121 km, 2444 meters of climbing.
Magic Places (our guide) sponsored a team of two very competitive riders who are expected to podium. Flor is a German semi-pro and pictured on the right. His girlfriend showed up at the start line in her Defender to "wish Flor luck". That's how the pros roll in Europe. Sara, please note.
TNA/Shape teams in the pre-race staging area.
GM and I doing our version of looking pro. Matching custom glasses, matching gloves (not wearing mine yet in this photo), matching socks, matching bikes and, of course, matching kits.
Beautiful day of riding. Unfortunately the damaged ribs did not share this opinion. After a full gas, 350 meter climb out of the start town up the Oberjoch, wheels (figuratively) came off. Restricted breathing and low power output. Hahtennjoch was last climb of the day and a total beast. Back/breathing muscles locked up twice and I had to get off bike both times - a first. Bit of an eventful descent. Made the Germans very excited when I went into a corner hot, locked up both wheels, fishtailed several times, pulled the right foot out of the pedal to counter balance and stared down a Volkswagen in the oncoming lane. Rode out of it, but not very pro.
Graeme was an awesome partner. Very patient. Haas and Wilf rode like rockstars. Yet to see today's results, but those guys were very fast.
Time to prepare for tomorrow.
Um, please note that you want me to get a barbed wire tatoo around my bicep? No thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think all wives and girlfriends are morally, and should be contractually obligated to receive whatever tattoo or body modification that their partners' deem appropriate.
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