While the current global coronavirus crisis has put a stop to all local racing and group riding, NVC riders are adapting to the adversity by beginning to train and even race while maintaining social distance and isolation requirements. There are a number of indoor training platforms, arguably the most popular being Zwift.
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Zwift is an online virtual cycling program available for a modest monthly fee. It does require some hardware as well such as a stationary trainer or smart trainer, a power meter and/or a speed and cadence sensor. The current global situation has placed a huge demand on these items, and if you don't have a smart trainer already, you may struggle to find one for some months. Keep an eye on the Facebook bicycle buy and sell pages and you may get lucky.
Through the Nowra Road Cyclists Facebook group, and Zwift, NVC riders have been meeting up for virtual rides and race meets. This has included group video calls allowing riders to see and talk to each other just like we normally would.
On Sunday 12 NVC riders lined up for the 3R Classique Flat Race on the London Course. Daniel Wells took 4th place in the B grade Division of this race. Dallas Warner took the win in C grade ahead of Dean Jackson (3rd) and Gavin Nethery (4th). Nethery and Jackson were officially bumped up to Zwift B grade following this race. Lynne Vaughan took 11th place in the D grade race.
Mid-week saw NVC riders line up at races at times convenient to them, testing their legs against riders from around the globe.
Tuesday saw Gavin Nethery and Nick Johns take on Stage 3 of the Tour of Watopia (B grade). This 19.5km race featured a significant hill climb. Johns took the win 15 seconds clear. Nethery came in 3rd after a two-up sprint against Spencer Black of the USA.
Tuesday also saw Phil Rice return to racing, taking on Stage 1 of the Tour of Watopia (C grade). Rice took a solid 5th place in a field over 50 strong. Rice has continued racing through the week, lining up against fellow NVC rider Mark Williams.
Wednesday saw Rice & Williams line up for Stage 2 of the Tour of Watopia (C grade). Williams took 3rd place, 54 seconds in front of Rice who rolled in for 8th place. These two riders lined up again for two Tour of Watopia races back to back on Friday morning. Stage 3 saw Williams finish 2nd and Rice 3rd, only behind a rider with some suspicious digital figures. Williams continued his strong performances in stage 5 finishing in 2nd place again. Rice finished in 9th place, only 8 seconds back. With these strong performances from Mark Williams, we expect to see him in the Zwift B grade category in the very near future, with Rice not far behind.
Brothers Nick & Levi Johns have continued to show their winning form through the week with Nick winning a number of B grade races including Tour of Watopia Stage 2, Stage 3, as well as taking 3rd in the Aussie Crit Crushers race. Levi took the win in another Stage 2 race, and 3rd in stage 5.
Daniel Wells has also been riding incredibly strongly which is proven by his consistent results. Wells and Dean Jackson lined up on Thursday night for the KOA Sports League Race (B Grade). Wells looked like winning this race until 150m to go when he was swamped by a fast finishing bunch. Wells held on for 5th place, with Dean Jackson 15th some 2 minutes back.
The Tour of Watopia wraps up today. Several NVC Riders including Matt O'Hearn, Gavin Nethery, Nick Johns, Mark Williams and Phil Rice have completed all 5 stages of the tour which will see them receive virtual Tour of Watopia kits to wear for future events.
This coming Sunday will see NVC rider's line up for the EVR Americas West Weekend race at 9am. This race will see riders complete a number of laps around the Austrian Innsbruck World Championship Course. See the Nowra Road Cyclists Facebook page for more information on this race or how to become more involved in the Virtual riding whilst we are all required to continue social distancing and isolation.