News - Cyclosport NZ specialising in bike events and world class cycle coaching

Final UK Race - Hillingden

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000

After four weeks and seventeen race days, the UK programme has proved to be very successful. The final race this evening (Tuesday 17 July) again proved to be a fast and furious affair around the Hillingden Circuit.

The UK series of circuit races are excellent, the opportunity to race most midweek days in addition to weekends is a great form of training.

We depart for Colorado Springs tomorrow, Wednesday 18th for Altitude Training prior to the Junior Worlds.

Kowalski Tour Canberra

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -1000

Canberra was a really good experience, the races were tough but I think I learnt a lot. The TT was hard, we had a stiff head wind on the way out and it wasn't noticeably better on the way back! The wind, combined with the rolling course meant that I had trouble finding a good rhythm. The result wasn't too bad conidering how I felt I went, although I know I have a long way to go! The first road race was slow to begin with until we reached the first decent at Uriarra crossing. The decent was pretty good, everyone took it slowly and we could smell brakes! They did hit it hard out of it up the first KOM, and I was pleased to get over the top in the first third of the bunch. I spent the next km chasing hard to catch up as we had become stretched out over the top of the hill, but the leaders slowed right back and almost everyone caught back on. We stayed together until after the next decent, when the pace was just too quick up the last hill before the turn, around the 28km mark. I rode with one other women almost back to the Uriarra Homestead when we were caught by a bunch of about 10 others. We all stayed together back out to the turn for the second time, and then all the way home to Stromlo. It was a very hard race, the general pace was quick and I wasn't so much dropped as the leaders just rode away gradually spitting riders out the back. Sunday was a similar start to Saturday, but we turned left at the Homestead down a long 5km descent and then up a fairly long steep KOM climb. The bunch split up this climb and I rode most of the rest of the hilly race with a small bunch of about 10 riders, including two of my Kiwi team mates, Emily and Sequoia. After we got out of the hills and back onto the main road in the last 20km, we rode hard to actch the bunch ahead of us and succeeded in doing so down the descent into Uriarra crossing and up the other side. It was on this last long ascent that I lost the bunch. Overall, I enjoyed the trip, and also enjoyed racing with some very experienced riders. I finished 25th overall, 2 seconds behind Emily! I think we all worked very hard though. The races seemed to follow a similar pattern to NZ races, from what I could tell before I lost the leaders, although I'm sure they became much more interesting near the end. The pace was just a lot quicker than I'm used to, and the hills came constantly without a break.

Grand Prix Des Dames - Blackpool

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -1000

The last race in the UK section of Rachel's build up was a national series circuit race held around a 1.5 mile ( approx 2km) course on Blackpool's promenade in bright sunshine but a blustery wind.

The race was fast and furious with the tail wind but sluggish battling back up into the wind. Two intermediate sprints were won in style by Rachel, the race commentator, multiple world pursuit champion Tony Doyle commented that his money was on the NZ Junior for the final sprint, as was mine. A slight tactical error consigned Rachel to the runner up spot as a fast finishing senior rider came through for the win. An excellent performance from Rachel who has learnt a considerable amount from the time spent racing in the UK.

Gordon McCauley took out the elite men's race the evening before.

Rachel's Racing Roundup

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:00:00 -1000

This past week has been quite a week for firsts, first puncture in a race and a first crash in a circuit race.

On Tuesday Rachel rode a circuit race at Hillingden just outside of London against a strong 1st and 2nd cat riders field. The fast and furious racing is proving very beneficial, both in skill and confidence.

On Wednesday night was the Guildford City Centre Circuit race over a very tight course. The 1km course included a very sharp cobbled climb. A puncuture after ten minutes of racing resulted in a first DNF for Rachel. The main race of the evening, the Elite Men's race was won by Gordon McCauley. It was good to catch up with him for a quick chat before we all rushed off.

After a drive up north, the Thursday night race was held on a 1.5km purpose built course in Preston. The rain held off long enough for the 40km race to be held. Rachel was a dominate rider throughout until the final lap, a small group of lapped riders got tangled up in the hard charging scratch bunch. Rachel went down along with about 6-7 other riders. A new experience for Rachel was the headlong dive into stinging nettles. A bruised face, slightly sore knee and numerous stinging nettles was the total damage. A lucky escape.

Emily Collins gains first podium place in Europe

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

CycloSport rider, Emily Collins, racing for her Dutch club, SwaboLadies gained her first podium in the Dames Elite Wintershoven 90km Kermesse in Belgium.
Emily came second after breaking away with two other riders from the field of 93 starters. The 90 km race over 8km laps was fast and furious from the outset, Emily worked hard to ensure she made the break and deservedly gained her 2nd place after a number of close attempts at the podium in previous races.

SCIENCE IN SPORT TO POWER UCI PROTOUR PELOTONS IN 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

UK sports nutrition company Science in Sport (SiS) will be powering the UCI ProTour pelotons during the 2010 season after announcing Team Astana, Rabobank Cycling Team and Team Saxo Bank are to continue to use its range of products.

SiS, which also supplies Team HTC-Columbia, will fuel riders such Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers with its energy, hydration and recovery products - which include the award-winning isotonic energy gel Go Gel, energy drinks GO Electrolyte, PSP22 and recovery drink Rego.

SiS has also revealed it will be launching two new products which it is has developed with the ProTour teams.

Peter Slater, from Science in Sport, said: "Sports nutrition is absolutely vital to the performance of these elite cyclists and ProTour teams where fractions of a second count. We have a long-standing relationship with several Teams and work closely with individual riders to develop our range specific to their needs. With four ProTour outfits using our products it will be an interesting season and it's fantastic to be working with the world's best riders."

Science in Sport is the official nutrition supplier to a number of elite athletes and teams including Sir Chris Hoy, GB Sailing, GB Rowing and GB Canoeing. It operates its own in-house manufacturing facility in Blackburn, Lancashire, which is ISO 9001:2000 certified for product design, development, manufacturing and marketing. All Science in Sport products are drug-free.

Training Tip -Pace-LIines

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Pace-line key factors:

First,riders in a paceline should avoid overlapping wheels. The exception is when a strong crosswind is blowing, but riding in echelon is a technique best left to riders with sufficient skill and experience.

Avoiding overlaps requires paying attention and anticipating situations. But as we know, it can happen.

If you find yourself running up on a rear wheel, it's ok to move slightly to the side, soft pedal (no exertion) and sit higher so the wind acts as a brake. But, it may not reduce speed enough to prevent an overlap.

Then it's ok to use the brakes. However, they must be applied lightly and smoothly. The term for this technique paints the right picture: "Feather the brakes." Soft pedal as you do it and riders behind won't even realise you're pulling the levers.

Don't brake in a way that makes the bike slow abruptly. That will domino down the paceline, making every other rider react. It won't gain you any friends.

Second,the lead rider needs to scan the road and lead the paceline smoothly around the glass or hazard. By swerving abruptly they will share responsibility for any mishap that occurs through their sudden change of direction.

Tip: When a lead rider spots something that must be ridden around, he should alert those behind by pointing down toward the side the obstacle is on. For example, if he'll lead the paceline by on the left, he would point with his right arm. The leader might also call out "glass" or "gravel" or "hole" or whatever the danger is.

Third,all riders must realise that crashes happen. We try to ride safely, but in situations where people are packed tightly, even experienced cyclists can cross wheels. This years Tour de France illustrated that. Those are the best riders in the world, but sometimes it seems like a crash fest.

Some riders get extremely worked up about breaches of paceline etiquette. Instead of yelling at less-experienced riders, give them advice that improves their skills. The faster they learn, the safer you'll be.

The exceptions are mistakes by riders who should know better. When they show disrespect for the safety of others by sheer carelessness or needless aggression, they should hear about it.

Emily and Tracy meet Jakob

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Team CycloSport Riders meet the stars

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Team members, Emily and Tracy plus Aussie rider Miffy, met the Tour De France stars when they raced in a Dutch criterium.

2010 Rund Um Den Gaskessel-Emma podiums

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

2010 Rund Um Den Gaskessel -

Emma Crum scored her first podium of the 2010 European season.

After only arriving in Holland six days prior, Emma broke away with four other riders in the 60km Bucholtz Criterium in Germany. Third place the day after racing in a very hard three day stage race was an outstanding result.

Ster Zeeuwse Eilanden- Report from Team Tubanters Manager:

The last stage of the Zeeland Tour was a real tough one. Rain and especially the wind made the race superhard. It went over two long bridges (5-6 km): the Stormvloedkering and the Zeelandbrug. Both very exposed which made racing challenging to say the least. With 183 riders starting the race, on the third day 165 riders started, yet only 102 riders managed to finish within the time limit. Emma included.

The 3rd stage consisted of one big lap of 102 km and two local laps of 16 km. A group with Jess (Nathalie and Nadia) was pulled out of the race when they passed the finish line at the end of the big lap. So 32 km before the end of the tour. Only three out of our eight riders managed to finish (we finished the 13th team out of 28 that started). I told Jess she did a great job. This was not just a race. This was a supertough and very difficult race. Constantly watching your position in the group with respect to the wind, not doing too much, but meanwhile staying there. Not easy when you are not even a week in the Netherlands.