Hi everyone,
 
Well what an experience, I have just returned home from Cape Town with the 2008 Junior World Championships now behind me. On Thursday the 18th of July was the first of the road events, which our team had been counting down to. The Australians representing in the road time trial were; Zoe Appel and Sophie Ootes for the girls and Rohan Dennis and Micheal Frieburg for the boys. The girls were off first starting at 11am, they headed out on a course that was quite windy and very undulating with no flat sections making it a tough course for all involved. Sophie Ootes only in her second year of competitive cycling finished a very creditable 5th only 1 second behind 4th and 7 seconds behind 3rd. Zoe also did well finish in 13th in the top half of the field. This showed the rest of the world that we could be competitive in the biggest event of the championships, the road race two days later.
 
On the Saturday afternoon all the teams competing had the opportunity to ride over the road course for the following day for the first time. The course was technical near the beginning with numerous turns, U turns and round abouts. The course then headed towards the base of the 2km climb, This climb began at 8% then quickly decreased in gradient to 4% then kicked up over the top. The climb was followed by a 5km decent down to the finish line before heading around again. It seemed like an interesting course that I hoped would pose an interesting race.
 
On race day we rose slightly earlier then usual to get organised and head down to the course. We arrived at 8.30am and got set up, signed on, warmed up, bike checked and were on the line at 9.45 for a 10am start. We were lucky enough to start on the front line after Australia qualified in 3rd place on last years results. We rolled away right on 10 for 81.6km, 6 laps around a 13.6km course. 
 
In the first lap basically everyone got settled in and no countries played any cards early. In the second lap Soph from Aus set a tough pace up the climb which Im sure tired some of the top girls. Lap three, a few countries had a go up the climb, I attacked over the top and was away by myself before the bunch reformed down the decent, this was similar to the following two laps. The last lap was intense, I escaped the field with a German rider just after the bottom of the climb. We worked for the next 7km or so to be caught 1km from the line by the flying bunch preparing for the bunch kick. Unfortunatly for me I was caught but I gave it everything I could. I wouldnt have changed my tactics if I could race it again, So even though it wasnt a result that I was after It was a win for me and my experiences so far.
 
Thankyou RAK for all your assistance in my Junior Worlds experience, its something I will never forget!
 
Lauren 

  Lauren 1st on left (front row)