Can Glasspool Make it Three in a Row?

The Copper Coast Cup is fast becoming the most important races in South Australia for all bike racers outside of the Tour Down Under. Only a few riders have managed to overcome misfortune on the dirt roads, along with the stiff competition, to take a win.Last year’s victor in the Elite Men’s Category Lachlan Glasspool (Oliver's Real Food Racing, Central Districts Cycling Club), has worked out at least a few parts of the formula for success in this event after claiming back to back victories – adding to his podium place from the year 2015.Although cagey when asked about his tech tips for the event he did surprise in that his setup isn’t that obscure. Glasspool finds there is no need for 36mm tyres or even sealant. But that doesn’t mean that careful preparation isn’t an important part of the equation. We spent a few minutes with Glasspool to get a better understanding of the race:Have you got a few tech tips that help get you through the race?“I can probably let this one slip as you would struggle to fit 9 months of prep into the three days we’ve got left. I run 27mm Vittoria tubulars – but the tyres are cured”.Cured is a term more commonly reserved for meats than rubber. So what does that mean in practice?“Essentially, they are old (well, aged). I leave them sitting in the shed for 9 months of the year stretching and oxidizing so the rubber harders.”So, you’ve taken two wins in a row, do you go in with a plan?You have to treat this race organically. It’s a matter of going in with multiple cards, and working out when to play them. You really just need to make a call based on what is happening. It’s certainly not a race you can just sit back and wait though.Do you think that you can take the hat-trick?Honestly, two was a surprise – so three would be a bit of a fairy tale. There are three Olympians in the field and they are all flying coming into Oceania’s, so we’ll definitely just have to wait and see how it plays out.You say winning three would be a bit of a fairy tale; how important is this race to you?“We really enjoy coming back to the Copper Coast. My dream race growing up was Paris-Roubaix – and this is our Paris-Roubaix. For a long list of reasons, I never got a chance to show what I could do at that level, and the Copper Coast Cup is the closest we’ll ever get to that style of event. Every South Australian racer has it on their bucket list to win.We’re really grateful to the support of the Cooper Council and community for welcoming us back every year. So, it just makes it such a special race”.Glasspool has long been a rider to watch. Spending his time between the National Para-Cycling Team where he rides as a pilot for Keirin Murphy, and on the road with his National team Oliver’s Real Food Racing, Lachie is one of the nice guys of the peloton.For full updates across the weekend's events please keep it tuned into the Cycling South Australia Social media. Let's see if Glasspool can extend his domination of the event!