We spent 3 weeks in Bordeaux, France, for our build up to the Commonwealth Games. We stayed in an Ibis hotel about 1km from the Velodrome which was handy. The build up went well, we had our first trials day after around 2 weeks in Bordeaux, which was a 4km Individual Pursuit, and a 4km Team pursuit about 3hours later. Personally my IP didn't go well, which happens. And the team pursuit went a lot better which was a sign that my form was slowly starting to come up! Afterthe trials day we focused on Individual events and more specific training before we headed to Delhi.
The travel to Delhi was a long day, up at 5am, fly to Paris, 4hours in paris, fly to Munich, 5hours in Munich before finally an 8hour flight to Delhi! Luckily we could get into the Lounge's which made the day a bit easier... Arrived in Delhi and straight away we had Police escort, our own lines for Comm Games athletes at customs etc, no problems, and ALL of our gear arrived which was a bonus. Traveling with so much gear, quite often our stuff doesn't arrive on the plane we arrive on.
Onto the bus, with an armed Army man on the bus with us, and a car in front and behind the bus, both with armed guards aboard. From the airport we went straight to the village, in a seperate "Commonwealth Games Bus" lane. These were everywhere, to and from venues from the village. Coned off lanes that only the red Comm Games busses were allowed in, made the travel to and from the track pretty painless!
The village was pretty cool, we were living in big apartment towers.
NZ team
NZ Tower - Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay hanging at front
29028 - Height of Mt Everest in feet
Main street in the village
Food hall at night - open 24/7!
We didn't get to attend the opening ceremony, as there was only 1 day in between the ceremony and the first day of track racing. I was on the first day of racing, along with Ali in the 500tt, Jesse and Sam in the Individual Pursuit, and Marc and Eddie also doing the 1km Time Trial.
I was 2nd rider off, behind an Indian rider, nottoo sure how the ranking worked but it was all good, I think I made it exciting for the people at home watching it on TV, as I slowly picked off and beat each riders time until the last 3 riders... I have to say I was a bit nervous when there was only 3 riders to go, I never thought I would go that close to getting a medal! I knew the last 3 would go fast, but ya never know exactly how fast. A kilo can definitely be a "on the day" ride, and sometimes it goes to plan, and sometimes it doesn't. I was happy, I rode a personal best of 1.03.44, can't complain with that! Scott Sunderland of Aussie had a awesome ride, Comm Games record, Rizal Tisin from Malaysia got the silver, and Eddie Dawkins of NZ picked up the Bronze.
From then on in I was just a spectator, enjoying the village atmosphere and watching a huge number of the Kiwi track team pick up medals, with the highlight for sure watching Ali win GOLD in the Womens Individual Pursuit!
The whole track team, 11 out of 19 won medals, and some got more than 1!
After the track was over, I went and watched Valerie Adams win Gold in the Shotput, so far I had seen both NZ athletes win Gold! All and all I really enjoyed Delhi. Unlike the media first portrayed, there was no major problems for us. Security was good, with scans and body pat downs everytime you entered the velodrome, village, or any stadium. Armed guards everywhere you went, the food was good, accommodation was good, the NZ team was awesome, and also very successful.
I flew home early, on Monday 11th, and the closing ceremony was on the Friday 15th. I had been away since May so decided I would go home early and surprise mum. My brother picked me up from the airport and mum got a big surprise, was priceless to see the look on her face when she opened the front door to me.
Since being home I have been catching up with friends and family, it seems to have taken up a lot of my time but I always enjoy seeing my mates and just relaxing a bit. I had 9 days off the bike since my race in Delhi, and with the Tour of Southland just around the corner I had to crack into the training again. For the last 2 weeks I have been trying to get the km's up, to try and prepare the body for the tough 6-Day PowerNet Tour of Southland.
It will be my first Tour of Southland, and I am riding for the PowerNet team along with Tom Scully, Shane Archbold, Brad Carter, Elliot Crowther and Chris Nicholson. The PowerNet support staff have been awesome so far in organising everything for the tour, and I am looking forward to riding for them along with my good mates Scud (Tom) and Novie (Shane).
So far the weather for the tour looks good to start with, but ya never know down in Invers! I am expecting some sh*t weather, so if it doesn't come then that will be a bonus. But I doubt the Tour of Southland won't attract some rain, hail and wind!
My next update will be on how the tour is going.
Thanks for reading
