We touched down in New Zealand on Wednesday, just ahead of race day, and stayed at the airport for the night. Thursday, I made my way to Taupo, though not without a hiccup—our rental car had coolant issues, delaying things a bit. Finally, by Friday, I arrived in Taupo, ready for the big race, but not without a bit of drama! On Friday, I did a quick reconnaissance ride and had a heart-stopping moment. Coasting down a hill, a sudden crosswind caused me to experience terrifying speed wobbles at 80 km/h, according to my Garmin. Somehow, I managed to regain control, but it left me shaken. From that moment, I…