A week in the life of Subway Avanti rider Michael Vink
16 April 2010
At just 18 years old, Subway Avanti rider Michael Vink is establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s rising cycling stars. The Christchurch based rider recently won the grueling 100 kilometer Christchurch to Akaroa Le Race before heading off to Europe to race in Belgium for the next six months.
Let’s take a look at his last week in New Zealand before he left.
Monday 16 March
Not a lot on my plate today – a nice easy start to a week that builds up to the 100K cycle race, Le Race, on Saturday, then leaving on the Monday to race in Belgium for six months.
0830 breakfast time: a large bowl of cereal with yoghurt.
1030 take a call from a reporter about a magazine article he is writing.
Monday is my rest day so I chill and relax listening to music while on my lap top.
2300 Hit bed.
Tuesday
0830 Up and into breakfast
0930 Make some adjustments to TT bike for training – tonight is my last chance this season to give the 16 year old Christchurch Time Trial Association record a nudge
1200 lunchtime – have rice, tuna and mayonnaise.
1300 3 hours training on TT bike with efforts 3x5min at TT pace
1700 light meal
1730 drive out to Tai Tapu for the Christchurch TT association 16km time trail. It’s a good night, not too much wind – although there always seems to be some out there - there are lots of people rolling up to race.
I manage to break the record with a 19:42; average speed of 49 kph. The previous record was 20.24 set by the legendary Brian Fowler in 1994 when I was 2 years old. Got to be happy with that!
2300 Bed
Wednesday
0800 Mum fields a call from a reporter – I’m still sleeping so she asked him to call back a bit later.
0930 I get up and I’m about to have my first mouthful of cereal and the reporter rings back. We do quite a long interview while I salivated over the sight of my breakfast. I was getting really hungry, but dealing with media is something I’m getting more used to.
1100 Head out the door for four hours of training.
1500 catch a late lunch
1800 Starting the goodbyes - dinner with my 94 year old Grandmother
2300 hit bed
Thursday
0800 get up and have breakfast
0930 Take a call from s reporter about Le Race and my travel plans
1100 Training out on the bike for a few hours. Weather was good!
1800 nice big dinner
2300 Hit bed
Friday
0730 get up a wee bit earlier today and have breakfast
0800 head to Prebbleton for Subway Avanti Team Meeting and training in preparation for Le Race tomorrow. Signed 200 team cards while I was there! All good.
1700 Back to Prebbleton for Subway Avanti Team dinner and pre race meeting – boys all seem in good spirits for the next day and I’m looking forward to it. Sounds like over 900 on the start line for a race that’s 12 years old.
2000 get my bike and Gear sorted for Le Race
2200 Earlier to bed
Saturday
0700 get up and have breakfast
0730 bike to the start of Le Race for 0800 start time. Notice it’s a bit darker in the mornings now – not out this early on my bike that often. Nice morning though, no wind and its warming up! Head to start line in Cathedral Square in Christchurch with my Subway-Avanti team mates; we find spots near the front on the start line.
0800 The gun and its fast down Colombo Street with a green wave through all the traffic lights. We head through the roundabout at the bottom of Colombo Street and it's up Dyers Pass Road and into the first climb. There lots of people on the side of the roads cheering us on!
Great race and I manage a new Course record - 2:37.49; two minutes faster than Jeremy Yates’s pervious mark!
My team mates Gordon McCauley, Joe Cooper and Sam Horgan come in 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Do some post race media interviews and we have a Subway-Avanti team talk.
1600 head back to Christchurch - BY CAR
1730 Head out to meet Team for a celebration dinner and farewells with friends.
Sunday
0230 late home from town, long day, more than ready for bed
0900 get up have breakfast, thinking I celebrated quite a bit last night.
1000 Long ride, stretching the legs - all too aware that it’s my last ride in NZ for almost 6 months!
1500 back from my ride. Clean and service my bike ready to pack it up!
1700 lots of correspondence to key people in Europe
1800 Dinner and more goodbyes
2300 hit bed
Monday 22 March
0800 get up and have breakfast – last day at home!
Procrastinating about packing
1000 Out to the mall, last minute purchases and racy go fast haircut!
1200 Home and sushi for lunch – love my sushi, a real favorite!
1230 Out to collect new phone – I’ll need it to phone home
1300 Home to set up and play with phone – lots more procrastinating about packing and lots more goodbyes
1500 start getting bike into box and packing gear which had been put aside for over a week
Manage to get packed and ready to roll
1800 head to the airport with my family
1930 get through customs and on my way to Belgium!! Europe here I come; can’t wait!
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