A few good Men

Today I rose with the sun in preparation of my farthest journey yet away from Greensborough alone - to the city of Geelong. My plan was to make my way to Federation Square in downtown Melbourne by 8:30AM to see the start of the Men's Elite Road Race, the final race of the 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championship.

The race started at 10am and finished in Geelong, with the cyclist riding to there and then completing 11 laps on a circuit around the city. With daylight savings in effect I wondered how many people would have forgotten to set their clocks ahead, and thus miss the start. I made sure to set my clock ahead before going to bed.

So with my bag packed full of snacks, water, and clothing for all weather occasions, I was off. I arrived at Fed Square just after 8:30am, just as they started bringing in the riders by country to sign in for the race. Lucky for me the American cyclist were among the first to sign in. 

After the last country signed in, I made my way across Fed Square and over to the arts center where the start was. Each team was announced and then they rode down to the start together, with the host country, Australia being called first. The US was not too long after. 

The Aussie team's  Cadel Evans, is the defending 2009 UCI Champion

A USA Cyclist rides up between another team, ahead of the rest

The cyclist try to stay loose as they await the rest of the pack to arrive

And then without further a do - the race began. Just like that, the cyclist were off in a flash. I was on the opposite side as the US cyclist so I missed seeing them ride off, but caught plenty of others.

The Netherlands...

France...

Russia...

and even Kazakhstan had cyclist here...

Despite the crazy crowds, which filled the streets, it wasn't that hard to make my way back to the train station to head to Geelong. At the station I glanced over at the long line for Vline ticket sales, and was happy that I had pre-purchased my fare. 

I had to go to Southern Cross Station to catch the regional train to Geelong. After a quick trip on the wrong line, I made my way to Southern Cross. I raced down to the platform and boarded the next departing train. The train was packed, but luckily I found an open seat and sat down to rest.

We arrived in Geelong around 11:30am. I didn't have a map or know much about the course, but the event was so well organized that there were volunteers giving out maps as you exited the station and they were standing on the intersections offering advice of where to go and were happy to answer your questions. 

I eventually decided to just follow a group of people that were headed off to see the course. I made my way to a big stretch of it and as I got oriented was told that the cyclist had just arrived in the city. Anxious to see the leader group ride by, I decided to stay put. 

The leader group on their first lap through the Geelong Course. 

The leader group was about 10-15 minutes ahead of the main group of riders. After they passed, I ended up walking up to the first climb to watch the other riders pass by.

And just like that, they went flying by...good thing they still had 10 laps to go or I'd have wondered why I came all this way just to see them for a few seconds.

The course had two climbs...I wanted to go watch the cyclists as they rode up the first climb so I moved on. Along the way, I stopped in the FEED zone to watch the cyclist come through and get water/food. It was a good opportunity to spot the American cyclist, as I stood across from the person handing out water for the USA. 

USA Cyclist preparing to get some water...

Each team had a person standing out, ready to give water out. 

Moving along the course I went to the bottom of the second climb. This seemed to be a good viewing area as the crowds increased here making it hard to get by. People who lived along the course had pulled lawn chairs out and they lined the streets with wine or a beer in one hand and a sausage in the other. Also, kids along the course were selling cold beverages and food to spectators, kind of like how kids set up lemonade stands back home. With my own snacks in my pack I continued on until I found a stretch of the fence that was empty and rested/had a snack while I waited for the racers to make their way back around.

And here they came...can you spot the USA cyclist?

And up the hill they went...

The motorcyclists gave the photographers rides to diff. points along the course

And each team had a car follow the riders closely behind with extra bikes

I meant to make it back to the finish line for the end of the race, however I ended up taking a trail through Baron Reserve, which while it was lovely, had me travel 40 minutes out of my way, away from the finish line. I decided I at least needed to make it to one of the parks that had a big screen set up so I could watch the finish. With 1.5 laps to go I was 2 hill climbs and some distance from the closest park. Luckily, I arrived just in time to see the finish. The results:  1st, Thor Hushovd of NOR with a time of 6:21:49, 2nd, Matti Breshel of DEN and 3rd, Allan Davis of AUS. So the host country went home with 3rd place. They surely wanted 1st, but with Cadel Evans, coming in 17th, that was not the case. Of ranked cyclist, USA cyclists came in 73, 79, 80, and 81st.

Thor Hushovd is the 1st Norwegian to win the Rainbow Jersey

After a bite to eat I headed back to the rain station to head home. The train station was overflowing with spectators, but in no time at all I got on a train. (The trains were running Express Service to Melbourne and ran every 10 minutes.)

Back in Melbourne I switched trains at Southern Cross Station to get on one headed to Greensborough, and within a few hours was home. Hot, tired and thirsty, I felt like I too had competed in the race today, but I had had a great time and was happy I had gone.