Team POWERADE getting stronger

Wow what a ride today!!! 16 riders turned up for our Sunday ride and even at 5.30am you could tell everyone was keen to get out and Ride Hard.

With some of the lads returning from their Christmas/New Year break two groups were formed to allow everyone to get out of the day what they wanted to. Special mention goes to Andrew who hasn't been on the bike for 2 months and only flew in from the US yesterday but still put his hand up for the 70k (or was that the 80k) circuit.

Unfortunately we were down one of our stalwarts in Gav who joined 4 other POWERADE riders yesterday to race a crit. The boys raced B1 grade and the stories were flowing thick and fast about breakaways and insane riding by Row. Gav and Craig were well placed after Jase, Row and Shane had dished out heaps of pain to the 50 strong peleton but unfortunately Gav came to grief on the last corner and hit the deck at about 45kph. Thankfully no serious damage done to Gav or the LOOK. Craig finished strongly just out of the medals as the peleton finally caught Row and Jase with only a few hundred metres to race.

The Cleveland / Manly circuit provided the ideal hit out for the group of 11 and with an average speed of just under 32kph the pace was certainly on.

As we neared the finish with two climbs to go we were joined by another group who at first took a draft from us but then attacked on the climb. It was here that Brockie earnt his new name "Brockie Valverde" as he counter attacked on our behalf to put the other riders back in their box. he repeated the effort up the final climb and set up Jase who put the nail in the coffin of the other group. Great riding boys!!!

Coffee at Spoon and there was some tired and hot lads and I'm sure Andrew was wondering if he had made the right call to do the longer ride but we know that within a month he will be back on the front driving the group along.

The boys down at the TDU seem to have had an awesome week a highlight being when they met up with their hero Jens Voigt!!

We wish the guys who are racing in the Australia Day Cup this week at Tyalgum all the best and hope to see Team POWERADE on the podium....no pressure lads!!