DESPITE “struggling” at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic last week, Orange cyclist Tim Guy said getting miles in the legs was just as important as results leading into the Cycling Australia Road National Championships, which started yesterday in Ballarat.
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Guy, along with his Search2retain teammates, will compete in today’s criterium race, and Saturday and Sunday’s road races.
The 24-year-old will race in the men’s elite division, in which Tour De France-winning cyclist Cadel Evans will also compete.
“Racing against Cadel will make it a huge race for everyone,” Guy said.
“In saying that, it’s a 183.6 kilometre course for the road race on Sunday so I’ll be surprised if I even finish to be honest. My job will just to be to help out the other guys in my team anyway, so theoretically I’ll get through the first part of the race and then sit back and watch.”
Fellow Orange rider, and Search2retain team member, Angus Tobin will also compete in the championships, in the under 23s division.
“Gus did manage to finish one of the stages at Mitchelton,” Guy explained.
“Getting the speed under his legs will be good preparation for him for this event. He should do pretty well in that division.”
Search2retain finished outside the top 10 at Mitchelton Bay, and no one ranked in the individual events either.
“We struggled a bit in the Classic,” Guy said.
“We’d been to our training camp in Thailand and I think it will be more helpful for us in the road championships, where there is a few more hills.
“Personally I struggled as well. I lacked the punch, and speed through the corners that you so sorely need in the crit races.”
Guy was unable to finish any of the four stages at Mitchelton, but said the experience was invaluable.
