Sprint, Slip, and Side-Splitting Banter: The Leeston Handicap Hustle Christchurch, Canterbury ⛅

{"raceId":10580737262,"athleteId":2188545,"name":"Sprint, Slip, and Side-Splitting Banter: The Leeston Handicap Hustle Christchurch, Canterbury ⛅","description":"There I was, lined up for the first Leeston handicap race of 2024, bubbling with expectations. Last week’s time trial was a bit of a bust, and to be honest, I’d been feeling a bit off lately – maybe it was that Covid doing the rounds, who knows? But today, the sun was shining, the mood was electric, and with 55 riders raring to go, the scene was set for a cracker of a race.\n\nWe rolled out to Leeston, blessed by a tailwind that felt like a gentle push from Mother Nature herself. The race format was intriguing – seven different groups, 55 riders, all handicapped to ensure a grand union at the finish. Just as we were prepping, the skies decided to add a bit of drama, and down came the rain, turning the tarmac into a slick, slippery beast.\n\nThe race was intense, with everyone giving their all. But alas, the slick roads claimed their due – Basil, Chris, and Phil took a tumble on the last corner. Poor Basil bore the brunt of it and had to be whisked away in an ambulance. Chris and Phil, though shaken, managed to ride back with us.\n\nPost-race, the mood lightened as we stopped at the lab for some well-deserved refreshment and banter. The conversation veered from partners to little blue pills (a nod to my own prescription) and the usual array of creative excuses for not clinching the win.\n\nAnd me? Oh, I had a blinder of a race! Dodging the mayhem, I powered through to snag a fourth place, elbow to elbow with the big dogs of the cycling world. As I crossed the line, pride swelled in my chest – not bad for a day’s ride!\n\nKey Moments:\n\n\t•\tPrepped for an epic race with a lovely tailwind journey to Leeston.\n\t•\tSudden rain adding a slippery challenge to the course.\n\t•\tA dramatic crash on the last corner, with Basil unfortunately injured.\n\t•\tSpirited post-race banter and laughs at the lab.\n\t•\tA personal triumph: clinching a proud fourth place amidst the cycling heavyweights.\n\nWeather Report: Broken clouds, 20°C, and the wind was blowing 30km/h from ENE\n\n📈 aiendurance.com summary:\nExternal stress score: 175","primaryImageUrl":"https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/40CE1a0VOJnLyrVM5Y6sF0a8-JXRttx9pmH8YERo3O8-768x768.jpg","distance":119561.0,"elapsedTime":19246,"totalElevationGain":82.0,"type":"Ride","sportType":"Ride","workoutType":11,"startDate":"Jan 18, 2024, 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