Top Start in Qatar
Yellow Jersey - Podium
The start to my international season of 2011 couldn’t have been much better! I won the first stage in Qatar and took the yellow leaders jersey, and to top off the day- I also held the points jersey!
I had mixed feelings of tiredness and excitement on the way to Qatar, I had just finished a demanding Australian summer season of racing and I was feeling physically and mentally exhausted from the travel and competition. On the other hand, I was on my way to the first international race of 2011 and I was about to meet up with my European team-mates for the first time this year.
The Tour of Qatar is one of the nicest races on our calendar due to the extremely nice accommodation (Ritz Carlton), the easy logistics and great organisation. I recovered well from the flight and during the first 30km of stage one, I realised it was going to be a good day; I was floating and had good power in the intermediate sprints.
I was satisfied with the result on day one and was very relaxed about what would happen from there. On day two there was a strong break-away group working hard to stay away and secure their GC places, none of our Lotto-Honda riders were in position or condition to make that break so we had to settle for the very minor places and wait for another chance on the third and final day.
On day three we were once again in position for a good result until the final kilometres, it got messy and I was not positioned well. I wasn’t happy with my performance on day three, I finished 3rd -but I was still extremely satisfied with the win I had already under my belt.
Points Jersey
After the Tour of Qatar it was time to stop travelling and racing, and start rebuilding on my power, strength and endurance ahead of the busy racing schedule which for me will start in Europe on the 4th of April.
I decided to skip the tour of New Zealand in order to base at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra Australia.
I’m now one week into a 4 week block, enjoying the quite training roads, great weather and the AIS facilities; recovery centre, sports science, sports medicine and nutrition, healthy meals, altitude training etc..
My next race will be the Oceania Championships on March 19th in Shepparton and then the classics will start with the women’s Tour of Flanders in Belgium on the 4th of April.