For single track junkies the ICME is your dream race. Short, fast,
technical stages with lots of flowing track and short sharp pinch climbs to sap
your energy. The 2014 ICME consisted of 7 stages over 5 days in Australia’s
“red centre”. It was a very well organised event where the organisers had thought of everything
with a real mix up of short stages, night racing, time trial, a long stage and
a hill climb. Right from the start the Rapid Ascent team were on the ball with
spot prizes during the briefings and presentations, social media prizes for the
best pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, drinks vouchers under your
seat whilst attending presentations, and well thought out stage starts and
finishes that meant you were never more than 15 minutes ride from the hotels. Staying
in a hotel every night during a stage race may seem a bit over the top, but
having done other stage races where you sleep in tents and move camp most days
made this race so much more enjoyable. I found the breakfast buffet was a
struggle, on one hand I really wanted to make full use of the bacon, eggs, hash
browns and beans but the sensible side took over so I settled for muesli and
pancakes. If you have ever raced on a tummy full of cooked breakfast you will
understand why I chose the muesli.
Day 1
Stage 1 – 38km was a 3 race through mostly technical single
track, over a hill called Blair’s Stairs (a get-off-and-push hill), and a lap
of the local velodrome to finish off. 164 riders started the stage, 144
finished. Broken collarbones, dislocated shoulders, legs stabbed with poisoned
trees (everything in Australia is poisonous) etc saw a lot of carnage in the
field. I had a few mechanical issues but when I look back now I’m just thankful
I got through without a visit to the hospital. After the stage I called into a local bike shop to pick
up a new derailleur hanger, get the full range of gears working again, and
repair the headset and chain catcher. It was then back to the hotel to recover
and prepare for Stage 2.
Cervo Rosso -the best kit on the course.
Stage 2 was a
300m sprint up Anzac Hill at dusk. After getting my bike repaired from the
morning’s damage, stuffing in some lunch, recovery drinks, and cooling the
muscles in the hotel pool to rid them of lactic acid I changed my wheels and
put on a set of road slicks – yes road tyres on a MTB!!. It makes for an odd
looking bike but gees she goes like the clappers when you put the hammer down.
Riders were set off at 30 sec intervals to climb the hill, most went with knobby
MTB tires whilst some of us pretenders went with slicks. As the stage was so
short (less than a minute for the top 20 on GC) the time gains weren’t going to
be significant, a carnival atmosphere became apparent. Some riders raced in
fancy dress, baggy shorts – gasp, and some blokes even wore dresses (with
underwear thankfully). I turned up in a fresh set of
Cervo
Rosso Test Team kit thinking I was The Man but ended
up feeling a little out of place! There were spectators with cow bells,
whistles, clapping, yelling etc, the atmosphere was electric. In the end it was
the knobby tire riders that got the first couple of places. I came in 12th on
GC on this stage, my second best result for the race.
Ugly bike, cool threads.
Day 2
Stage 3 – 51km. The stage was less technical than the first
and I managed to work my way through the field after some hiccups in a sandy
section near the start. The local MTB clubs and trail builders have done a
superb job building the singletrack, one section was even decorated with and
old sink and toilet. All went well until I did the first of my 4 x superman
impressions of the week going over the handlebars. I recovered well and
finished the stage with limbs attached, albeit a little bloody.
Day 3
Stage 4 – 22km ITT. The ITT and Night Race would cover the
same track on day 3. The stage started at the Alice Springs golf club and
headed quickly into technical single track. There was plenty of technical stuff
with just enough well-spaced double track to allow over taking. I caught and
overtook the two guys in front of me after the first few km and then dropped
the ball. I had a few more mechanical issues with the bike and lost about 5
minutes on my GC rivals, which I was determined to get back in the night stage.
The highlight of the stage for me was my best superman impression of the week
right in front of a photographer. After all the effort I put into the flight
trajectory and landing he didn’t get a picture of me mid flight! Nevermind, I’m
sure there would more opportunities.
Stage 5 – 22km Night Race – what a doozy. This was my first ever night race; sitting on the start line I was sh!tt!ng my pants. A mass start, lots of dust,
sand and people getting lost wasn't all what I expected. The lead guy on GC fell off in the sand right
next to me after the first few kms, caught the lead group again and then took a
wrong and lost heaps of time. I got a puncture about two thirds of the way
through, smacked in a tube, and all pumped up, stormed past several small
groups. I thought all was going well when I got past the point at which I fell
off in the morning stage and thought yes I’m home…..but the celebration was too
early, 50m further on down the track I did superman impression #2 over the bars
for the day – and there was no one there with a camera. I limped home in 32nd
place a little sore and dejected but thankful that the ambulance wasn't required and my bike was still in one piece.
Night racing is fun, fast and terrifying all at once
Day 4
Stage 6 – 81km. If there was to be any stage in my favour
this was it. Having spent the last 7 months training solely on the road bike my
single track skills left something to be desired. This stage had 45km of
concrete and bitumen, I could hear the MTB purists dreading “the queen stage”, and
secretly I couldn’t wait. The stage started with 25km or so of single and 4WD
track. Early on a tree jumped out and grabbed the end of my handle bars and
superman impression #4 for the week was completed. The
Simpsons
Gap Bike Path was 17km of beautifully laid
twisty concrete. The first drinks stop was at the end of the dirt and start of
the bike path. There were two other guys close to me on GC so I wanted to get
some time on them. By the time everyone got their drinks onboard we had a group
of about 12. I got on the front, put the hammer down and immediately blew 3
riders off and a 4th got a puncture. Unfortunately I also blew Imogen
Smith off the back, I felt pretty bad as she had helped
me get back onto the group after my superman impression. At one point I managed
to split the remaining group of 8 but they managed to get back on again. After
all the attacks we decided at the end of the bike path to be friends again and
tackle the 30km of bitumen road as a group. We picked up a couple of loners
riding the road by themselves and got to the last bit of dirt before the home
run. The track over the ranges was very steep, so steep that we had to get off
and push. Descending the other side was awesome, negotiating boulders the size
basketballs and the photographers 4WD which had taken the A line. A final flat
piece of double track, a lap around the local BMX track and I was home in 11th
place overall. My best result of the race.
Day 4 was “wear your ICME jersey” day, those with big sponsorships did
the right thing by their sponsors.
Day 5
Stage 7 – 46km. The final stage was one of my favourites. The local MTB
club riders not competing in the stage race were able to ride this last stage.
The stage covered some of the tracks we went over earlier in the week – but in
the reverse direction. The local guys that raced turned out to be a sensation.
I was overtaken at about the half way mark by three of these guys; one was
wearing sand shoes! I was embarrassed at first, I mean here I am with a flash
bike, CR kit, Supplest shoes, and looking like a real poser when this local guy
wizzes past wearing baggy shorts, sandshoes and a t-shirt.! These guys knew the
tracks like the back of their hand and they showed no mercy. I was lucky enough
to catch the back wheel of the third guy and followed him. His bike handling
skills were amazing. I was just able to keep with him on the single track but
when it came to the open stuff he would slow up. We took turns, I towed him on
the open track and when we got to the single track I would give him a flick of
the elbow and a quick “do your stuff mate” comment. We caught and overtook the
other locals and rolled across the line in 16th place. Afterwards I caught up
with the young guy that helped me out – turns out he is only 14!!. 114 riders
were left once stage 7 finished, the attrition rate shows just how tough the
race was on bodies and equipment.
Pack up time
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