Engadin Radmarathon

Still the best single day sportive of them all, its a serious challenge but not a mental amount of climbing. Best parts are of course the Swiss National park, tunnel to Livigno, racing through Livigno valley to Forcola pass then the Berninan pass, the long fast peloton stretch to Zernez then the massive Fluella followed by the sweeping descent to Davos and eventually Filisur before the climb through the landscape of the Unesco world heritage Albula pass. So thats pretty much all of it.

I had a tough day, internal organs aching all day and I was really going backwards on the Fluella. I had thoughts of turning around, and just stopping there in Zernez for the short loop. But its only 10 o'clock, thats not even time to start a ride, this hasn't even begun! I did recover more after the descent to Davos, but we had to ascend into a thunderstorm and complete the ride in very sodden conditions.
Felt jelous of the guys who took another 40 mins or so, they got to finish in dry roads, warm sunshine and smiles on their faces!

I'm sure I'll  be back for this one.

Slowest time so far, 8:01:40.

Engadin Bike Giro

 Steep from the lake, and make no mistake the startline is already at 1800m so altitude plays its part in this steep ascent up to Marguns. Tough climb, combined with the amazing flowtrails make this a great start to the giro. 

 This is by far the best stage, very interesting single trails, open mountain, man made flowtrails with asphalt only for the refreshments! Thats how it should be. Just before lac de staz ectoplasm oozed from my rear suspension unit, so from herone theres no damping, but still air compression in my shock at least.

A day for the 29ers I feel. I doubt I will ever upgrade, or join those with tubeless tyres so I don't flail around with replacement tubes. I did hear some astonished voices proclaiming the 26er, and saw some sad faces when I was reduced to replacing my flattened front tyre. For now, I'd be happy to have a suspension unit that just goes rigid when it fails, instead of hitting hard.
The stage was demanding for sure, and varied considerably from the previous stages despite the proximity of the three stages. The only warning from the prerace briefing was about the final 5km down to Silvaplana, and well, yes, that needed a warning. But first came a shock of a final push up a rocky path, to join a rocky traverse before a death drop down to the finish line. Well, it wasn't so bad, but I among others took many steps down this final section to complete a well earned Engadin Giro finishers t shirt.

Aletsch Halbmarathon

My fault, should have taken the first train of the day, as we arrived in Bettmerhorn delayed as the gondola from Betten was having a lot of trouble taking all the runners up to the start in time.
That meant I started absolutely last, even after the walkers!
Impossible course at the best of times to pass people, virtually all the route is narrow path and I was walking along held up in some sections, yet still only 7 mins slower than last year.
Well, when the scenery is this good, I will stop complaining now, and just admire the view. It is stunning up here.
2hr 36m 35s

Umbrail / Stelvio Giro 2017

Berner Rundfahrt Seeland Classic

 An early fixture on the list of races in Switzerland, and this is one race which I have learned has a lot of respect among Swiss riders as a classic event, and this was my chance to give it my best shot.
The Berner Rundfahrt is a race for pros, the day before the amateurs take part on the same course for the Seeland Classic. You can do 1, 2 or 3 laps of the circuit, and it is a circuit with a significant climb to tear apart the peloton and sort out the neo-pros from the weekend warriors.
Beyond the main climb, which starts off very mild, the rest of the course is undulating to say the least.

On the fastest part of the main descent of the second lap the wheel of the ride in front of me collapsed as we took a sharp right hander, he hit the deck and span in front of me, sliding down the hill, I felt for sure I would have to either jump him or crash, but as he slid so fast I had time to slow using normal braking protocols and avoid the wrecktangle before me. After that I had a very tough time to get back to the group, probably this shouldn't be possible with so many riders. I was with one other rider, who helped a while but eventually succumbed to the pace necessary to get back on.

Its fast, and looking back now it could be the best shape I was in this year, before the usual over training etc.

2:46:48,1 101km 36.6kph