‘Gnarly’: South Australian team takes a look at Masters & Junior Nationals courses

When preparing for a race, you need to know what the course is like.

So, after the routes were announced for the AusCycling Masters & Junior Road National Championships, you’d be forgiven for spending hours studying GPS files, Strava segments and Google Street View to get a lay of the land.

But, for all the knowledge you can get through a screen, nothing beats the real thing.

That’s why, last month, 15 members of the South Australian junior road team travelled to Loxton to inspect the roads in person.

Read on to find out what they thought about the National Championship courses.

Road Race: Crosswind alert?

Let’s start with the road race east of Loxton, where the juniors practised rolling turns.

“The road course isn’t just going to be for the fittest and strongest out there,” said Josh Harrison, the development coach for South Australia, who led the trip. “If you’ve got a little bit of brain - and willpower, the results might … it will be an interesting day to say the least.”

Understandably, Harrison is careful not to give too much away. His team has the home advantage, after all.

“It's got one little riser in there, a bit more of a launchpad, but it depends on where you are in the race if you wish to use it. Otherwise, it’s pretty flat.”

Reading between the lines, crosswinds might play a role on the open roads. A sprinter can win, he says, but they’ll have to play their cards right.

“The weather played a little bit with us; there’s not a lot of protection,” Harrison said.

“If they can ride correctly, I reckon it can lead to a bunch sprint … ride smartly, a smart race, they should be there at the finish.”

All in all, the SA juniors were approving of the parcours.

“The kids really enjoyed it. What it does do is give a chance for everyone. For all juniors to be able to play a part and at least have a crack, rather than it be too challenging overall,” Harrison said.

Time Trial: We’re not in Adelaide anymore, Toto

The riders were particularly pleased with the smooth tarmac on the time trial course, an out-and-back situation south-east of Loxton.

“One thing the kids were very happy with was that the road surface looked like it was freshly laid just for the time trial,” Harrison said.

“We did a group ride to the TT course to start with. Had a once-over, had a look at how the road moves, the elevation, what the conditions with the weather are like. On the way back, the kids had a bit of a hit-out over it to get a bit of understanding of what pressure they can do along the course.

“The TT course is quite nice. A few little rolling hills in there, nothing too major.”

On an amusing note, after the 2.5-hour journey out of Adelaide, the time trial course gave these juniors a taste of the Riverland countryside.

“Something the kids were laughing about quite a bit were the tumbleweeds. That was very country-esque,” Harrison recalled.

“You’re riding, you’re doing these TTs, and you have these few little tumbleweeds just floating over the road while everyone was riding. It brought a very funny side to them, essentially, putting the pain down.”

Criterium: ‘It’s going to be gnarly’

Lastly, the South Australian team headed into town, where the criterium will be held on Loxton’s main street.

The centrepiece of these National Championships is the ‘Loxton Kicker’, a 430-metre, 6% pinch that ramps up all the way to the finish line.

And oh boy, will it sting.

“It’s going to be gnarly. I wonder how many people are going to finish,” Harrison said with a laugh.

“Most of the (downhill) section will be over 40km/h, but as it’s been described in the tech guide, the Loxton Kicker will live up to its name … it’s going to prove a challenge.”

Harrison said the climb was longer than the riders had expected, but not insurmountable.

“They weren’t worried about it, but they were having a good laugh that this is going to be ‘interesting’, and the rest of the course is very fast.

“They were contemplating if a sprinter could make it through, and we were trying to reassure them that they probably will, but it will be hard work.

“The Loxton Kicker will retain its name, and it’s something for everyone  to look forward to, racing up. There’s going to be some gritting of teeth.”

Josh Harrison (left) with the SA junior team.

For spectators, or riders who’ve finished their race, there will be excellent vantage points along the climb. Harrison suggests bringing a chair and sitting in the park that divides the main street.

“It will be good for the spectators. You’ll be able to see them sweep up from the bottom and race the whole way up the top, then they’ll disappear down to the back end of the course.”

With just over a month until the National Championships, the riders are beginning to feel the anticipation.

“I think the excitement is starting to come,” Harrison said. “For me, from a coaching perspective, I want to showcase the athletes that we have and what their potential is.

“I am keen to represent South Australia and that’s what I hope the kids are starting to click into. That’s the state rivalry.

“Having a national championship here means we’ve had a look at the course, we know what to expect. Everyone else will be guessing a little bit.”

Photos: Jean-Pierre Ronco / Image Writer Photography