I estimated about 80 riders lining up at the start, although apparently there were over 100 rider cards handed out at the first checkpoint. Such a great turnout and the weather was fantastic!
My shining moment was just after the 2nd checkpoint down at the wharf. I hopped over onto the unused railway track and motored up the side of what was left of the peleton, Vinokourov styles, leaving them in my dust. Of course I promptly ran out of gas and watched painfully as they motored right by me not one minute later. Also Vinokourov styles. :)
I’d climbed out of the self-imposed hurt-bag by the time we got to Albert Park and managed to put myself back into contention. One of the check-points was right outside the Agent Mad office and having been there many times before proved to be a massive advantage.
Over to South Yarra. This bit was really hard as the traffic over there was a nightmare. After nearly being taken out by a lowered family sedan of some variety I headed over to Richmond. Having an intimate knowledge of this area also proved to be an advantage and I was starting to get used to riding on cobbles.
But it doesn’t matter how good you are at riding on cobbles, if the road is blocked off by an angry tradesman’s ute then you’re kind of screwed. Upon performing some kind of acrobatic manoeuvre to get to the Collingwood checkpoint it was time to head over to Carlton.
I’d caught up to one of the leading groups by this stage. All the riders in this group stopped to double-check the map when we hit Northcote and I promptly scooted off to what I thought was the next checkpoint. The “Col d’ Ugly”. This was the most awesome cobbled climb ever (check the poor guy walking it). I posed for the compulsory polaroid and showering of talc powder at the summit, and was then informed that I’d missed one of the checkpoints and had to go back down the Col. Doh!
I had the missed-checkpoint sorted in a flash, but instead of taking the quickest/flattest route to Northcote Plaza with my shopping list I decided to go up the climb again, much to the bemusement of Andy and Co at the top. I wasn’t doing my overall position any favours, but hey, I was in a silly mood, I love hill climbs and the emphasis was on fun, right?
Seeing a slightly frantic young man covered in talc powder and muttering to himself while rushing up and down the isles of a supermarket was clearly a bit more than a few Saturday afternoon shoppers were capable of dealing with. I shouted “Allez, allez!” while making for the exit but girl at the checkout didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm.
With an overflowing musette it was time for the mad dash down Separation Street to Brunswick Velodrome. When I approached the railway crossing the gates came down in front of me. With no train in sight I safely scooted through and made for the finish. This is exactly what happened to the chasing group just before the finish in this year’s Paris-Roubaix (the race that the Melburn-Roobaix was modelled on).
They were disqualified. I guess I should have been too.
I rolled into Brunswick Velodrome in 10th place. The most fun I’ve had on a bike in a really long time. I want to do it again this weekend!