the last 800m, Lewthwaite capitulated leaving Johnstone to take the stage and the first yellow jersey of the tour. Only a few seconds in arrears, we fought hard to bring it home but couldn’t quite muster the effort needed to reel in the duo.


Stage two is always a terrible affair, characterised by a myriad of climbs all crammed into a relatively short 84km ride. That said, our plan for the day was to establish Nick as a firm contender for overall victory and preserve his position in the hills. Given my taste for the climbs I was keen to get into it launching a punchy attack just before Baylys beach with an eye to taking the pressure off the boys in the bunch. Blindz Direct’s Mel Titter bridged and we worked well together to wrest an advantage heading into the first major challenge some 29kms in. Having tried the same trick last year, I figured we would need at least 1 minute 30 in order to make it over the top. To my delight, a favourable tail cross wind helped us gain 2 minutes 40 at the bottom, relinquishing just over a minute of that by the top. After exchanging a few words, we got back into it, staying out front for the first 48kms.
Once caught, Nick and Cam were in a strong place to stay at the head of proceedings into the infamous Opononi wall. To those unfamiliar with the ‘wall’, it’s a short but punishing ascent that climbs over the headland into the picturesque bays below. It pops up a mere 3kms from the end of the stage with stunning views of the sand dunes on the opposite side of the harbour. Legend goes someone won a stage here by drawing attention to this marvellous wonder of the north! Although the boys were unable to contend with stage winner Sam Gaze, they minimised their losses; finishing sixth and seventh respectively only a handful of seconds down.


Stage three headed due east towards the tourist towns of Paiha and Russell via Kaikohe. It’s the sort of stage that looks easy on paper but throws in a few curve balls along the way. In a strong head wind, a sprint finish could well be expected, whereas a tail or cross wind has historically split the field. I’d finished second here in the past two years and was quietly hoping for a mass kick but
was realistic about the need to ensure both Nick and Cam made any serious splits in order to mitigate potential losses.
It was a fast start with a number of riders keen to escape the grasp of the bunch having lost time on the previous stage. The first few attacks proved fruitless as the majority watched and waited for signs of aggression on the part of Avanti Racing’s Taylor Gunman. Gunman suffered an untimely puncture on stage 2.
On the second climb of the day, Gunman along with the main GC contenders drove a split that had ample firepower to remain away. Both Nick and Cam were initially included however, wet roads and gravel soon deflated the latter’s ambitions. He wasn’t the only one to fall victim to the Northland roads; the Yellow jersey, still on the shoulders of Johnstone was forced out of contention, unable to rejoin at the head of affairs. Punctures aside, a flurry of late attacks out of the breakaway only prolonged the inevitability of an uphill dash to the line. In the last 500 meters, Gaze unleashed an early sprint but faded, creating an opportunity for Tokoroa’s Josh Kuysten to take the penultimate stage. Back in the bunch, I led the group up the finishing climb ready for the final leg to Whangarei.


Coming into Stage four the immediate plan was to orchestrate a robust assault on the overall. Bain was looking strong just 19 seconds adrift of Gaze who assumed the race lead following Johnstone’s demise. The coast road to Whangarei is ordinarily a scenic ride, albeit hilly, but should not be taken lightly under race conditions. Hugging countless bays, the tarmac undulates like a roller coaster for the first 50kms until a 4km climb out of Helena Bay. In the wet it’s a truly horrible experience and very high risk! Thankfully there was no sign of rain and the platform was set for one final chance to put yellow under pressure.
Having recovered significantly on stage 3, I set about escaping the bunch rather early. After a couple of stabs a large group of around 10 riders broke clear. Although a little dysfunctional, most of us gave it a punt staying ahead until yellow bridged across solo. At this point I was a touch concerned, peering around in search of Nick and Cam. Just how far behind were they? Had something happened? With questions swirling, it was a fair assumption that the bunch behind would be determined to reunite Gaze with the other GC contenders so I thought it best just to take a free ride until the boys managed to bridge across. Sure enough, the race compacted offering the chance for me to make another bid for fame and riches off the front.


While fame and riches were in short supply, I managed to find a few more climbs alongside my three breakaway companions; Glen Carabine, Stephen Lewthwaite and Lynton Chitty. We rolled effectively making solid headway, gaining at least a couple of hard earned minutes at the base of the Helena Bay climb. Lewthwaite in particular is worth a special mention. This guy descends like an absolute madman, railing corners and banking the bike beyond the ability of anyone else I’ve seen. Like a grasshopper on speed but nonetheless impressive! Over the top we latched on to a reduced yellow jersey group with 11 of us still in contention for the stage. Nick pushed the envelope with around 20kms to go, striking off alone. His efforts were a credible threat to Gaze’s lead but were eventually undone by a coordinated chase behind. Just outside the final km, Johnstone snuck away with Cam hot on his heels. Shortly after Lewthwaite followed suit. The trio contested the stage finish with Johnstone coming out on top ahead of Cam. For me, it was another frustrating fourth place as I led home the group containing yellow 25 seconds down.


After four days Sam Gaze emerged victorious bettering Josh Aldridge, Josh Kuysten and our own Nick Bain. Thanks a plenty to our generous sponsors at Nature Valley and Avanti Bikes in addition to those who gave up their time to support the team. I’m looking forward to next year already!


MM

The Golden Spring

It's Brad here writing our last blog of the year. Firstly I wanted to say sorry to Matt as he wrote such a great blog about a month ago and I never posted it. Well I have now and its well worth a read. Check it out on the side tab.

2014: The Step Change
Sometimes it's worth throwing the kitchen sink at something to see how it goes. That pretty much sums up our 2014. We went 'blackjack all in' to see what we could make of a domestic Cycling Team in NZ and its fair to say the Rollercoaster hasn't stopped since then. The highs have been great and its fair to say the last two months have been riding a wave of success. If someone had of said we would win 'The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge', 'The 2015 Elite Criterium Nationals' and the last 2 rounds of the 'North Island Series' I would have believed it. Yes, Paddy Bevin has been the ultimate star but results show that across the board the team has jumped a level. Case and point: Nick Bain and raising star Connor Brown. On Saturday a week ago, Nick Bain won the last round of the North Island Series. This lamented his place as being one of the up and coming riders in the country. At 9km to go, he broke away solo from a 7 rider pack to hold off Horgan, Vink, Hagan, Rowlands and Torkler. Classy ride considering the weight of the contenders behind. 3 weeks earlier, Connor Brown won 'Bike the Bridge' in Auckland (with team member Sam Lindsay) at 16 years old. This 'kid' has has been on the development team since he was 14 but it's fair to say his name will be one to remember in a few years.


Nick wins the final race of the North Island Series and claims the U23 Jersey


Connor and Sam crossing the line to win Auckland's Bike The Bridge

The story behind the success
Ask anyone of the riders why they are on the team and the answer will be the team culture. This is my 'big thing' and something that we have put ahead of everything else including results. The 'no ego' mentality is important, everyone is on the same level, everyone buys in to the plan, everyone gives it their all when they ride. It's my thoughts that a rider who gets last by doing their job is better than a rider who finishes 15th never touching the front. The guys we selected on the team this year were chosen through these attributes firstly then by results. A unified team will always be more powerful than a team of stars. I hope we have shown this in 2014 and it sure will be front and center in 2015. It is great to see this team is a bunch of friends foremost and when someone like Nick or Paddy wins, everybody shares in the celebration as if it was theirs.

The Paddy Bevin Story
Back in February, Paddy Bevin and I started talking about the possibility of him racing for us. I have raced Paddy for a number of years and the guy has class written all over him. He really is the whole package and there is no ego, just business on the bike and all round good guy off the bike. We planned to work around his track schedule with him focusing on the Comms Games. Fast forward to August and a bit of a change of scene saw him turn his attention back to the Road. He raced a bit for us at the Dynamo Series with some success but that was to be expected. Following on from this he took Australia by storm by winning the final two NRS races including the much acclaimed Tour of Tasmania. He picked up a Pro contract with The Avanti Racing Team from his results. The NZ spring meant some time for him to see how he would pull up after a break and its fair to say that he was still streets ahead of the competition on home soil.


Paddy claims the 2015 Elite National Criterium Champs jersey

The successes

Crit Nationals was something Paddy really wanted to win and all you can do is watch on in awe of the guy. With a 1/3 of the race to go, he had narrowed it down to a 3 rider break and you could tell that it wasn't going to end well for the others. Dion Smith and Mike Northy are some of the best riders in the country but on that night Paddy showed his class to win in the 3 up sprint and take the title. While Paddy won't get to wear the jersey for the team in 2014, it was a cool experience for the guys who were there to be a part of something quite special.


Lake Taupo still remains NZ's biggest mass start race and within the elite field it attracts up to 100 riders. We decided a max of 7 riders would start for our team at this race and within that we had Corbin and John there to continue their development in the elite field. This is a big step up from the U19 scene but a great chance for them to gain the experience for future years.
The race was ultimately won from the 15km mark when 4 riders when clear including Paddy. From his point of view the break worked well together and he attacked on the final hill 20km out to win solo and take a new course record. Again, the class in the guy was amazing. For him it was a chance to race on his home roads and to win in front of his family.
While Paddy's result was awesome, the rest of the guys did a great job in the rest of the race with 4 guys finishing in the top 11 for the day. It was great to see the team as a whole overachieving ahead of the other top domestic teams there on the day.


Paddy wins Around Lake Taupo Cycle Race

The North Island Series 
This was a pretty big deal to us. It was the first true teams series races in the North Island and a chance for us to see how we went against the other teams around the North Island. Race 1 and 2 by our standards were a bit below our expectations for one reason or another. We didn't start race 3 due to clashes with other races but headed to race 4 with a beefed up line up. Long story short, the race was shortened to 40km due to the wind but the team truly stamped their mark on the race. Paddy won solo and the team managed 4 riders in the top 6. It was great to get some runs on the board and to show we could deliver against the best.
As mentioned above, Nick won the last round of the North Island Series but within the detail this was by far the best team performance so far. We set a strong plan before the race to make it hard for the other teams and to get Nick and 1 other rider in the final break. Nick sealed the deal for us and in doing so he won the U23 jersey for the series. Job done and the team spirit after the race showed just how much it meant to everyone.
The North Island Series has finished now and was definitely an experience. I have to talk firstly the race organiser Jorge for getting it off the ground. It's been a long time coming. Second thanks goes to Murray and the team at Avanti Lower Hutt for sorting our logistics with their van. I'm sure it rained every time we drove over the hill from Wellington but the trusty van got us there safely. The final thanks goes to the riders for funding their own way down there. It's not cheap and most of the riders aren't rich.

Looking forward...
Personally I have taken a lot out of the year and its great to look back and say we have really delivered on what we said we would. We are a development team with the majority of our riders in the U23 grade or lower. Across the board, all riders have shown their potential and its exciting to see their progression. I hope in 2015 we can continue to build and set these guys up for bigger things
2015 planning is well underway. Our main goal heading in to the next year will be the New Zealand Cycle Classic and we will look to send a strong team there of core team members and few 'ring ins'. We will also look to have coverage at races like Tour de Vineyards, The Hub Tour and Elite Nationals.
In terms of rider movements, Paddy is moving to Avanti Racing next year and we wish him the best of luck. Hopefully it is a short term stop for him before heading on to bigger things. What this means is a few opportunities for others and Im happy to announce that both our 'ring in' riders for the North Island Series will join the team on a more permanent basis. So a big welcome to Sam Dobbs and Alex Heaney. This will take our elite team up to 9 riders but will reduce the amount of extra riders at bigger races (up to 8 for a north island series) and allow us to compete at more races when there is clashes. This was probably one of our biggest learnings of 2014 but these two fitted in seamlessly.


Some of the boys on the recent training camp in the National Park

Thanks for reading

Brad, Scott & the rest of the NVA boys

North Island Series heats up the racing scene

As the European season once again draws to a close, New Zealand’s best international and domestic riders turn their attention to the much anticipated Tour of Southland. This famous race witnesses some of the most challenging conditions with flat roads and inclement weather combining over seven days. Although we haven’t entered a team, this year Callum, Nick and Matt are riding in the guise of Christchurch based TotalPOS Solutions. A stalwart of local cycling, TotalPOS has provided the boys with the support necessary to make the best of what is set to be a strong rendition of NZ’s most famous tour. While we eagerly await the first road stage, it seems appropriate to touch on some of the highs and lows since our last post.

On the Australian front, Paddy has excelled taking promising results in the Subaru National Road Series (NRS). His performance in National Capital Tour and the Tour of Tasmania were ample efforts to secure a 2015 contract with the Avanti Racing Team. Paddy will be joining Nature Valley Avanti for the last few races of the year before furthering his career over the ditch. We wish him well beyond 2014.

Back here in NZ, the Trust House North Island Series is well underway. Two rounds have already been completed and the third is happening as I write. With each race situated in the beautiful Wairapa, the series offers a professional, well run and centralised opportunity for riders to try their hand in a team’s environment.  

Round One was dogged by high winds and rain over a reduced circuit of 120km. Both Matt and Steve rode well, with the former spending most the race up the road providing a platform for the rest of the team. Crashes, the cold and splits all took their toll on the bunch. In the closing kilometres Steve played a commanding hand, orchestrating a series of moves which saw the leaders caught and a defining split emerge. Embattled veteran Gordon McCauley secured the win from a select group ahead of Wellington’s Dan Waluszewski. Our riders Steve and Corbin preformed amicably wresting hard earned spots in the top ten.     

Round Two offered a vast improvement in the weather, generally blue skies with a soft breeze welcomed the field. A slightly longer course of 146km featured rolling terrain leading into long straightaways that favoured the formation of a break. After a flurry of attacks in the opening stanza, a select group formed containing the majority of the favourites. Of those in the final cut, Nick, Callum and Matt were well placed to affect the direction of the race. Following an unfortunate turn of events, the boys were caught as the break dwindled to six. McCauley defended his overall lead in the series after an artful 3^rd place, bettered only by track duo Regan Gough and Luke Mudgeway. Our riders were narrowly captured by the bunch in what was a well ridden effort by the team.  


Best of luck to the squad for Round Three.


MM