CycleSmart Coaching

Throwback to January
A busy Sunday kicks off with the sponsored Troy Restieaux Real Estate Auckland Track Carnival at the Manukau Velodrome. Great racing across all age groups!

After a solid team result in the last Dynamo Team Champs placing 2nd, we are looking for several new riders for the upcoming series.

Troy Restieaux Real Estate Cycling Team 2020-21 As proud sponsor of this team for a third season in the Dynamo Events Team Championship Series we have a mix of new and existing faces to make for some excit...

First of the sponsored cycling team supplies has arrived.
If you are into sport or exercise and would like a free bottle (located in Auckland) give me a shout and I will send you one. Troy 022 6922400

Couldn’t ride out today of course so here’s a throwback to last ANZAC day.

A well executed race plan today for the team winning the race and taking out the Series in C Grade.

We won! Congrats to the team for winning the final race in the Pukekohe Team Series C Grade and therefore the overall series win on points. Preston, 2nd from right, crossed the line 1st today, going off the front solo. Team William Tatana Real Estate

First team training session involved TTT drills and individual flying lap sprints...free coffees to 1st and 4th place 🍮🚴🏽

The first full team meeting prior to the Dynamo Team Series that kicks off a six race program from September. Team William Tatana Real Estate

Congrats and shout out to Preston Fini of the Troy Restieaux Real Estate Cycling Team. He competed as a solo rider in a three race mini tour hosted by Hamilton City Cycling Club. After some timing equipment issues were resolved it was confirmed he placed 1st in the TT race against the clock, 4th in the road race and 1st in the Te Miro Hill Climb and took out the overall win for the series in C grade! Awesome result #gettingthejobdone

I have been called up to the sponsored racing team Dynamo Team Champs race 2 in Tokoroa this Sunday. Gulp. Needed supplies.

Thanks to in Onehunga for the great service provided today. If you take advantage of our racing team sponsorship and refer us to a friend planning to sell their home make sure you spend your gift voucher at Rouleur Cycles. You also go in the draw to spend $1000 at your fav bike shop too!

In support of sponsoring the team be sure to check out the series long promotion.

The team is confirmed for the Dynamo Events Team Series Cat 4.

Race team captain Rob Read modelling the new kit. Team William Tatana Real Estate

Sneak peek. Sponsorship firming up for a cycling team in the Team Championship series this coming summer. Stay tuned for “sponsor offers”. Team William Tatana Real Estate

Some exciting news coming soon. Just in time for the Dynamo Team Champs.

Looking for a big garage to store all the bikes? Want to be close to the Waitakere Ranges for climbing workouts? I live just round the corner but not much riding is getting done! Get in touch if you are interested in buying or if you are planning to sell and move, Auckland wide.

For Sale 57 Golf Road New Lynn, Family Beauty On The Border This lovely brick, weatherboard and tile home borders New Lynn and Green Bay. There are three double bedrooms, an elegant living room complete with wood burn...

Here finally is a great read by Rob..er..Read and how he walked away with the overall win and the yellow jersey in D grade of the Tour of Taranaki. If you have aspirations to get some proper direction and achieve goals with your cycling as Rob has within two years of riding a bike (and no exercise really before that) then you should get in touch. Perhaps you get coaching already but see riders like Rob already achieving ahead of you? I am prepared to take on just one new rider who wants to make a difference.

Heres Robs account....

The weekend before last, Queen's Birthday weekend, I went to Taranaki to compete for the 2nd time in the Tour of Taranaki in D Grade.
The 'tour' is a 5 stage race over the 3 days of the weekend (holiday Monday).
Last year I did OK and finished 8th of 13 finishers in D Grade.

This year I'd had a good start to the Club racing season and noted a great improvement in fitness and performance, placing in the top 5 for most races.

I went into the Tour of Taranaki this year feeling confident I could be in contention and with a different mind-set to suit. Stage 1 was an ITT and sets the rankings for stage 2. I came 2nd. Stage 2 followed that afternoon, I was going well but missed a breakaway up one of the climbs by Chris Pinkney. He got away from the bunch and soloed to the stage win and into the yellow jersey. I held 2nd but was 1:13 down on Chris. The next day and Stage 3, I had to hold onto 2nd and if possible get into a break and steal back time on 'yellow'. I didn't manage to get into a break, but crossed the line with 'yellow'. He got 5 bonus seconds for the stage win, I got 3 for 2nd, and so lost 2 further seconds on him. I was still 2nd, but now 1:15 back. Stage 4 was that same day in the afternoon. By now I was wearing the White Sprinter's Jersey (photo). I did have sprint points though it was Chris Pinkney who held the jersey. Since he was in 'yellow' I got to wear the white jersey being next on points. I had the same strategy as for the morning stage, don't let Chris or another guy Craig only 26 seconds down on me, get away - cover every attack - and if possible, get a breakaway and take yellow off Chris. It was a big ask, but going well. Chris, Craig, another guy named Simon Pepper and I got into a break after 7km of the 48km stage, We left the bunch behind and built a significant lead of 1:30 as we approached a short, sharp pinch of a climb. We were all sticking together and I was determined not to get dropped by Chris in particular. Then fate smiled upon me and Chris punctured! The rest of us kept moving and kept ahead of the chasing bunch and Chris who tried to catch us. Craig took the stage and with Chris losing his advantage on me I moved into the yellow jersey for the final stage 5.

Monday, stage 5, and I donned the yellow jersey (photo). My job today was to retain my place, watching for attacks, and not letting anyone get away up the road - particularly Craig only 24 secs behind. Everyone else was 2:40 behind, though I did need to keep an eye on Chris as he may try and regain yellow.
The course was 2 laps of a 30km circuit laid out on the lower grassy slopes of Mt. Taranaki as it runs towards the Tasman Sea. It consisted of a few kilometres largely flat, then a 10km drag uphill with a short pinch of a climb at the start. At the top a few undulating kilometres across, before a very fast descent to the start/finish. Twice.
Everything was going smoothly until the pinch climb when Chris made his move. Similar to stage 2 he attacked on a climb. I chased, but he had gapped me, and as I crested the short wall he was looking back to see me while he recovered. As I moved towards him and tried to close in, he sprinted off and the gap increased. No-one else had any incentive to chase and so it would be me or no-one. This was lap 1 and I didn't want to chase him solo only to blow-up and lose yellow and any chance of a podium finish. I decided to stay with the bunch, protect 2nd, and look for an opportunity to break away perhaps towards the top of the climb on lap 2.
Having completed lap one I was wary of expending too much energy before having to face the sharp pinch climb again on lap 2. I successfully avoided over-exertion and made it up the wall 2nd. Craig thankfully did not take the opportunity to attack, though I don't think he's a climber and I could probably have reeled him in. As we continued the 10km to the top I began to shadow Craig with the intention of trying to get the jump on him near the top. I rounded the corner first and accelerated - unfortunately I didn't create a gap and Craig and the bunch were right on my tail. As we started to descend my focus was to go fast and watch for attacks from Craig which were sure to come. What did he have to lose but a 24-second deficit on me? To my surprise and joy a couple of local Hawera RCC riders took up the pace, and I stuck like glue to their wheels, still watchful in the corner of my eye for an attack by Craig from behind, but knowing the downhill speed would make it all the more difficult. At 3km it came, I saw it and jumped after him quickly gaining his wheel and dashing his hopes visibly. The pace slackened momentarily and then the Hawera riders got back on the front. I followed. Into the final kilometre and the Women's leader came to the front, and so did Craig. Craig went past me and I was unable to out-sprint him. I got past the women's leader and was just pipped at the line for 3rd by Simon Pepper who had been in the breakaway on stage 4. Chris was 1st, Craig 2nd, Simon 3rd, and me 4th. Mostly that didn't matter for overall rankings as they were too far behind to make up sufficient time to overtake me on overall standings. The one unknown was Chris who had gotten away on lap 1. If he had clawed back 2:48 he would win the tour. After a nervous wait, it was confirmed he had gained less than 2 minutes, and I still held the lead and the yellow jersey.
Podium time and I was awarded prize money for the overall win of D Grade, 2nd stage 1, 3rd stage 2, 2nd stage 3, 2nd stage 4, 3rd in the Sprint competition, and 2nd in the King of the Mountain (KOM) competition. All up $405. And I got to keep the yellow jersey too. ☺

Looks like I'll move to C Grade next season. 🚲💨

Cheers,
Rob

WINNER! 1st D grade GC, 2nd King of the Mountains and 3rd in the Sprint competition. Congratulations Rob Read for an outstanding Tour of Taranaki.

Before the final stage today

YELLOW! A super smart race in Stage 4 and a bit of bad luck for the previous leader shoots Robert Read into the leaders jersey. He has a healthy gap over 2nd place at 26s behind and 2min40 to 3rd place.
Rob also leads the King of The Mountain competition as well.
One big day to go. Another evening talking tactics with coach coming up.

Pic: Rob in 2nd GC before this afternoons stage 4, looks after the Sprint jersey as its rightful owner leads two qualifications.

After crossing the line in stage 3 in 2nd place, Rob goes into this afternoons stage 4 still in 2nd overall GC.

Tour of Taranaki after two stages there was a change in Yellow and Rob Read has held on to 2nd overall on GC. He is 1min13 behind and has the bunch chasing from behind with a 12s advantage. Two stages today.

JUST IN: Rob Read 2nd in the TT Stage 1. Awesome ex*****on of the plan.

It’s Tour of Taranaki weekend! Only Rob Read will represent CycleSmart Coaching this year. This will be his 2nd and in D Grade. Stay tuned for race reports from him over the next three days.