Zoo Lake Criterium

This race was resurrected last year, and it looks like it will become a very popular event. The field in the Vet’s 30-39 category was very strong, and included the Labuschagne brothers (Toyota Cyclelab), Jaco Ferreira (Team Computer-Smith), Werner Moolman (Mr. Price KZN), Stefano Madies, Graham Parker, and Martin Saunders (Dimension Data), Doug Ryder, Charles Pritchard, Stephen Courtney (plus many more from MTN/Club 100), Harmony also had a strong team there.
The format of this race is 30min plus one lap, with the laps being about 4km long around Zoo Lake. The start/finish is on a short climb and is where most of the attacking happens, making for great spectator value. Today there was a strong tailwind up the start/finish climb, after which the riders turned into a full head-wind. This meant that the chances of a break getting away were quite slim. Any advantage gained up the climb was hard to keep into the headwind.
Absolute Systems/Bulk Pack Meat only had Craig Harvey and myself. With Craig being in good form, we decided to try to go with any moves and see if we could get away with the right combination.
The race started very hard, as usual, with various attempts to get away. The Labuschagne brothers (David & Johan) took turns trying to get away in the first few laps. As the race wore on, Jaco Ferreira tried a couple of times to get away as well, with Craig Harvey marking him closely. Coming past the start/finish for the last lap, I jumped across to Werner Moolman, but neither of us had the legs to stay away into the wind.
The bunch stayed together for the final sprint which was taken by Jaco Ferreira. Neither Craig nor I are accomplished sprinters, so Absolute Systems/Bulk Pack Meat had to settle for bunch finishes.
Not a result to write home about, but a good fast race none the less.

From a power perspective, I was very happy with my performance. I had estimated my FTP to have dropped due to the last 6 weeks of missed training - so I had it pegged at 320w based on a 52min L4 workout I did earlier this week - averaging 321w for 52min and not feeling like I could have gone much harder. So 368w NP for 37min was a good performance. I will go out and do another TT effort this weeks and see how I go.

EPR Race

Even though the weather was fine, the turnout in the VA group was quite disappointing. This race is a fairly flat race, which is usually characterised by plenty of wind. This year was no exception and the conditions became overcast and windy as the race went on.
Absolute Systems/Bulk Pack Meat were well represented with Craig Harvey, Marco van Biljoen, Bruce Diesel, and Hadley McCormick present. Jock Green was racing in the Elite group. Being in Randfontein, this is one of the home races of the Harmony Cycling Team, so they were also well represented. Apart from that, there were a few other riders present, Hannes Wessels (Team Computer-Smith) and Donovan Jackson (MTN/Club 100).
The race got off to quite a fast start. Absolute Systems/Bulk Pack Meat were clearly expected to make the moves, and we decided not to disappoint. Marco van Biljoen made the first move, which was brought back by the fresh legs in the bunch. When the bunch came back together, Bruce Diesel counter attacked and opened a fair sized gap along with Donovan Jackson and one of the Harmony riders. With a nice sized gap, Marco van Biljoen, Craig Harvey and Hannes Wessels tried to come across into what would have been a good move. The bunch was able to close the move again. Absolute Systems/Baulk Pack Meat continued attacking until Craig Harvey went away alone. The bunch did not respond, so Marco van Biljoen jumped across with one of the Harmony riders on his wheel. The bunch was now softened up from all the attacks, and with Absolute Systems and Harmony in the break, there were no teams to coordinate a chase.
With at least 70km to go, the gap opened up very quickly and by the time the bunch got to Magaliesburg the gap was already 2 minutes.
Coming out of Magaliesburg there was a strong crosswind on a long drag. Perfect conditions for a gutter, so Bruce Diesel put the bunch into the gutter and by the time the bunch got to the top of the drag only 6 riders were left – including 2 Harmony riders, Hannes Wessels, and Bruce Diesel.
The Harmony rider in the break had been dropped, after not wanting to contribute too much to the break. So Craig Harvey and Marco van Biljoen were away on their own and Harmony were now the only team in the chase. With the break now up to 3 and a half minutes, they must have decided to race for third place and not push the pace too hard. After a number of attempts to gutter the remaining riders (unfortunately up against the white line which is a dangerous tactic), Harmony started attacking the rest of the group with about 20km to go. Eventually Hennie Serfontein (Harmony) got away and opened a 20second gap. The remaining riders did not have the legs to bring him back and he managed to stay away and take third place.
So, Absolute Systems/Bulk Pack Meat took first and second (Craig Harvey and Marco van Biljoen) in a time of 2h34, almost 10 minutes ahead of the third placed rider – Hennie Serfontein (Harmony).