That is where the gold coast gold stars came in. My first ever cycling club. It was amazing to have such a great pack of people to ride with and race against. I loved training and soon enough I was ready for my first Sunday morning race. I was very interested to see how I would go since it was going to be a handicapped 15 minutes + 3 laps criterium. So this is how it all began.

So today I am racing my first Sunday race at Nerang. It is a criterium of 93km in length. The big favourites that have showed up for today’s race are Robbie McEwen, Michael Matthews and Christopher Sutton.

With only 12 riders in today’s race it won’t be a surprise if the break survives.



In my nice new Omega Pharma – Lotto kit I attacked first.



10km to go I had a big lead. I have been on the break all day.



They brought the gap down very fast but it wasn’t fast enough. I take my first win in my first race at Nerang.



Robbie McEwen brings home the rest of the riders.

1	Jak Love	Omega Pharma - Lotto	2h11'16
2	Robbie McEwen	Team RadioShack	s.t.
3	Michael Matthews	Orbea Continental	s.t.
4	Thomas Palmer	Drapac	s.t.
5	Stuart Shaw	Drapac	s.t.
6	Fabio Calabria	UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling	s.t.
7	Dale Parker	Trek - Livestrong u23	s.t.
8	Alessandro De Marchi	Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli	s.t.
9	Christopher Sutton	Sky Pro Cycling	s.t.
10	Benjamin King	UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling	s.t.
11	Jack Anderson	Team NetApp	s.t.
12	Joshua Prete	Trek - Livestrong u23	s.t.

So my first race was a success, even against some of the best sprinters in Australia. I’m very happy. I have some big news for you in the next episode. It’ll knock your socks off and keep you at the edge of your seat, hopefully.

So the good news I mentioned at the end of the last episode. Well it all started when I won the Criterium around Nerang. It was a great feeling winning that race, but the real news came after. I got approached by a man wearing a Cycling Queensland shirt. He said I picked the perfect day to perform. He was a scout for the QAS cycling team. He said that if I get a podium in my next 2 races I would be offered a spot in the QAS cycling team. So my next 2 races. One has cobbles and the other has mountains. Wish me luck.

People always say that when you meet that special person you will know, but I don’t get it. How do you know for sure? My mum does markets and on the weekend I found this wonderful girl. She is amazing, and guess what her last name is.......Lovell!!!! Can you believe it? Get rid of 2 L’s and you got my last name. Another thing, I am only 7 hours older then her. What’s up with all this coincidences? She is the most perfect girl I could ever meet. I always knew that she would be a special person in my life.