Driving towards the start line at 6am, the rain poured down on the early arrivers, most without lights in the dark morning in Lantsch/Lenz. I decided to stay in the car until 10 mins to go, and it was worth it. The rains stopped, and didn't fall again until a breif shower before St Moritz. The roads were of course wet, but on the way up the Albulapass this wasn't a hindrance.
Once in the Engadin valley, I worked with a group of four to catch another group, which stayed together all the way to Italy and Chiavenna. Two guys were doing a lot of work, and annoyed with the rest of us, however when we tried to ride through the pace dropped as we just weren't as fast as these two.
I still don't know if the descent of the Maloja pass was neutralised, I just know I was clinging on the back of this group all the way down, and it went down and down forever.
Finally, once on the Splugen at a point with a reasonable incline I could stop to remove the hat, gloves and rain jacket for the 30km climb to the pass.
The descent was fun, joined by two other riders to Thusis, then face the dark tunnels on the way to Tiefencastel. Why racing cyclists don't use bike lights is still a mystery, these tunnels were dark and we had been warned.
The climb back up to the finish in Lenz was steep, tough and the final battle of the day.
Great event, great scenery even in this weather.
(Photos taken a few days later ;)
7hr 36m 48s, 69th out of 298 finishers.
Once in the Engadin valley, I worked with a group of four to catch another group, which stayed together all the way to Italy and Chiavenna. Two guys were doing a lot of work, and annoyed with the rest of us, however when we tried to ride through the pace dropped as we just weren't as fast as these two.
I still don't know if the descent of the Maloja pass was neutralised, I just know I was clinging on the back of this group all the way down, and it went down and down forever.
Finally, once on the Splugen at a point with a reasonable incline I could stop to remove the hat, gloves and rain jacket for the 30km climb to the pass.
The descent was fun, joined by two other riders to Thusis, then face the dark tunnels on the way to Tiefencastel. Why racing cyclists don't use bike lights is still a mystery, these tunnels were dark and we had been warned.
The climb back up to the finish in Lenz was steep, tough and the final battle of the day.
Great event, great scenery even in this weather.
(Photos taken a few days later ;)
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| Viamala |
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| Lower down Albula, at the first real kick |
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| Bergün |
7hr 36m 48s, 69th out of 298 finishers.
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