Canadian
National Team Member
12 time National Champion
Multiple World Cup Winner
World Championships Silver Medalist
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Thursday, March 30, 2006Poitras in 85km breakaway for Games road race
The main obstacles for the 99km Road Race were going to be the heat (37C) and the 3 back-to-back climbs each lap. It was a very technical 11km loop that wound its way around the Royal Botanical Gardens and along the Yarra River. Having focused all of my preparation on the track, my job for the road race was to ride in support of my teammates and cover any early attacks - and that I did. It didn't take long for the first attack to be launched on the 3rd climb of the first lap. Seeing my teammate react immediately, I just sat at the front waiting for the counter. The counter attack came from Natalie Bates of Australia (eventual winner) just before the feed zone on the first lap with 4 of us jumping on the move (myself and riders from New Zealand, England and Malaysia).
We worked well together for the first lap but then the Aussie and subsequently the Kiwi started sitting on. Unsure as to their tactics, I just rode to conserve, not wanting to do more work than my breakaway companions as we (the Canadians) were also content to let it come down to a group sprint for Gina Grain. Emma Jones (England) was trying to drive it hard at times but with the Kiwi and Aussie sitting on, no one else was willing to spend too much energy. Inside 3 laps to go, the break started attacking each other with a strong attack from Bates that sent her clear for the remainder of the race. I truly didn't expect that we would stay away for almost the entire race, but with the four major teams up the road, there would have been only a few riders back in the pack with an interest in chasing. Once our break got caught inside 1 lap to go, our main goal was to keep Gina near the front for the sprint for Silver.
In the end, although I know Gina was disappointed to have just missed the podium (she finished fourth), I think it was a successful day for the Canadians. We definitely missed Lyne Bessette who had to withdraw due to a broken collarbone, but still fielded a strong team that put all personal goals aside and truly worked for a Canadian result today. The support from the spectators was incredible, there seemed to be Canadian fans lining the course from start to finish.
Photos: Rob Jones, CanadianCyclist.com
Many thanks to everyone who made this possible including:
Rocky Mountain Bicycles, PowerBar, Tim Hortons, Shimano, Easton Sports, TUFO North America, Rudy Project, Symmetrics Cycling, Cypress Solutions, OpenRoad Communications, Adidas, Basic Sports Nutrition, AVIS Rent A Car, Race Face Headsets, GiroPoste, Canadian Athletes Now Fund, and Emer'gen-C.
Note: I discovered a week prior to the Games that it is likely I have Celiac Disease (a severe intolerance to wheat and gluten), whereby the gluten accumulates and coats the villi of the small intestine, making absorption of essential nutrients impossible. Treatment for this condition is a very strict diet eliminating all wheat, oat and barley products. Luckily I was able to find a resolution prior to the commencement of my first race and finally had some answers for my disappointing performances throughout the World Cups this season.
After a few days on the diet I felt incredible. Despite feeling much better, I now need to see some specialists back home and as a result will miss the World Championships for the first time since 1998. I will focus on some local Pacific Northwest races for April and May in preparation for the Pan American Championships in June (in Brazil).
Thanks again for your support.
Mandy
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