2004年 11月 17日
Tour de Okinawa 2005 |
Tour de Okinawa - November 2005
The whole experience was amazing. I went with Kiyota san and we had a great time. On the race day there was a 30% chance of rain. I woke up at 4.30 am and got ready. With some new friends we drove to the start of the 120km race which was at the top of the biggest hill on the course. We started after the professionals went past. I was amazed to see how fast they were going, they didn’t look tired!
I stayed near the front to avoid any crashes. It started to rain very hard just as we caught the riders doing the 80km course. Riders tried to escape but everyone stayed together until the climb. Near the top some of the front riders crashed as they went around a corner. I caught the front group after the big down hill and stayed at the back because my legs were starting to cramp, I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to finish. The group was going at a medium speed but slowly riders got dropped and the group got smaller and smaller.
On the last climb, someone attacked and the group exploded. I rode to the finish with a small group. I was a little surprised because I thought the race was going to be flat and easy so I only trained for a sprint finish. I was wrong! Okinawa is fast and hilly.
After the race there was a party with delicious food and beer and some people were dancing.
The whole experience was amazing. I went with Kiyota san and we had a great time. On the race day there was a 30% chance of rain. I woke up at 4.30 am and got ready. With some new friends we drove to the start of the 120km race which was at the top of the biggest hill on the course. We started after the professionals went past. I was amazed to see how fast they were going, they didn’t look tired!
I stayed near the front to avoid any crashes. It started to rain very hard just as we caught the riders doing the 80km course. Riders tried to escape but everyone stayed together until the climb. Near the top some of the front riders crashed as they went around a corner. I caught the front group after the big down hill and stayed at the back because my legs were starting to cramp, I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to finish. The group was going at a medium speed but slowly riders got dropped and the group got smaller and smaller.
On the last climb, someone attacked and the group exploded. I rode to the finish with a small group. I was a little surprised because I thought the race was going to be flat and easy so I only trained for a sprint finish. I was wrong! Okinawa is fast and hilly.
After the race there was a party with delicious food and beer and some people were dancing.
by edbanks
| 2004-11-17 11:17
| Ed's cycling diary