Riding like the wind

This post is a big shout-out to a girl I coach in cycling, Irene Digenis, who had a fantastic result on Friday, winning a stage of the Women’s Tour of NZ. This event ranks up with the Tour Down Under for the women, with teams from USA, Australia and elsewhere. It’s a big deal and an inspiring result.

Irene had a background in triathlons, which is how I got to know her, before turning to cycling a couple of years ago. She rode hard and strong and managed to get a spot in Team Prime Estate here in Melbourne, alongside some other great girls (and guys). Irene was more of a domestique in the team, helping out rather than featuring for wins.

About 12 months ago I began writing training programs for her, which she diligently undertook with the fantastic support of her partner, Andrew, who I was also coaching at the time for triathlons. We identified the weaknesses in her cycling and set about devising sessions to develop those, plus just getting more miles in on the bike.

Various results indicated she was improving heaps, with the most recent being competitive results at the National Road Championships. It was after that the opportunity came up for her team to go to Wellington, NZ, for this tour. It would be an amazing experience to race day-in, day-out in a bike tour, and live like a pro cyclist for a week or so.

The tour is a 6 stage event over 5 days. During the first 2 days Irene rode well and finished in the bunch, more than holding her own against some of the best riders in the world.

Then came stage 3 on Friday, over 125km. The following the race report from http://www.cyclingnews.com/

Irene Digenis (Prime Estate Team) won the Women’s Tour of New Zealand’s third stage, just seconds ahead of the peloton that failed to catch her. Behind Digenis, fellow breakaway riders Gayle Brownlee (Handy Rentals Team) and Yvette Hill-Willis (Litespeed Team) rounded out the podium places.

Brownlee followed an attack by Hill-Willis on the second of three laps in Ashhurst, after several previous breakaway attempts had been thwarted by the USA National Team of race leader Shelley Evans. The move was followed by Digenis and Sia Svendsen (Handy Rentals Team), which was a suitable combination for the peloton thanks to the two minute deficit on general classification to the nearest rider.

The peloton made a tactical error however in failing to time its catch of the leaders. It came up just metres short of the group, with race leader Evans sprinting strongly yet again toward the tail of the lead group but the line came too soon.

Irene got away in a 4 rider breakaway, and sprinted her way to a win just before the peleton caught up. It was perfectly timed, and what an exciting way to win a stage.

So well done to Irene. This is a fantastic result and I’m so proud of the work you put in to be in a position to win the stage, and then to clinch it. Congratulations!!