Provincial Time Trial Championships

Sunday, September, 9 2007

Andrew and I were both a bit crispy from Green Mountain Stage Race (four stages in four days) and, icing on the cake, I came down with the flu on Monday so we arrived in Wellandport with plenty of excuses.

We both had assumed it was the same course they used the previous two years but to our surprise, and delight, it wasn't. This year, they pointed us in the opposite direction.

The course was excellent. 20(ish) km out and another 20(ish) back with plenty of features to make it a more technical than usual TT. There were three turns in fairly close succession, quite a few false flats and the course twisted enough to keep you guessing at wind direction. All in all, despite the lack of a 15% climb, I really enjoyed the course.

The route was long (estimates put it at about 41 km) and as a result the times were quite a bit slower than last year. Andrew and I were both about an hour and the winning times were in the 56 min range (ouch).

To be honest, I really debated whether or not I would go. Under the best of circumstances I'd have to have a very good day for a podium finish but with only 5 days gone past GMSR, the road rash coating my left leg, and a hacking cough that kept me up for two nights I figured I was in for a nightmare of a TT. But hey, I paid my $40! In the end, my time was predictably slow and yet I really enjoyed the race. The course was interesting, there were some great performances to see (Darko rode under 53 mins) and the weather was absolutely perfect.

All in all, a great experience!