Taupo 2019 - A star is born

After the disappointment of 2018, of not getting Trace around under 5hrs, I had vowed that I would return this year and have another crack at that elusive Sub 5hr ride with her (if Trace was up for it? and she was 😃 ). One of the main issues with our 2018 attempt was the weather (which obviously we have no control over), but being wet, cold and windy made for a very difficult day out and not conducive to fast times. This years forecast was much better, and if anything looked like it might get too hot but only light Northerly winds and no rain. Trace's training had gone much better leading in to the ride so we were optimistic of our chances.

The DOC group was quite similar to last year, containing quite a few strong riders but the key ingredient to getting any cohesion from the bunch is their Captain, Mike Conza. Despite last years weather, a lot of the DOC bunch did go Sub 5 so I knew that Mike was very keen to help Trace achieve her goal this time around. Also meeting us at the start point was Tim, Phil and Ian, who were going to ride their own races but it's always nice to see familiar faces and the longer we could stay together the better.

As we lined up in the start gates, the weather was very pleasant 14 degrees (which is warm for Taupo at 7.30am in November) and before we knew it, we were off. Most years the first hills are always ridden pretty aggressively and this year was no different and it felt like a fast pace from the start. Also it seemed like a particularly big group, which we were in the middle of. Maybe around 10kms in, a major split happened occurred, with about 30 riders going up the road but we were happy with our pace and position and didn't try to bridge across. Most of the DOC guys were on our side of the split but importantly Mike Conza, Trace, Craig, Tim, Ian and myself were all still together (unfortunately Phil had started dropping back and I didn't see him again... but considering he had only done 4 or 5 weeks training coming in, the fast start did him no favours).

From here, the DOC guys took control of the front of this new group and we tried to rotate turns but it mostly consisted of Mike setting the pace, with me giving him a break now and then... and also random efforts from Rupert or Allan Haggo but consistent pacing isn't their strong points. Ian was also well placed and often right at the front. Mike would sometimes drift back in the bunch to check on people and when he disappeared the group would lose it's momentum but we were still making good progress and completed the first 40kms at just under a 30kph avg, which was ahead of schedule. Tim, Craig and Trace were riding smart in the wheels and well placed near the front of the bunch, without getting on the front.

Sometime not long after the Waihaha climb, both Craig and Ian dropped their chains and I didn't see either of them again on the ride... Craig unfortunately had bent his chain trying to ride it back on and had to DNF, whereas Ian did get the chain back on and chased but couldn't close the gap to us (but looking at the Flyby, he got very close a couple of times). Our bunch had also been catching the group in front and before Kuratau we had formed a massive group. However the group in front had cars "in" it which were having difficulty passing and things really broke up from here.

While being held up with the cars and the bunch merge, Mike decided to stop for a nature break, but Trace, Tim and I carried on. We were nearly at Kuratau now, so I said to Trace to ride easyish, climb at your own pace and Mike will catch us. I think I was wanting some easy riding too, as I could feel cramp coming, the sun was out now and it was getting hot. We probably only got halfway up Kuratau when Mike caught and passed us. We had agreed to meet/stop at the water station at Waihei so I assumed Mike was pressing on until that point to wait for us there. A couple of kms later, Mike sat up and waited.. (he must have had a change of mind?) then starting pulling Trace along. It was great to see Trace riding so well... but I really struggled to keep pace here and slowly got dropped by 10 - 15 metres. Luckily for me a faster group of about 4 came past so I jumped in with them and they towed me back to Trace's wheel. Tim was dropped here as well but didn't make it back and we didn't see him again.

We stopped briefly at the Waihei drink station, as I needed to top up my bottles, then Trace and I rolled down the descent on our own, knowing that Mike was now behind us. He was waiting for other DOC riders to catch up before carrying on. Once on the flats I again said to Trace, lets ride easy and let them catch us.. but be ready to jump when the bunch does come along. A huge group did catch us about half way to Turangi and we jumped in (assuming that Mike and others were in this bunch.. which they were). If you look at the Flyby, Ian and Tim were somewhere at the back of this bunch too but I never saw them and it looks like they dropped out just before the turn onto the main road.

We made great progress with this big group, and by asking a random guy, I found out it was the Hot Cycles guys leading the way... but they had plenty of passengers (including us). Unfortunately a big guy about 3 or 4 riders ahead of us lost the wheel in the pace line, and no-body went around him.. so a split opened and the big bunch sailed off into the distance. Mike was clearly not happy about this so went straight to the front and started chasing... which caused another split (the big guy wasn't giving up... but wasn't keeping up either) so Mike rode off with one other guy on his wheel. I was cramping on and off pretty regularly now, so I wasn't that unhappy for the pace to drop and as we were sitting on just under a 31kph avg, I enjoyed a couple of minutes of easier spinning, thinking we're still on target time.

It didn't take Mike very long to realise we weren't with him, so he sat up again until we caught him.. then he picked us out of the group, calling out "you, on my wheel... you, on my wheel... you, on my wheel.." as he rode back to the front again 😄 and we did as we were told. NOTE: at this stage there was only Trace, me and another guy called John (and maybe one other guy Allan?) left from the original DOC group. There was a few stronger DOC riders up the road but they were too busy racing each other to wait for anyone else.

It was on the flat run to Hatepe (maybe about 120kms in?) that I saw a familiar but very unexpected sight and called out to Trace.. "that looks like Carl ahead of us!" and surprisingly it was. I instantly started scanning him up and down as we approached, looking for signs of crash damage but saw none. As we past, Carl called out "How are you guys tracking?" and we had time to say "Good" but didn't get time to ask or hear what had happened to him (I'll let him explain what happened if he wants.. but the good news was he hadn't crashed or had bike problems).

Once we were all back on Mikes wheel, so began a superhuman effort from him.. he basically towed us the last 40kms without any help, into the headwind. Now and again, Mike would look over his shoulder and swing off slightly so I took this as my queue to do a turn, but I would last a couple of minutes max before cramping and letting Mike take over again.. and each time my contribution got smaller. There was also 2 or 3 other guys that would help now and again when Mike's pace slowed.. but when they realised how hard it was at the front, they would drop back and push in in-front of Trace or myself... which got a little annoying (and dangerous, as one guy would always come up the inside, then cut across in front of you 😠).

Trace was still riding really well and was hanging tough on the climbs.. and once we had crested Hatepe with our avg still sitting at 30.5kph we just needed to bring it home. Again, Mike waited for us over the top and proceeded to tow us right to the finish. Trace was making some interesting noises up Airport hill and at the sharp little climb with about 5km to go.. but was soon back inline and cracking along in the wheels.

As we entered the finish straight, I sat up and waited for Trace thinking it would be nice to finish together but she obviously only had eyes for the line and shot straight past me! She was finishing strong 👍 Final time 4:56:31. Super proud of Trace and very happy she got the result she's been chasing (and capable of) for the last couple of years.. only bad luck and bad weather had been holding her back. Getting a Sub 5 at Taupo certainly isn't easy and is an achievement to be very proud of.. but now that Trace has cracked it once, and knows what it takes.. I can see her doing it again in the future.

Mike Conza was an amazing road Captain, and completely defined a selfless, sacrificial ride... leading by example all day. I was happy to go under 5hrs again myself, especially in that heat and that takes my tally to six Sub 5hr rides out of 11 laps of the lake. Ian had a really good ride too considering his back issues leading in and would have probably finished with us, if it wasn't for the chain drop. Tim finished at about 5:20 and Phil just over 6hrs but by completing, Phil has now done 10 laps of the lake and will get the bronze plate next year. Well done mate.

Next year will be Nate's turn to try for the Sub 5hr... and I'll be keen to try to help him.