Day 5: Falcade to Crespano Del Grappa

129km. 3094m.

Big day. Great day.

Today's entry starts with last night. Ritual every evening at dinner, initiated by Method man - "rose and thorn". We go around the table with the highlight and lowlight from the day.

Last night's roses and thorns.

Method Man: pushing his partner uphill (rose), getting out-sprinted at the finish by his partner (thorn)

POW: getting pushed uphil by his partner (rose), getting pushed uphill by his partner (thorn)

Partner: best day ever on a road bike (rose), getting yelled at by cranky partner (thorn)

Me: moving up in the ranks and crushing teams (rose), getting cranky at partner (thorn)

Notice white speaker in the foreground. Next to the bike, best thing I brought on the trip. Not doing much for Canada's reputation abroad when we wake our non-cycling fellow hotel guests at 6:30am to Deadmau5.

Team TNA 2 going over final race plan.

Very hard stage today and we absolutely crushed it. Getting stronger each day. Left the Dolomites. Started on a 12km climb right off the line. Per usual, group surged and we held our effort steady. Again per usual, reeled in all the "clowns" on the descent.

I've been able to dupe partner in to actually racing this thing. No more stopping at aid stations. Hammer down.

With 75km and 1700m on the legs we hit the monumental Monte Grappa. 30km and 2hrs of climbing. As I told partner, only 1/2 a Haleakala. Saw this guy 5km into the climb. He parks his van on the final climb of each day and thumps Euro rock while playing an air guitar.

Top of Grappa was followed by the hairiest descent yet. 500m in saw a rider pulling himself and bike off the road. 500m later I lead into a negative radius corner way too hot. One foot out of right pedal, I was able to ride out on the gravel shoulder, inches from the guardrail. Fellow Canadian behind me not so lucky and ate the rail (he rode away). Fortunately partner saw it play out and was able to come through clean, though he did almost ride over the crash victim.

Dialed it back but still caught a group we finished with. Drilled it on a 7km false flat to the line, owning the nickname coined by some surrounding riders - the Canadian Express.

Fewest number of finishers in before us yet. Partner looking tip top.

Not so much for the rest of the gang.

Love traveling with a pro. He's always the first one at the hotel checkin desk post race.

Now that we're racing, tan management has gone to crap. Not 1, but 3 arm tan lines.

Partner riding like a champ and today's proclamation is that he's getting the most out of his body. Method man giving partner a rub down to ensure he (partner) gets just as much out of it tomorrow.