TransAlps 2015: Day 7 Trento to Arco

Day 7. Trento, Italy to Arco, Italy.

91km. 2,300m of climbing.

3hr6min. 8th in Masters on the day. 8th in Masters GC for the event. 28th overall in the entire field.

It’s hova. Done and dusted. Finito. Finished. 

The two hardest days of these events are Day 1 and Day 7. On the last day, teams are fighting for position, prepared to empty what is left in the tank. We were one of those teams. Excited to get to Arco but wary of what was still to come. Riders take more risks on the last day. The worst crashes I've seen at TransAlps have been on Day 7. Serious at the start line.  

We started the day in 8th place in Masters. The Fins in 7th were 9minutes ahead. We weren’t going to catch them. The Czech’s were in 9th and 90seconds behind us, so our position was at risk. Czech's lined up marking us at the start and it was clear they wanted our spot based on how they road.

Very hard start for me. Went straight uphill full gas. At this stage in an event, it takes my body about 30min of effort to get warm. Big effort cold does not feel good. At the 14km mark the course flattened out. We stuck with our group and it was a good thing as the pack was moving very quickly. Big climb was a 1000m of gain over 25km with a flat spot midway.

Ended up and over the big climb with all the usual suspects. Short descent and then a final 3km up before 8km down to the finish. Pulled out our old trick and accelerated away from the Czeck’s on the last climb. Caught the Italian twins and descended safely. Passed a rider who crashed out 2km from the finish.

Great finish in Acro on Lake Riva. Lots of celebration. 

Fast bike pack and then a drive to Verona for a nice dinner and flight home the following day.

Not much time to reflect yet, but very happy with the result. Accomplished the objective, despite early hurdles.

A couple turning points that defined the event for me.

1. Day 3 flat at the start of the stage. Watched the entire field ride past as we fixed the wheel. After poor Day 1 and Day 2, thought about parking the competitive ambitions while standing on the side of the road. Instead, motored through the field, eventually passing a bunch of teams ahead of us in the standings. Attacked on the last climb to win the Nations Champ jersey. Big jump in the standings.

2. Day 5. First climb was tough and I wasn’t feeling great early. Was dangling way off the back 2km from the top of a big descent. Missing the group would have meant losing chance at a top 10 spot. Went deep to catch back on right at the very top. Ended up finishing strong that day and put time into the groups we almost missed at the start.

Few shout outs. 

Great partner. Never easy to spend 10days 1-1 with anyone, particularly when 7 of those days are under great physical stress. Still friends. If Wilbur had a partner of equal age and strength, he'd be on the Grand Masters podium - probably on top.  

Le Domestique Kenny. Good to have friend who’s a great bike man.  

Foxy at Bici for loaning the Gopro camera. Awesome guy. Fantastic store.

Joerg, Matt and the entire Magic Places team. Excellent logistics let Wilbur and I focus on the riding. 

Short TransAlps video here with better visuals of what we rode.

Until next time.

TransAlps 2015: Day 6 Kaltern to Trento

Day 6. Kaltern, Italy to Trento, Italy.

126km. 2,300m of climbing.

3hr47min. 7th in Masters on the day. 8th in Masters GC.

Been here before. Love Trento. Great Italian town. Excellent part of these events is experiencing places you would never visit otherwise. All time favourite Trento memory is Ribs rocking the air guitar and drums at the start line in the Trento main piazza before day 7 in 2012.

Our day started in Kaltern. We chose to start closer to the front of the pack due to the profile of the beginning of today's stage.

7km downhill neutral and then 26km hammer along a relatively flat valley. Lots of riders trying to be heroes early. Had to ride defensively. Treacherous roundabout to navigate 500m before the day's first climb. I went inside. Wilbur went outside. Big crash in front of Wilbur (he stayed up) but Wilf was caught out at a bad time. About 3minutes into the subsequent climb I realized Wilfred was nowhere to be found. Sat up and started looking around as teams passed me. Shortly spotted Wilf working his way through the field. We reunited and then started making up lost time. 

Next two punchy climbs broke up the field of strong A-riders, but it kept coming back together into a large pack. Thought that would happen again on a climb at the 77km mark as it was followed by a 30km downhill, then flat, section. We crested at the front of our group and had dropped a lot of teams. Surprisingly, the pack never came back together.

Final 3km climb before 6km descent into the finish. We were with all the groups who are within a few spots in or out of top 10 Masters overall. Wilf and I both felt good and turned it up. Dropped the group, passed a couple riders up the road, and bridged on to the wheels of my Italian twin friends. Surprisingly, Tweedledee and Tweedledum were not too friendly upon our arrival and there was little teamwork as we worked to the finish to stay ahead from the chasing teams.

Hot now that we are out of the Alps. Over 30degrees. My tan management has gone by the wayside the racier this event has become. Former National Champ turned DJ showed me how to strip off a jersey and ride shirtless. Handy trick.

Met our Magic Places friends at the finish and were escorted through the cobbled lanes of Trento to our hotel.

Last day tomorrow. Big day. Can't really move up in placing as 7th has 9minutes on us. Can always go backwards. After Day 1, Day 7 is typically the hardest effort of the event. Also need to be aware of other teams taking risks. Plan as per usual is to ride smart, keeping heads up and rubber down.

TransAlps 2015: Day 5 Aprica to Kaltern

Day 5. Aprica, Italy to Kaltern, Italy.

138km. 2,400m of climbing.

4hr07min. 6th in Masters on the day. 10th in Masters GC.

Another great day in the saddle with very little drama. Well, maybe a bit of drama.

We've figured out who we're chasing to get into the top 10 and who we need to be staying with to move up spots. Makes the stages quite interesting and a little "racey".

Stage started with 17km downhill neutral. Road turned up for a 1000m, 28km climb. Again, crazy hard at the start. My hardest part of the day as body not yet warm and legs felt like lead. Was fighting it to hang onto our group. Top of climb was followed by downhill, rolling 50km, so if we lost our group on the first climb, we would have gone backwards today. 5km from the top, I let a gap of about 200m form. Told Wilbur I felt bad. Fortunately 2km from the top, body came around and managed to drill it to catch back on and descend with the fast group.

Group was quite large but thinned out as there were some small climbs that popped riders before the day's final climb. 22km, but only 800m, so not very steep. Both Wilbur and I were feeling good as this point. 

Here's where the drama started.

Italian twin brothers from Livigno were in our pack today. They got lots of attention yesterday as we started in their hometown. The were with us on the final climb. At some point, one twin shot up the inside to get on his brother's wheel. Big bump as he went past me. Dangerous and unnecessary. I may have told him to f-off but revenge is sweeter. Wilbur then hammered at the front and when we crested the climb, the twins and the rest of the group were gone.

We knew at least two groups ahead of us int he GC were in the group just dropped so we descended hard. A bit too hard. I did a Tokyo drift around a hairpin and at that point Wilbur suggested we dial it back a bit. Put 30sec on the chasing group.

Gave one of the twins the stank eye at the finish line.

Timing ended about 6km from the finish town so was able to take some photos as we rolled to the ceremonial finish.

"Nice(r) bikes", aka the mixed leaders whom we've tagged as one of the teams we need to be with.

Wilbur's buddy from day one (no helmet). What happens on the road, stays on the road. Have now made friends with him - kind of.



Total routine day-day here. Finish line. Eat finishers' food. Find hotel. Checkin. Put kit it sink to wash. Massage. Lunch, hopefully wheel and beer. No wheel close to hotel today.

Referenced clown Canadian Express friend #1, Ribs, from our 2012 and 2014 tours. I'd be remiss not to give clown friend #2 a shout out as well. He tells us he was the only guy in Vancouver "working" on Canada day. Sure.



End in sight tomorrow.

TransAlps 2015: Day 4 Livigno to Aprica

Day 4. Livigno, Italy to Aprica, Italy.

143km. 3,475m of climbing.

5hr15min. 7th in Masters on the day. 12th in Masters GC.

Queens stage today, meaning hardest day of the event. Tackled one of the most famous climbs in Italy that often figures in the Giro d'Italia - Gavia. 25km and 1,500m of ascent. Followed that up with the Mortirolo, another climb that has been included in the Giro. We climbed the "less" steep route up, but it still was plenty steep gaining around 1000M in 12km.

Canada Day. We got to wear our Nations Champions jersey and were called up to start at the front of the field with the other overall leaders in each category. That was the high point.

Low point. My partner swore at me. We don't save the expletives just for the (other) clown riders, we also dish on each other. Frankly, surprised it took four days.

Back story. Last Thursday, prior to departing for Europe, Wilbur, Method Man (our 2012/2014 Canadian Express teammate) and I met for a quick chinwag. 

Method Man from our 2012 tour for those who are new to the blog.

Method Man (aka "Ribs") has ridden more events with Wilbur than I have. I asked Ribs - "what do I need to know about riding with Wilbur?" One answer was, "Wilbur likes to ride in front of his partner". Problem is, so do I.

Came to a head today 2/3 of the way up the Gavia. I believe the direct quote was "Get the f*ck behind me!" Well I did, and pretty much stayed there for the balance of the day.

Given today's ride was quite a cracker, no photos from on course. Day started with almost immediate 20min climb. Gangbusters as usual and we rode hard to stay with a fast group. Quick down and short up meant more of the same.

Long descent to Bormio (famous Italian ski town) and then on to the Gavia. We rode well (partner dynamics aside) and crested with a good group. Had a 40km descent and flatish roll to the base of the Mortirolo. Hung onto the group during the nervous descent as the quality of pavement really deteriorates once crossing over into Italy. Group of 9 then pace-lined to the base of the Mortirolo. We were out of liquid so stopped for a feed which meant we rode the Mortirolo and subsequent 30km finish into Aprica on our own. Probably a good thing as the road was narrow and choppy. Day's result was our best of the event.

Shout out to wifey. Not sure how long she'll let me keep this photo up, but she and sister (also pictured in photo) are in France on a family trip. Very fortunate to have wife that is encouraging of all the riding and other activities I get to do. She hid an awesome note in my bag that I found a couple days after arriving in Germany. Great surprise. She's a good one.

 

Easier day tomorrow, but to hold or improve our position we will have to ride hard.