1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,587 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,107 Speaker 2: A month ago, you might remember we chatted to Joanna 4 00:00:15,227 --> 00:00:18,307 Speaker 2: Sharp who was about to embark on an attempt to 5 00:00:18,307 --> 00:00:22,307 Speaker 2: become the first person to cycle the length of Australia 6 00:00:22,787 --> 00:00:26,147 Speaker 2: solo in the fastest time. She was planning to cycle 7 00:00:26,227 --> 00:00:31,507 Speaker 2: solo from Darwin to Melbourne via Ularu and also along 8 00:00:31,547 --> 00:00:35,067 Speaker 2: the way raising funds and awareness for Balcanson New Zealand. 9 00:00:35,147 --> 00:00:38,267 Speaker 2: So how did she go? Let's find out. Let's bring 10 00:00:38,347 --> 00:00:42,027 Speaker 2: Joanna Sharp Beck into Weekend Sport. How did it go? Joanna? 11 00:00:42,987 --> 00:00:45,587 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you so much for having me on Piney. 12 00:00:45,627 --> 00:00:48,667 Speaker 3: We're buck in New Zealand and I'm really proud to 13 00:00:48,707 --> 00:00:52,907 Speaker 3: say that the little Kiwi crew that Could has now 14 00:00:52,947 --> 00:00:55,627 Speaker 3: I've become the first person ever to cycle the length 15 00:00:55,667 --> 00:01:00,307 Speaker 3: of Australia NonStop in eleven days, eleven hours and thirty 16 00:01:00,307 --> 00:01:00,947 Speaker 3: four minutes. 17 00:01:01,307 --> 00:01:04,187 Speaker 2: That is incredible. For those who didn't hear our first 18 00:01:04,267 --> 00:01:06,507 Speaker 2: chat with you, tell us a bit about the bold 19 00:01:06,627 --> 00:01:09,427 Speaker 2: up to the challenges you faced, and then maybe go 20 00:01:09,507 --> 00:01:11,947 Speaker 2: on to tell us about the eleven days, eleven hours 21 00:01:11,987 --> 00:01:12,827 Speaker 2: and thirty four minutes. 22 00:01:14,307 --> 00:01:18,307 Speaker 4: Well, look, many professional crews internationally have tried to cycle 23 00:01:18,307 --> 00:01:20,867 Speaker 4: the lengths of Australia and for anybody who's been in 24 00:01:20,907 --> 00:01:23,467 Speaker 4: the outback you can probably understand why they've never made 25 00:01:23,467 --> 00:01:27,987 Speaker 4: it happen. It's a desperately challenging environment, from the climactic 26 00:01:28,067 --> 00:01:34,307 Speaker 4: conditions to the many critters you encounter and the wildfires 27 00:01:34,387 --> 00:01:37,227 Speaker 4: and you name it. But it's also it's one straight 28 00:01:37,347 --> 00:01:40,067 Speaker 4: road for three thousand, six hundred kilometers and from a 29 00:01:40,107 --> 00:01:44,227 Speaker 4: cycling perspective, that puts an unknown tole on the body. 30 00:01:44,347 --> 00:01:46,827 Speaker 4: So I don't know that there's actually another stretch of 31 00:01:46,907 --> 00:01:50,427 Speaker 4: road where a cyclist has tried to cycle that long 32 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:52,987 Speaker 4: on a flat piece of road. So Greg Paine, who 33 00:01:53,027 --> 00:01:56,067 Speaker 4: you guys know from Biasport, he's worked with me a 34 00:01:56,067 --> 00:01:58,187 Speaker 4: lot in the last twelve months for what we might 35 00:01:58,347 --> 00:02:02,027 Speaker 4: encounter sitting the body in the same position for three 36 00:02:02,067 --> 00:02:05,347 Speaker 4: and a half thousand k's So ultimately I guess that's 37 00:02:05,347 --> 00:02:08,627 Speaker 4: why it hadn't been a chief year before. But myself 38 00:02:08,707 --> 00:02:11,827 Speaker 4: and five amazing kiwis we decided to give it a 39 00:02:11,827 --> 00:02:15,907 Speaker 4: go after years of planning, and we left Darwin and 40 00:02:16,307 --> 00:02:18,267 Speaker 4: we managed to make it through the app back via 41 00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:21,307 Speaker 4: O Laru. We've made it as far as Adelaide. We've 42 00:02:21,307 --> 00:02:25,067 Speaker 4: got the subject of ratification the Guinness and World ultra 43 00:02:25,147 --> 00:02:29,667 Speaker 4: Cycling Association World record for doing that. And then suddenly 44 00:02:29,707 --> 00:02:31,947 Speaker 4: I spent quite a bit of time in hospital, so 45 00:02:32,467 --> 00:02:34,867 Speaker 4: we never made the victory lap into Melbourne, but the 46 00:02:34,947 --> 00:02:37,787 Speaker 4: main goal was achieved and we're just over the moon 47 00:02:37,827 --> 00:02:38,907 Speaker 4: to be the first to do it. 48 00:02:39,107 --> 00:02:40,867 Speaker 2: Hang on, you glossed over a little bit there. You've 49 00:02:40,867 --> 00:02:42,267 Speaker 2: spent a bit of time in hospital. 50 00:02:42,307 --> 00:02:46,507 Speaker 4: What happened well as you can imagine, and I'll use 51 00:02:46,627 --> 00:02:48,987 Speaker 4: terms that don't put anyone off their afternoon tea. But 52 00:02:49,387 --> 00:02:52,067 Speaker 4: when you sit on a bike seat in the same position, 53 00:02:52,187 --> 00:02:54,707 Speaker 4: which for me is obviously a chapter two aero bike 54 00:02:54,867 --> 00:02:59,027 Speaker 4: aerodynamically set up, you're putting your soft tissue, be it 55 00:02:59,107 --> 00:03:02,947 Speaker 4: male or female, into a pressure position for eleven days 56 00:03:02,987 --> 00:03:06,907 Speaker 4: and a bit. So from that perspective, you know, as 57 00:03:06,907 --> 00:03:09,187 Speaker 4: I said, even Greg Payne wasn't quite sure what we 58 00:03:09,307 --> 00:03:12,667 Speaker 4: might encounter, and we've been training for it. However, I 59 00:03:12,787 --> 00:03:17,747 Speaker 4: ended up with bone deep pressure wounds you could call it, 60 00:03:18,147 --> 00:03:22,707 Speaker 4: in my brain together with some necrotized foss tissue. I'll 61 00:03:22,747 --> 00:03:26,507 Speaker 4: just leave it at that. And so that's involved a 62 00:03:26,507 --> 00:03:29,787 Speaker 4: little bit of work from Plastics and Guyney to get 63 00:03:29,787 --> 00:03:32,187 Speaker 4: me back on the right to health. But thanks to 64 00:03:32,227 --> 00:03:35,307 Speaker 4: the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide and Middlemoor Hospital here 65 00:03:35,307 --> 00:03:38,987 Speaker 4: in New Zealand, I'm now doing very very well and 66 00:03:39,227 --> 00:03:42,747 Speaker 4: just yeah, reveling in the excitement. I suppose that we've 67 00:03:42,787 --> 00:03:45,587 Speaker 4: been able to yet again put New Zealand on the 68 00:03:45,627 --> 00:03:47,947 Speaker 4: world stage as being the first to achieve something that 69 00:03:47,947 --> 00:03:50,347 Speaker 4: nobody else has managed so fast. I'm just over the 70 00:03:50,347 --> 00:03:52,547 Speaker 4: moon with the crew and what they did for. 71 00:03:52,507 --> 00:03:56,187 Speaker 2: Me absolutely magnificent. Well, the battle scars, I suppose you 72 00:03:56,227 --> 00:04:00,107 Speaker 2: could say were worth it. What an achievement, Joanna, What 73 00:04:00,187 --> 00:04:04,307 Speaker 2: was the hardest part? What was the most challenging part 74 00:04:04,347 --> 00:04:04,747 Speaker 2: of all of this? 75 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:09,587 Speaker 4: Because I think anybody who's who's followed me on Instagram 76 00:04:09,827 --> 00:04:12,507 Speaker 4: or taken the look at some of the footage would 77 00:04:12,507 --> 00:04:16,347 Speaker 4: probably say the wildfire's piney because you're so remote. Like 78 00:04:16,427 --> 00:04:18,827 Speaker 4: bear in mind, we can go for a day two 79 00:04:18,947 --> 00:04:21,947 Speaker 4: days without seeing even a roadhouse in the outback. So 80 00:04:22,347 --> 00:04:26,747 Speaker 4: when a wildfire takes hold, the Australian authorities don't do 81 00:04:26,787 --> 00:04:29,107 Speaker 4: anything about it. They can't they haven't got the resources. 82 00:04:29,587 --> 00:04:32,067 Speaker 4: So there was about the first five days where we 83 00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:36,627 Speaker 4: were riding into extremely strong headwinds, and we encountered so 84 00:04:36,747 --> 00:04:39,987 Speaker 4: many wildfires. But at one point, I'm riding along the 85 00:04:40,067 --> 00:04:42,667 Speaker 4: road and with hindsight, I'm sure the crew probably think 86 00:04:42,707 --> 00:04:44,867 Speaker 4: why would we let a ride through it? But the 87 00:04:45,027 --> 00:04:48,467 Speaker 4: flames which were engulfing both sides of the road got 88 00:04:48,507 --> 00:04:51,707 Speaker 4: caught by the winds blowing the sparks and the flames 89 00:04:51,747 --> 00:04:54,267 Speaker 4: across the road. I mean, honestly, I don't know what 90 00:04:54,307 --> 00:04:56,747 Speaker 4: it must have looked like. The film that's been made 91 00:04:56,827 --> 00:04:59,067 Speaker 4: of this adventure is going to be pretty epic, but 92 00:04:59,467 --> 00:05:01,547 Speaker 4: it must have looked like I was evil can Eevil 93 00:05:01,667 --> 00:05:04,627 Speaker 4: rising through these razors flames, and I could feel the 94 00:05:04,667 --> 00:05:08,907 Speaker 4: sparks hitting me and and the bike. So that was 95 00:05:08,947 --> 00:05:14,667 Speaker 4: certainly exciting and challenging. But probably the most challenging part 96 00:05:14,867 --> 00:05:18,907 Speaker 4: is it's hard to describe how remote you are. There's 97 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:22,747 Speaker 4: no communication, there's no self bank coverage, you know, there's 98 00:05:22,827 --> 00:05:26,547 Speaker 4: no you know, everything we have is contained within two 99 00:05:26,627 --> 00:05:29,707 Speaker 4: camper vans. You're in a dry area, there's no water, 100 00:05:30,027 --> 00:05:32,387 Speaker 4: so we had to prepare for the fact we wouldn't 101 00:05:32,387 --> 00:05:34,227 Speaker 4: be able to get fresh water for four or five 102 00:05:34,307 --> 00:05:36,787 Speaker 4: days at a time, and all of the things that 103 00:05:36,827 --> 00:05:39,667 Speaker 4: come with that, when you're trying to stay hygienic as 104 00:05:39,747 --> 00:05:43,027 Speaker 4: a as a sportsperson, you know, you know that hygiene 105 00:05:43,107 --> 00:05:47,347 Speaker 4: is really important. You're relying on water for your nutritional needs. 106 00:05:48,107 --> 00:05:52,347 Speaker 4: So the logistics and the operational requirements around being so remote, 107 00:05:52,987 --> 00:05:56,987 Speaker 4: certainly well for the crew, were probably the most challenging. 108 00:05:56,987 --> 00:05:58,827 Speaker 4: All I was fit in my bum for eleven and 109 00:05:58,827 --> 00:06:00,947 Speaker 4: a half days and turn a few pedals. I don't know. 110 00:06:01,307 --> 00:06:04,187 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think you might be understating the case 111 00:06:04,387 --> 00:06:06,787 Speaker 2: just a little bit. They hit you in but look, 112 00:06:07,027 --> 00:06:09,027 Speaker 2: I know that you know this wasn't a chief by yourself, 113 00:06:09,027 --> 00:06:10,947 Speaker 2: and you've mentioned your team a couple of times. Just 114 00:06:11,227 --> 00:06:18,387 Speaker 2: absolutely outstanding. So what when you realize that you've done it? Yeah, 115 00:06:18,387 --> 00:06:20,027 Speaker 2: I know you had to go into hospital and things 116 00:06:20,067 --> 00:06:23,747 Speaker 2: like that, But was there are euphoria once you actually 117 00:06:23,787 --> 00:06:27,067 Speaker 2: realized and it had sunk in what you'd done. 118 00:06:27,667 --> 00:06:30,987 Speaker 4: Yeah? It was crazy actually. So we came down, We 119 00:06:31,387 --> 00:06:33,747 Speaker 4: sort of almost exited the outback, you could say, once 120 00:06:33,787 --> 00:06:36,667 Speaker 4: we got to sort of Port Augusta, and South Australia 121 00:06:36,747 --> 00:06:39,587 Speaker 4: is very very remote in itself, so you really don't 122 00:06:39,587 --> 00:06:41,747 Speaker 4: start to see anything at all until you get to 123 00:06:41,787 --> 00:06:44,867 Speaker 4: Port Augusta and when we made it there, we knew 124 00:06:44,867 --> 00:06:47,827 Speaker 4: that we'd made the first of three World ultra Cycling 125 00:06:47,867 --> 00:06:51,547 Speaker 4: Association world records. So that was a really euphoric moment. 126 00:06:51,587 --> 00:06:53,147 Speaker 4: And it was at that point that I was like, 127 00:06:53,427 --> 00:06:55,347 Speaker 4: I mean, I never doubted we would do it. To 128 00:06:55,427 --> 00:06:58,467 Speaker 4: be quite honest, I millions of people probably didn't think 129 00:06:58,507 --> 00:07:00,427 Speaker 4: I would do it, but I knew we could do it. 130 00:07:00,747 --> 00:07:03,107 Speaker 4: But when we got to Port Augusta, it felt really 131 00:07:03,147 --> 00:07:05,987 Speaker 4: real and we started to sort of hit a lot more. 132 00:07:07,307 --> 00:07:10,707 Speaker 4: I'm using civilization and adverted commas here because it's certainly 133 00:07:10,787 --> 00:07:14,747 Speaker 4: very small settlements. But then at that point it was like, crikee. 134 00:07:14,787 --> 00:07:18,027 Speaker 4: You know, we're not that far from Adelaide. And I 135 00:07:18,147 --> 00:07:24,107 Speaker 4: knew that I was physically in poor shape, let's say, 136 00:07:24,547 --> 00:07:27,587 Speaker 4: but I really really did believe that we would make 137 00:07:27,627 --> 00:07:29,867 Speaker 4: it to Adelaide, And actually I thought I would make 138 00:07:29,907 --> 00:07:31,987 Speaker 4: it onto Melbourne with a little bit of assistance, but 139 00:07:32,067 --> 00:07:35,347 Speaker 4: sadly that wasn't to be. But yeah, certainly at Paul Augusta, 140 00:07:35,387 --> 00:07:38,107 Speaker 4: that's when we all started to see, oh my goodness, 141 00:07:38,107 --> 00:07:39,667 Speaker 4: look at where we are on the map. You know, 142 00:07:39,787 --> 00:07:42,467 Speaker 4: this is outrageous. We're not that far on the scheme 143 00:07:42,507 --> 00:07:44,587 Speaker 4: of things from Adelaide. We're really going to do this. 144 00:07:44,747 --> 00:07:48,067 Speaker 4: So the ride into Adelaide was just brilliant. We'd sort 145 00:07:48,067 --> 00:07:51,547 Speaker 4: of pass most of what we'd called the road to 146 00:07:51,667 --> 00:07:56,547 Speaker 4: train traffic by that point and yeah, just really enjoyed 147 00:07:56,547 --> 00:07:59,227 Speaker 4: that last trip into Adelaide. It was just fabulous. 148 00:07:59,587 --> 00:08:01,547 Speaker 2: So it's the second half of twenty twenty four going 149 00:08:01,587 --> 00:08:04,907 Speaker 2: to be slightly more relaxing for you, I certainly. 150 00:08:04,667 --> 00:08:08,867 Speaker 4: Hope, so knee a little bit of off the bike. Sadly, 151 00:08:08,947 --> 00:08:11,027 Speaker 4: I have to say that's a bit of a shame 152 00:08:11,027 --> 00:08:13,707 Speaker 4: because I do love being out of my bike. But yeah, 153 00:08:13,747 --> 00:08:15,467 Speaker 4: there'll be a little a few weeks of off the 154 00:08:15,467 --> 00:08:18,187 Speaker 4: bike time whilst things recover, and then I'm looking forward 155 00:08:18,227 --> 00:08:21,907 Speaker 4: to being back home and corimandal Town and getting out 156 00:08:21,947 --> 00:08:24,307 Speaker 4: on my bike with my friends, going for some coffee 157 00:08:24,387 --> 00:08:28,067 Speaker 4: rides and just relaxing. And then we'll see, we'll see 158 00:08:28,067 --> 00:08:30,227 Speaker 4: what the next build up looks like, probably when we 159 00:08:30,267 --> 00:08:32,827 Speaker 4: get a few months down the track, and hopefully if 160 00:08:32,867 --> 00:08:36,587 Speaker 4: we can keep raising some awareness and funds for valcuants 161 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:39,987 Speaker 4: New Zealand during Valcancer Awareness Months, which is this month, 162 00:08:40,467 --> 00:08:42,547 Speaker 4: that would be absolutely fabulous too. 163 00:08:43,267 --> 00:08:48,827 Speaker 2: Absolutely outstanding what you've done, Joanna congratulations on overcoming something 164 00:08:48,867 --> 00:08:52,347 Speaker 2: that most of us will never even be able to comprehend, 165 00:08:52,507 --> 00:08:55,547 Speaker 2: little oone achieve. It's a remarkable thing you've done, and 166 00:08:55,627 --> 00:08:57,707 Speaker 2: as you say, raising funds and awareness for Balcanson New 167 00:08:57,787 --> 00:09:01,707 Speaker 2: Zealand as well. You know, just just huge kudos to you. 168 00:09:01,787 --> 00:09:04,187 Speaker 2: Thanks for sharing the journey with us, and I hope 169 00:09:04,227 --> 00:09:06,347 Speaker 2: there's a more relaxing back half of the year for you. 170 00:09:06,787 --> 00:09:09,747 Speaker 4: Thank you so very much. Pine, I really appreciate your time. 171 00:09:09,827 --> 00:09:12,707 Speaker 2: No, I appreciate yours. Joanna, thanks indeed, and congratulations once 172 00:09:12,747 --> 00:09:16,947 Speaker 2: again Joanna Sharpe, who became recently the first person to 173 00:09:16,947 --> 00:09:20,147 Speaker 2: cycle the length of Australia solo and broke a world 174 00:09:20,187 --> 00:09:23,787 Speaker 2: record in the process. Terrific stuff and wonderful to raise 175 00:09:23,827 --> 00:09:27,787 Speaker 2: awareness and funds for balt Canson New Zealand as well. 176 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:31,027 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 177 00:09:31,147 --> 00:09:34,427 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 178 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:36,067 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.