Sorry it has been ages since I updated the blog. I left you last time 2 days into the Transalp. The remainder of the race was really good. Matty and I continued to achieve consistent performances to place in the 50’s on most days. The tough days in the middle of the race were made bearable by the spectacular scenery and the well catered feed zones. The only technical problem we had was a broken chain on stage 5 which cost us less than a minute, other than that not even a flat tire. The last day was fairly easy but had a very long technical downhill section that a lot of riders walked. On that day we had our best result of 41st despite Matty ragging it in the last corner in front of a big crowd. We finished the tour in 53rd overall. Not too bad i reckon.
My friends Rob, Julie and Meg (Matty´s girlfriend) were there to meet us at the finish in Riva del Garda, Italy. We spent a few well earn days relaxing at a little place near by called Lago de Ledro. It is a beautifully secluded turquoise lake surrounded by mountains. Rob and Jules spoilt us with food and as usual and I probably drank a few too many “Aperol con spritz” (my new favourite summer drink). Rosie and I still trained every day and one day managed a really cool ride up and old roman road that weaved its way along a very steep ridge. We also did a bit of cross training one day when the 6 of us hired a pedal powered boat to explore the lake. Does it still count as training if I just sat on the front of the boat drinking proseco while Meg and Julie pedalled?
From Italy, we smashed the autostrade west back to France, picking up our buddy AJ on the way. Our destination was the famous ski village of Alpe d’Huez, where Cadel lost the tour to Sastre one week ago. We have been here a few days now and have had a lot of fun riding all the trails. Both Alpe d´Huez and neighbouring Les Deux Alpes have heaps of trails dedicated for mountain biking in summer. Today was an easy day so me bought a lift pass and went up the the highest point of the resort, Pic Blanc, at 3330m. From there we rode the entire course of the Megavalanche (famous downhill mtb race) all the way to the valley floor. The XC bikes were not the best choose of machine for this course, but it was fun to get an idea of what this race is about. We had particular trouble with the snow sections finding it almost impossible to stay upright. There was also a section across a glacier, which was surprisingly heaps easier than the snow. I must say that i never thought i would ride on a glacier, i felt like i should be roping up!
Matty and I before the start of the Transalp.
One of the biker camps, we were on centre court.
Relaxing on the pedalo on Lago de Ledro
The top of the Megavalanche, Pic Blanc (Alpe d´Huez)
Me riding the glacier
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