The Tour of Crete is a qualifier event for the 2014 UCI Amateur World Road Championship which is due to be held in Ljubljana in Slovenia in late August. Riders are invited to the finals by the UCI af ter having met qualifying criteria such a being placed in the top percentage of a number of designated races around the world collectively known as the UCI World Cycling Tour. A number of the UWCT events have road races and time trials, some just have road races. The events are age group related but the actual races are typically run as a single event with all age groups competing at the same time. These are sometimes run as grand fondo style events to attract a wide range of participants which I suspect assists with covering the costs of these events.
There are two ‘tour’ style events which include road races, a time trail and a grand fondo one of which is the Cretan event.
An early goal of mine this year was to qualify for the UCI Worlds in the road race and the time trial. Each stage of the Tour of Crete counted as a separate qualifying event as well as the overall GC.
Stage 1 – Mountain Time Trial
The event was 5km long and gained over 200m of altitude from the Port of Kolympari. The weather was about 25 degrees and there was a very strong headwind. Across the different ages groups there were several reigning World Champions for road race and TT from both UCI and ICF bodies. A three time world elite Cyclo Cross champion was also competing in the 40-45 age classification. I need to get onto the podium to secure my invitation to Ljubljana. I rode my road bike with clip-on tri bars and in my Kask Bambino helmet. I had done some testing with a new ‘Stages’ power meter beforehand so knew what my average power would be for and estimated 10min effort. I had read about the possibility of wind from previous years so took a set of narrow section Kysirium SLR wheels which are light but why would not get blown around. I had not got any idea of how my standing was at this level of competition this year and at this time. I had not prepared too specifically for this event; I hoped just enough. Pre-event testing with Ben Price of Kinetic Velo suggested I should be in the mix but you never know until the flag drops.
The ride was very hard. No surprises there! The first two kilometres took me over three ‘lumps’ before the real climb began 3km out from the finish. I felt good and had to hold myself back. I had ridden the course a couple of times the day before so know what I had to do when and what the gearing would be along with my cadence. In the first 2km I was holding myself back. Once the climb started to wind up though a series of hairpin bends on the cliffs, above the bay, the pain began to bite. My power was a little over plan but tolerable. I couldn’t see my minute man at all which a concern was as the specific age groups started together. I was riding the main climb on my small chain ring. Interestingly whilst I had planned to climb on my road bars I remained on the tri-bars for most of the climb due to the wind. 
Near the top of the climb I had identified where I’d work the gears a little and increase the gearing before getting onto the big ring just over the shoulder of the climb before the plateau and the run in to the finish. Unfortunately the wind was a so strong I had to wait for a few moments to compose before engaging the big ring. On the plateau the wind was hot and was scorching my throat. It being a short uphill vent I didn’t carry any liquid. I pushed very hard across the plateau to the village which sat on the top of a small mound which I had to get up in the final 200m.
The net results for the effort was a winning margin of 28 seconds over my nearest rival and third fastest of the day. The UCI put on a very nice awards ceremony after each stage for these qualifier events with jerseys and medals.
Stage 2 – 80km Road Race
The first road race of the tour was a five lap event which comprised of a 16km lap of 7km of climbing, 7 km of descending and 2km of rolling roads. The start and finish were in the Port of Kolympari. The weather was sunny and warm but still windy! The first 3km were neutralised and after a look of the finishing roads we set off. The finish took us past the port before we turned back into it on an acute angle on a steep ramp. This manoeuvre was to be performed at the bottom of a 500m decline … very dangerous and not to my taste unless I was to be off the front going solo.
The first few km of racing were really quite gentle skirmishing. I think everyone knew the final 2km of the climb would be where things were to get serious. A few small groups of two or three were allowed off up the road during this phase. Once we approached the top the Slovenian guy in second on GC attacked. Hard! An exercise he repeated on each lap in the same place. The place where the road kicked up at over 10% and took us straight into a hairpin bend, in a village, with bad road surface. Responding was not too much of an issue and I knew my legs were good.
Once we were over the top the road plummeted down the side of some steep cliff though a series of hairpin bends each of which looked as though it dropped off into the sea. The wind was as much a factor here as legs still being fresh and people attacking without the ability to take corners at safely at speed.
We settled into a routine for the first four laps with fewer riders being in contention after the top of the climb. I was still in there and feel good courtesy of my 28 seconds cushion and weak Enduro-Carb solution in my bidon.
At the bell here were about 20 of us left at the front. It wasn’t a break but the outcome of attrition on the mountain. In the usual place the Slovenian attacked hard and then went again. A counter attack came from the Ukrainian and then the Dane. Once he faltered the Yellow jersey and a Polish guy went clear over the top. I spotted it and took off after them with the Slovenian on my wheel. We went clear with a few scrambling behind looking to make contact which then did when the paced eased just before the descent. This was now inside the last 8km. My plan was to follow at third or fourth wheel and attack hard on the final ramp up to a Church before we headed down to the port. I wanted the stage and to take it solo. I found myself in third through the first couple of bends which was nice. Unfortunately then with two bends to go the leader misjudged the corner and braked hard. The Yellow Jersey in second also braked hard but I didn’t. I took the corner fast and decided to go for it. I sprinted hard and opened up about 50m very quickly, a lead I held for a couple of km when I was eventually chased down. I composed myself and went again as planned. Full gas over the final climb and down to the Port. Unfortunately the Yellow Jersey, the reigning Greek Elite champion, had anticipated my move and drew up alongside as we entered the final 500m. His move had sparked other interest and a bunch of us headed into the port together. Very dangerous. I backed off to come in safe and in 5th place on the stage. The Dane took fourth and pulled back half a second.
Stage 3 – 116km Road Race
Rain was forecast for mid-afternoon. As we rolled out of Kolympari lightning was dancing off the hills and the air was heavy with drizzle. The circuit was taking us up over 300m altitude on each of 5 laps each containing a section of road for around 400m which averaged 16% and peaked at 23%. The parcours had a sting in the tail with an off circuit climb to a village. The finishing road was around 3km long with an average gradient of 10% and a finishing ramp in the final 500m which averaged 12% and peaked at 23%.
As the race started I had 27 second lead over Bjarne Olsen a very talented Danish rider (Winner of the 2013 40-49yrs Tour of Majorca). I stood about 8 inches higher than him and probably carried around 10kg more weight. I was also lying in 3rd place overall (all age groups taken into account). I was 2 seconds off 2nd place on overall GC and had a 20 second lead over the guy in 4th on overall GC.
Once the neutralised 5km was over the attacks started immediately. A number of local riders had entered just the single stage. The Queen stage; the final stage. As the road went upwards the attacking was relentless as indeed was the rain. The higher we got the colder the rain became and by the time we neared the top of the mountain for the first time sleet was falling which turned to hail and torrential rain. A group started to pull clear over the top of the climb and I was not in it. I accelerated and connected after a short chase. There were around 20 riders away as the decent started. The rain was already torrential was getting heavier and thunder and lightning blasted the scenery around us. The decent was crazy. The Cretan / Greeks guys were descending without a care in the world. Just following wheels was terrifying! The intention was clearly to put pressure on and force a very select break. I just hung on hoping that I was following people who knew the roads. Towards the valley floor we encountered two back to back S bends. People with carbon wheels (and braking surfaces) could not stop! The cornering was a lottery! I was riding on my Kysirium with Conti 4 Seasons tyres and survived. By the time we were in the valley there were six of us away. Inevitably the Yellow Jersey was one of them but not the Dane. We settled in and carried on for the next two laps.
On the steep climb on the circuit with 1.5 laps to go a small group got across to us. The Ukrainian guy and the Slovenian (reigning 35-39yrs World TT Champion) pulled a small group across which included the Dane. We collectively rode on to the lap. By this point I was spent and feared being dropped on the steep part of the climb on the circuit. Fortunately no one attacked. I think no one could attack!
A group of around 12 of us arrived at the bottom of the final 3km together. Immediately the Slovenian attacked. We dropped two. The Slovenian then attacked again and band two more went. I could not live with the third attack and decided to pace myself. The road was steep and fatigue was setting in. My power meter was telling me what I already knew. I was fading badly but still putting out over 420 watts! I pinned the group to about 50m for the next km and then the road flattened to around 5%. I pressed hard on the cranks and connected to a Polish guy who was hanging on the back of the remaining lead group. He then blew as we hit 500m to go and the road kicked up to an unbearable 15%. The winning attack was launched by the Yellow Jersey and a few followed. I couldn’t and was immediately dropped with my sole mission all about limiting my losses. The final half km was a desperate fight against the clock. Over the line I had lost 20 seconds to the Dane so held on to the GC by 7 seconds. I also lost 21 seconds to the Greek guy (19-34yrs) who started the day in 4th on GC 20 seconds behind me.
The stage was epic. I finished 7th over the line and 2nd in my age group, behind the Dane, but held on to win the 50-54yrs GC by 7 seconds. Very pleased and qualification for the UCI World Amateur Championships secured.
