... Suppose to be the biggest day of the 6, but due to weather 500m of climbing was off the course. Not that the 2500m over 64 or so km wouldn't be enough.
The day started with a bus ride to a town about 50 min out. It was super windy and with early arrival we jammed in to a bar and enjoyed a coffee. My cloths and bag still smell like smoke....
It felt like a big day. The start was quickly spread out as it went right down and out of town and then up a hill. This made for more room which was good. We climbed some really steep gravel and it spread it even more. From there and up the first major climb we rode with the Wales team. They set a pretty good pace. It went up to snow and mud and more mud. The winter rides are paying off. At feed two we stop to grab our bottle and lost track of them after leaving them on the partly icy decent. We assumed they were still behind. After this some more steady (seemed down or flat) climbing, felt very slow. We eventually were rewarded with some great single track in the trees, didn't last too long but enough to make me smile and forget how frozen my feet were.
We got to the end and started a road climb up, learned quickly that the last 5 included one more big climb. Ouch. Got to Finish and see the Wales team, they had snuck by quietly and took third. Second team only a few before them and us a couple minutes back. Should be possible to beat but both teams riding very strong.
Shawn's partner dropped at feed 1 so a quick ride with Shawn as he rode up and out of the little town, didnt see him until the finish. Cindy and Erik had lots of photos and still smiling.
Quick bus ride back to hotel. Two more stages, both in Jaen.
Happy Riding!
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