Bowditch to hit the roads again

ANN BOWDITCH has experienced her first taste of the World Masters Cycling Championships in St Johann in Austria's Tirol and loved the experience. Guernsey's top woman rider coped well against riders from all over the world and in the course of a week's competition which comprised road races and time trials.

The opening event, the Radweltpokal, is part of the World Cup Series and was held over a one-lap 40km course in wet conditions.

'There were lots of attacks. I tried to conserve my energy and let others chase which worked well,' said Bowditch.

Things were looking good for Bowditch with 2km remaining as one other rider bridged the gap giving more strength to the breakaway, however, the peleton had other plans and with just 1km remaining closed down the leading trio.

The pace remained high as riders prepared for the sprint where Bowditch took 15th place.

Event two for Bowditch was the time trial held on a sloping course over 20km in 30 degrees heat.

'It was a tough day. The final 8km felt hideous and it felt like I wasn't putting power down,' said an exhausted Bowditch who finished in 13th place. The race was won by Doris Porch of Austria in a time of 27:16.

Then followed the World Masters road race held on the same course as the Radweltpokal earlier in the week but this time in the sunshine.

Russian rider Inna Panina attacked at the top of the second climb and opened up a small gap.

At this point Bowditch was a few metres back with a group of three others. There was no immediate reaction to pull in the Russian who gradually extended her lead.

'Riders were no keen to work together and there was little attempt to pull the Russian back in because of this,' said Bowditch.

The pace over the final 3km was fast as riders negotiated for the best positions in the peleton which would now be sprinting for second place.

The Guernsey star ensured she was well placed coming into the final 500m and took ninth place overall.

The elite road race was held on the now familiar road race course over two laps covering 80km.

As riders hit the first hill, a German rider immediately took to the front and forced a very fast pace.

Bowditch was well positioned near the front and working hard to keep in contention with a small group of riders which were beginning to split from the peleton.

As riders got close to the top of the climb, a small gap had opened between the four leaders and a chasing Bowditch.

She and two other riders worked hard together in a bid to close down the four leaders and remain ahead of the peleton, however within 5km the peleton had closed them down.

Realising her strength was on the hills, Bowditch pushed hard on the second climb and again drew a gap which was once again closed down.

The race from this point was quite negative as riders were clearly saving themselves for the next long ascent on the second lap.

Bowditch pushed the pace from the bottom of the next climb and opened up a gap on the peleton and ultimately was to finish 11th.

'Overall it has been a fantastic week with well organised races and a superb atmosphere. The quality of the racing was high.

'My focus of late has been time trials but I plan to go back next year with a road race focus in a bid to improve on my performances.

'With two big hills the course is to my liking and I will have to plan on how to use the climbs to my advantage against such quality opponents,' said Bowditch.