Not since the 18 August 1840 when the French boats Compte de Paris and the Aude arrived into the long port of Akaroa has there been such a rag-tag bunch in the small town. From missing passports to hatchet weilding firemen, from uncontrollable baths to an unexplainable appearance from a womble, things would never be the same for all who ventured on Le Race tour of 2010.

 

Destination; Le Race 2010, a 100klm race from Christchurch city to the small town of Akaroa in New Zealand. Akaroa was inhabited by the French early in colonisation and still has a real French theme, with buildings and architecture and of course Le Race once a year. Entry is capped at 1000 riders and is one of the most difficult but picturesque races one will ever do. With 11 major climbs and no guarantees about the weather it sorts the wheat from the chaff, or the flowers from the Tulips (to use the parlence of our times).

17 March 2010 the riders assembled at Brisbane International Airport primed, ready and a little bit nervous about what lay ahead, a three hour flight and 100klm of hell through the hills. That was all except one, Tadek Rudz who had made his way to Brisbane from Darwin  for the trip without his passport. Seems trivialities like border protection are the least of your worries during the wet season. Luckily he had some good friends who posted it to Brisbane for him and he joined us the following day.

After a great flight on Air New Zealand with no problems at the baggage counter (aside from Blair getting picked up by the check-in bloke) the crew landed at Christchurch International Airport. A short mini bus ride into the heart of the city of Christchurch and our hotel, the Chateau Blanc. The Chateau Blanc Hotel, a little bit dated, but very hospitable, each room with a kitchen and loungeroom making for a well fed and socialised stay. Talking about features, the hotel provided a bike room, BBQ and a lovely foyer, with a grand piano adorned with a beautiful bunch of flowers. One of the more senior (card carrying) and respected riders in the group pointed out what he preferred to flowers on the piano, Tulips on an organ.

 

18 March 2010 the riders were all keen to do a “reccy” of the first climb (5klm) and the first section of the summit road. The weather was cool and a slight breeze gave the riders a taste of what conditions may be like on race day. The first climb of the day comes 5klm after dead flat and frantic start with a lot of jostling for position to be in the best spot for the start of the ascent. The climb itself is 5- 6 klm long with a very steep base of 2-3 klm to the the sign of the Takahe, it then levels off and has a very fast top section to the KOM/QOM. The road then takes a right hand turn and is very bumpy as it follows the ridgeline of an extint volcano that circles around the harbour, up and down for the next 80klm.

After a nice ride, a fantastic descent and a few mental notes we went to Dr Mortons favourite French breakfast joint, a very nice and aptly chosen destination to warm up after a cool morning on the bike. The evenings event was a full "reccy" of the entire course (by car) followed by a delicious Lamb BBQ at Hamish’s pad in Akaroa, thanks Hamish!

 

 

19 March 2010 a nice flat ride was in order today, with the big race on tomorrow it was a good day to turn the legs over in a nice easy fashion.

 

After a quick coffee stop and a nice tailwind back to the city it was time to pick up the race packs and get the bike safety checks done. The race packs were one of the more interesting you will find containing adhesive numbers with each riders name on them, a free coffee voucher and a packet of mushrooms.

A carbo load dinner at Valentinos with a few laughs rounded off another good day, the Le Race group of 2010 was ready for the big race. That was aside from the notorious pre race epsom bath. Some say on the night before a race it is a good idea to have a nice hot bath with epsom salts to get the legs ready for next day. It is a sound theory providing you don’t break the tap so that the cold water runs constantly. After 45 minutes Tony showed up and fixed the tap that had been running in the apartment since 10:30pm.

 

20 March 2010 it wasn’t the way the day was supposed to start for the Le race group or the guests at the Chateau Blanc for that matter. At 0615 hours a shrill piercing sound woke the 115 guests of the Chateau Blanc Hotel there was no time for breakfast this was not a drill, it was time to assemble at the evacuation area of the hotel. On the other side of town the fire chief was woken from a deep sleep in his bunk, the noise and spinning lights meant one thing, it was “go” time.  He woke the rest of the boys up, this wasn’t time for gym, game of poker or a calendar shoot this was the real deal, people may be dying. Back in his room Jason Moore was waving a towel back and forward across the inlet of the smoke alarm, no matter how hard he waved the steam was still floating around the ensuite of Elton Johns Penthouse on the top floor of Chateau Blanc. Moments later it seemed, Hatchet weilding firemen made their way into room 401. Handsome enough to feature in at least 3 months of the year and eager to hoist the nearest flame engulphed female over their broad shoulders the men were disapointed, in the tame nature of the flames and lack of talent. Strangely enough none of this broke the stride of the 2010 Lerace group as some of the stragglers in their pajamas on their way back to their rooms met with the group on their way to the bike room and start line. The dirty looks were no match for the race faces on the riders ready to unleash hell on the city of Christchurch.

0800 arrived and the start gun went off, 1000 race ready cyclists jostling for position on Colombo street ready for the big climb. The first big climb of the day seems to be the place for a few smiles, a few laughs and a few costumes, male tandem riders in mankinis, little red riding hood and a lone Womble in full regalia, the only representitive of the group on the trip.

 

All the Lifecycle riders were easy to spot at the feed zone with the special LeRace jerseys made for the trip with polka dot KOM sleeves representing the major climbs on the race.

 

Each rider has their own story with gallant effort put in by all, each dealing with their own demons but representing proudly. At the end of the day the finish times looked like this:

Tadek (Moustache Rider) RUDZ – 2:54.35

 

Jay (Race Bikes) STOCKWELL – 3:02.32

 

 

Jonny (Johnson Rod) STOCKWELL – 3:15.46

     

Hamish DALGLEISH – 3:25.17

  

Peter (Layin down tha) LAW – 3:38.26

 

Greg MORTON – 3:28.30

        

Grant BOTICA – 3:41.11

 

 

Derek (Tulips) NICHOLSON – 3:44.39

   

Tim (all) CLASS-AULIFFE – 3:59.35

 

Jason (Steamy) MOORE – 4:33.57

  

Karen (Epsom Salts)BUCHOLZ – 4:33.14

 

Holly (top of the) CLASS-AULIFFE – 4:35.32

 

When the dust settled the crew gathered for a few war stories and to blow the froth of a couple of cold ones at the Belgian Beer Café in the city. With a lazy Sunday ahead to ride, relax and recover around Christchurch before the flight on Monday afternoon. It could be said a year is too long to wait for LeRace 2011.