2002 TOUR DE SNOWY

Monday 4 March
Stage 1	Khancoban to Tumbarumba	76.1 kms

I rode as part of the Australian National Team consisting of Margaret Hemsley, Kim Shirley, Amy Safe, Emma Rickards and Vanessa Crawford.

The first stage started at 10am. It was already warm and the climbing would certainly heat things up. After listening to the local school children sing "Pedal, pedal" we were on our way. The course was quite undulating and the bunch was aggressive, with constant attacks from very early in the race. An attack over a big wide climb at the 31km mark caused 7 riders to slip away, amongst them Doppmann, Melchers and my teammate Hemsley. I was just off the second bunch who were chasing hard. It took a solid chase for me to get back on. I had just got into the bunch to recover when another sharp hill loomed up. I threw my bike into the little ring, dropped the chain and managed to jam it as I tried to get it back onto the big ring. Damn!! I jumped off to fix it, and was quickly pushed off by the AIS mechanic. I chased hard, but my efforts were futile. I hovered off the group and couldn't bridge the gap. Another group of 8 formed around me and we rode the remaining 25km together. We worked reasonably well together but ended up losing 9min22 on Melchers, who took today's stage from Priska Doppmann and Marg Hemsley. I finished in 37th position on the general classification (GC).

Tuesday 5 March
Stage 2	Tumbarumba to Tumut	69.1 kms
Start 9.30am

We had two stages today, so it was important to "leave some petrol tickets" for the afternoons stage. We headed out the road at 9.30am today. As the green flag dropped, signifying the end of the neutral zone, a rider swerved near the front of the peleton and about 15 riders went down. Melchers was amongst the causalities so the peleton slowed to wait for her to be paced back on. Both Emma and Vanessa were also caught in the crash, with Vanessa taking off a lot of skin and tearing her knicks to shreds. Unfortunately, Vanessa was misinformed and told she was allowed to hold on to a car that was pacing her back to the bunch which caused her to be disqualified from the riding any further in the tour.

Shortly after Melchers rejoined the peleton, an attack of 7 riders including Wright (AIS) and Tadich (AIS) formed. As this break didn't threaten Hemsley's GC position, we let it go. Our main job was to protect Hemsley. Providing the time gap didn't get out beyond 2mins, we weren't concerned. About 5km later, a surprisingly swift move from Cath Marsal caught us all by surprise. She sprinted down the side of the peleton and had 200m on us before anyone could react. Her speed was amazing and she crossed to join the break away within a couple of minutes.

Marg called us to the front of the peleton to keep the pace up as Marsal could threaten Marg's position if the break got more than 2mins on the peleton. Amy, Emma, Vanessa and I worked hard turns for the remaining 45km to keep the time gap under control. Alison Wright (AIS) won the stage, with the peleton finishing 1min29 down, not affecting Marg's GC position. I finished 21st in the bunch.

Tuesday 5 March
Stage 3	Tumut to Talbingo	50.5 kms
Start 1.00pm

We finished stage 2 this morning at 11.15am and had only an 1hr 45min to recover for the next stage. The weather was heating up and although the stage was only 50km it had a few tough climbs to test out the tired legs.

As we headed out of Tumut, Sara Carrigan jumped away. The peleton didn't react and watched her disappear as she was not a threat to the top GC riders. About 5km into the race, I decided to try and bridge across to Sara as there is a greater chance of an escape working with 2 riders. The peleton initially let me go and I rode about 5km before I saw the Saturn train on the chase and I was quickly swallowed up by the peleton. I decided to stay in the peleton for the 1st KOM. My legs were quite tired and I wanted to make sure I could chase any dangerous attacks. Emma James (NSWIS TREK) attacked in the last 200m of the KOM and the peleton didn't react. She quickly joined Sara and the two of them worked hard to gain 1min45 on the peleton.

The stage finished with a nasty 2km climb up to the Talbingo wall. The chasing peleton splintered to pieces as we tackled this climb with most girls using the 39x25 gearing. Emma James held off Ljungskog and Melchers to win the stage. I finished 43rd 3mins04 down.

Unfortunately, Marg broke a spoke in the last 10km and hoped that loosening off the brakes would prevent her wheel from rubbing. However, the wheel rubbed badly on her brake pads, giving her resistance she didn't need. She finished 10th but the time she lost pushed her back into 6th in the overall GC, 1min05 behind Melchers, prominently wearing the sky blue leaders jersey.

Wednesday 6 March
Stage 4	Adaminaby to Cooma	87.15 kms
Start 10.30am

Today was another warm day and with 5 girls within 38sec of Melchers the race was still heating up for a grande finale. The riders were aggressive with the first attack only seconds after we started out. The course was predominantly uphill for 30km during which time there were countless aggressive attacks. My legs were screaming with pain as I hung on in the peleton. A number of riders were shelled early as the fast pace and hard climbing took their toll, which included team mate Emma Rickards.

At about the 35km mark, Arndt (Saturn) attacked and Tadich (AIS) launched out of the bunch after her. Tadich protecting other team mates, chose not to work, however the time gap held, despite hard work from Melchers, her Dutch team mates, Doppmann and Holden. Tadich decided to work with Arndt in the final 10km and convincingly took the stage win, 39sec ahead of the peleton.

I lost contact with the peleton over the final climb into Cooma, and finished in 28th position, 30sec behind the peleton and 1min02 down from Tadich.

Wednesday 6 March
Stage 5	Cooma Criterium	30.0 kms
Start 5.30pm

With the final criterium left, Melchers and Arndt were only separated by 1sec. It was going to be a fast and furious final stage. The pace was on from the first lap. I struggled to get my foot in my pedal and rounded the first corner almost last. I fought my way towards the front half of the peleton where it is safer and easier to ride. Many riders struggled with the pace, with the first riders lapped after only 8 laps.

All attacks were quickly brought back and as predicted the criterium ended in a mad bunch sprint. Rochelle Gilmore (NSWIS TREK) pushed into the final corner first and took out the stage, with Arndt finishing 2nd and with the bonus seconds, claimed the overall tour win from Melchers. I finished 25th in the bunch sprint.

I was very happy with the tour and am starting to find some form for the season. Apart from a few mechanical problems I had a successful tour, and worked hard to protect and support Hemsley. Well done team.