Camped last night in the river bed. Had a decent night’s sleep eventually although it was really hot at first – didn’t bother with the tent cover. Temperature was a lot more pleasant this morning but I had no need for a jacket!
We headed out for a day I had been looking forward to. It was tough straight away – corrugated with sharp rocks sticking out of the ground. I had my fat tyres on with fairly low air pressure which does help – but I was still getting bounced around all over the place. My wrists are also killing me. It’s hard work!!
Paul, Scott and myself went together although Scott had a few problems before we left as well as an overnight flat. I was expecting him to be fairly slow as he didn’t feel so great – but no he was fine and ready to go. We finally caught up with Steve who then sped up which was great as we followed him for about 20 km. Then he had a flat so we said good bye and Scott took up the front. I knew I wasn’t feeling great as I wasn’t happy with the pace – it wasn’t that it was really too fast but I just felt slightly uncomfortable with it.
When I got out front I felt pretty good though – often think on this off road stuff it is easier just to ride alone. But that’s not really possible any more as Paul now marks me constantly. He mainly sat at the back – I was out front some of the time but to be honest wherever you were it was hard work. The last 20 km into lunch we actually got some speed going – about 30kmph – and made it to lunch in about 2 hours – so a pretty good time.
We left lunch together and waited a while for Paul to pump up a flat. We rode with Kim for a while – he is a very strong rider so it was good to have him lead (as he had done for us a few days ago also). We knew that Jorg and Adam were out front but I wasn’t too bothered as they had left about half an hour before us. To catch up with them we would have to ride at least 2kmph faster for the whole day . We thought we were now only about 20 minutes behind them from what we had learnt at lunch but we didn’t really know and neither did they!! There was a strong headwind in the afternoon which hurts even more if you are out on your own – at least we were a group of 3 or 4 and so got a little bit of shelter. We lost Kim for a while on the next climb and Paul also stopped to sort out his tyre we think. Kim caught us up and Paul was a little further behind – in hindsight we should have maybe pressed a little harder then but at the time didn’t really seem worth it as Paul already was going to have to chase us down. Anyway we carried on at a decent speed. There was a road off to the side which the locals use to walk along – so we decided to nip over to it and see how it felt. Definitely a lot smoother and a lot better for the next climb. But on the descent it kind of zig zagged away from the road we were supposed to be on so we did a little extra. Then it went through a dry river bed where I got stuck so eventually made our way back on to the main road. Scott did this first and went whizzing by – he had about 200m on me – in all this mess Paul of course also turned up again. Overall a bad option – we should have stayed on the main road even though it was more uncomfortable!!
It took me ages to get back to Scott and Paul was content to follow me the whole way. So I was pretty tired when I eventually did – and I think Paul was fully aware of this. I was feeling drained and it was demoralizing that Paul seemed to have caught us up so easily after his stop – he is so strong! I had really thought that today I was going to be stronger – but it wasn’t turning out to be so. Anyway we were back riding the three of us with a fierce headwind getting gradually worse. From about 73 – 80 km we climbed and about half way up Paul comes next to me and I hear the gears go “click, click” and he is off. I try to do the same but no way I just couldn’t go that fast. My legs just aren’t doing it today – I am trying and trying but just don’t seem to have the energy. Scott fell a little behind which was a shame as it would have been good to stay together. I chased Paul for about 2 – 3 km but then gave up as he just kept inching away. I was hoping for the gravel descent they had described from the top of the hill as I know I am faster than him then – so I still thought I would be able to catch him and have a shot at the mando bonus!! So for the last part of the climb I am in my smallest gear but just can’t seem to get any traction – every time I stood up the the wheel just kept spinning under me. Eventually we were on the down with a very annoying headwind right in my face! I was still hoping to catch Paul on the way down! It was a very rough descent so you really needed to be standing on your pedals – which meant there was not as much chance to go faster = pretty much everyone would be going the same speed down it. I was not braking at all but it was a fairly easy down in that sense so I was sure Paul wouldn’t be needing to brake either. But I was chasing like mad, head down, pushing as hard as possible.!! The descent lasted about 5 km but it wasn’t all down – never really enough to get a decent speed going and the headwind also served to slow us down.
At about 85 km we bumped back onto pavement. I was so disappointed as I thought I had now lost any chance of catching him.. Just at this point there was a gravel road off to the right – the directions said there would be a T junction between 85 and 90 km with a right hand turn. Well no T junction so I kept on going – but I wasn’t too sure. I carried on along the road to another intersection but no flagging tape – through a fairly busy village – with me still not really knowing where I am going. So I carry on pedaling as hard as I can – slightly downhill but still with that very strong headwind so not really gaining any ground and just hoping I am going the right way. It was definitely different to the directions we had but I kept pedaling and looking for that right hand turn. Finally at about 89/90 km I saw a sign for a T-junction so I thought “Brilliant – I’m going the right way!” So I was looking out for the flagging tape and instead I see the Finish Flag!! OK – that is the end of the day!! I was kind of hoping for another 10 km of road to try and catch the group ahead – but that was the end of it. 91 km instead of the 98 I had been expecting. But its done now!
We are staying in the hotel grounds tonight so I got myself a room and then went straight to the restaurant to get some sodas and food. I was feeling really tired – maybe my sprint yesterday to win the day by two minutes wasn’t really necessary. When I got in Paul said “Oh I just wanted my two minutes back” – and I thought “Yes and I want my 15 minutes back from the other day when I let you leave lunch early thinking there was going to be gravel to catch you on and there wasn’t!!” So – it’s a bummer – especially as he got more than his 2 minutes with the mando bonus of course!!
So I am a bit upset and a bit annoyed at myself. I maybe need to learn to follow a bit more and not do as much work at the front. This section is not lost yet!! It would be really nice to at least win a section as its proving to be very difficult to even think about winning the whole thing. But a section would be good! At the moment Paul has won two sections and is in the lead for the third. He is very hard to beat!!
I changed my tyres – we are staying in a rather odd place – the hotel is nice with good rooms but there is not much else here and no internet. The town is back about 5 km up the road. I am able to rest in my room and hopefully will get a good night’s sleep ready for tomorrow when we are back on pavement. Hopefully we can ride as a group tomorrow. Strange how I felt so good yesterday but not today!! Maybe I did too much yesterday – but anyway that’s what its all about – a bike race!!
Got my laundry done which is just as well as I am a pair of bike shorts down (now have 5 pairs). I am thinking about some of the unnecessary stuff I brought with me and what I would like to have more of!! More shorts would be nice on these long stretches (of 7 or 8 days riding) – but there shouldn’t be too many of these ahead – more usual to have about 5 days at a time. And if not as long as there is somewhere to wash stuff then it is OK!
Spaghetti Bolognese tonight – I saw them cooking it – which is really great – I am hungry!! Also going into town to buy some snacks!! Bye.
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