The Look

In January 2006 I spent some time in Adelaide, including racing some womens support criteriums for the Tour Down Under (called the 'Adelaide Advertiser Series'). After the five day Jayco Bay Series in Melbourne, and the Australian National ITT, I was losing form and heart fast. But that first criterium of that series was one I will not forget in a hurry.

Located in downtown east end Adelaide, it was a hard and long crit course set in stifling late afternoon summer heat. The race itself was only scheduled for 30mins but the field was stellar and so was the audience - massive crowds lining up for the action at the hairpin end where the course passes a bunch of pubs and evening establishments. It was great. There were heaps of attacks, a seemingly endless supply of them thanks largely to Alex Rhodes but others as well, including Olivia Gollan, and Kate Bates. One such attack occurred just as I was sitting on Alex's wheel. It was perfect timing, and I instinctively went with it. But I was in no position to actually pull through, I just wanted to be a part of the break and I was happy just to be there. Alex turned to see who was behind her. She saw me, and realised I was not planning to pull through. And then she gave me The Look.

We were quickly reeled in and another counter attack went off shortly after. By the end of the 30mins I had ran out of water, the stop-starts at the hairpin had killed my legs, and I rolled in just behind the bunch, completely exhausted.

But what I learnt from that race in particular never really sunk in until a few weeks ago. It was the meaning and rationale of applying 'The Look'.

It began at the St Kilda crit series, which hosts an early morning short womens only race before the men commence. The fields are always pretty small, but I enjoy racing against the women as there is no where to hide. It gives me a great chance to work on attacking, and re-attacking, and attacking while still recovering from the previous attack. Some of the girls have worked me out, and have started to simply sit on me and wait for my next attack. It makes for a boring negative race, and forces me to attack again. On one such attacking occasion and without thinking, I turned and gave this poor young girl sitting on and intent on doing no work, The Look.

After I had thrown The Look back at this young girl I kindof felt bad for being so evil. But then I remembered being on the receiving end myself. Okay, it has taken me almost two years to work out its meaning, but The Looks aren't given at random. There is a rationale, and it relates to putting in a whole bunch of energy only to have it negated by someone uninterested in contributing to the intended outcome.

The morning I threw quite a few 'Looks' at those sitting on. On some it had the desired effect - at the very least they came through and pulled a turn at the front of the bunch. But anyone who wants to be in a break but doesn't want to contribute to its success is bound to fail the entire break attempt (which may well be their intent). But it also gives strong cause for being on the receiving end of The Look.

I will not feel bad about throwing any more Looks from now on. I am here to race and race as hard as I can.