If you stop at traffic lights the average goes way down so 29.2 is nice with traffic lights
Hills should not slow you down as long as they are short hills ... I go up most short hills of about 6-8% around here at about 15-19 mph and then on the descent you can easily make up by going faster and recuperating the lost anaerobic power from going heavy in the climb.
It is a fact that timetrailers will go full on on the more difficult bits of the course and try to gain some breath on the easier parts.

To be honest the way from here to Geraardsbergen does go slightly down ... more down than up anyway.
I must have had a tailwind that day but on a bike, with the wind basicly always around your head, it is difficult to judge the direction and especially the strength of the wind.

I doubt we wil ever ride together as you live on about exactly the opposite side of the world than I do but if I ever would go to australia I'll let you know.
I don't see much point in racing or competing anyway ... I just like to give myself a challenge