Part 2: Controlling the controllables
Manchester, England, 7-8 November 2009
I suppose after the kilo the previous evening I wasn't really looking forward to the 4km pursuit. I always find my form goes in the latter stages and I start shifting and sliding on the saddle, so to remedy this I have been working with the lads in Sports Med Ireland to help improve my core. My team mate Cathal (Miller) had knocked out a PB of 4m53s and I knew I was nowhere near that pace. My previous PB was 5m23s set in the Welsh GP in May. So we number crunched and scheduled a 5m20s. The 4km is a new distance in my class so what the qualifying time for the knockout stages would be was unknown.
Not for long though. Fast times were posted and the best was from the road world champ in 4m59s, and the other medal rides were 5m07s and 5m09s. So I soon took my step into the unknown, back to the routine that has now become second nature. Then it's back to the start gate to light the fuse one more time. This time the nerves were plentiful. In Wales we had trained for the pursuit and I was afraid I would not keep the splits for the full distance. Then a guy from the UCI tells me to remove the tape that I had covering the vents on my helmet! I mentioned that team GB and others had the same but to no avail. Blank it out and time for work. Light the fuse..5..4..3..2..1..launch...
I had to focus and not charge like the kilo opener. Get on the gear, settle early and before I knew it the first three laps where gone and I was still ahead of schedule by more than I wish to admit. The tone of Brian's voice giving splits confirmed this! Then the sweet spot 19.7s which would allow a slip to 19.8. The laps just clipped by and I was actually enjoying it! It sounds mad but when you are bang on schedule and you are glued on the black, legs pumping, nice and aero, the double discs doing their job. For the very first time I felt like proper pursuiter. I was in a heat with the Beijing bronze medallist and he was always going to catch me so I just had to ride my time and hope to qualify. Control the controllables.
When he passed me he was motoring and for a crazy moment lasting about 10 seconds I went after him. Then sense kicked it and I was back on my own schedule but he did not disappear into the distance as much as I expected so I just kept the head and trusted the splits. The last kilometre was a killer; the plan was to lift on the last three laps if I could but I couldn't lift it more than a rev or two. Form is still there. No slipping now.
The bell and the last lap, no wobbles, still with tight form and a good line. Over the line in 5m18s! Jesus I thought it would have been, at best, 5m21s. Not quick enough to get through to the ride-offs but I was very happy with the delivery of the performance. I was speaking to the GB pursuit lads later and they commented on my delivery: Good position and lines. So I will take that as a good positive into the off season.
So I finish my world track campaign with a sixth and seventh place. In Beijing I was content with a top 10 but not anymore. Top five was the target coming here but we rode our times and set records so you can't do better than a PB. So what's next? Well the UCI have ruled that we have to ride World Cup events in the four corners of the globe next year as a pre-qualifier for the World Champs! But we'll look at that next year. What I want now is a nice break. Then a good bun run! The things I miss most are riding in a training group having a laugh and getting the miles in, the jokes, the slagging. That's what I miss so much when a bunch passes me and I am riding numbers, Billy-no-mates chasing lamp posts. But I wouldn't change a thing because it make you appreciate what a great club we have.
I don't get to train with the club as much as I like but when you meet the gang in Dundrum it's like a big extended family. Since joining Orwell I have had the honour of being a Paralympian, and that's a close second to being an Orwellian!
