The Cima Coppi - Day 4

Today's inspiration is Luca Poalini - my favourite non British/Belgian cyclist who we saw on the Stelvio taking advantage of the closed roads, although he was going a little faster than us...

Anyway, after the last 2 days of 100km+ and >3,000m of climbing, today was a much more reasonable ride up the Passo dello Stelvio, which at 2,757m, is the second highest pass in the Alps.  It's 21.6km long at 7.5% but with a few ramps of 14% - as the Belgians would say, ai ai ai ai.

After yesterday's pain, I thought I'd take it a little easier and aim for a time of under 2 hours which seemed par talking to the guys that had done the ride last year. The start was fairly impressive with 1,500 Belgians plus me lined up in Bormio - Belgian TV was there to witness the event and it really was a fantastic atmosphere.

As I was an honourable member of the Luminus Team, I was allowed at the front and set off at a steady pace. Soon after, Ruud (Gert Steegmans lookalike) from yesterday overtook me and I stayed with him for at least 50 meters. I then used Team ING as my pacemakers and it turned out that Bart who I ended up doing about 5km with used to work for Johan from Day 2.

Bart too had gone too hard yesterday and I kicked on thinking I only had about 7km to go but I was soon brought back to reality by a sign saying 10km to go, immediately followed by the 14% section. This led to lots of Belgians overtaking me until I got it back together with 5km to go and with the help of Argos Shimano man, made up most of the places I lost. As we neared the top there were a load of cheering fans, cowbells and a PA system with a very excited commentator - this inspired me to sprint to the line and I completed the climb in 1 hour 55 minutes which I was most happy with.

Rob Merrington was right about the top of the Stelvio not being the prettiest place (not his exact words) but there was a brilliant atmosphere especially hearing the stories of all the people I'd ridden with over the last few days. 

First up was Frank who'd ridden despite suffering from a sickness bug.

Next up was Ludwig, the sole French representative and the owner of a splendid beard.

Then Argos Shimano man who wrongly thought that the snow might hide the fact that he was wearing white bib shorts.

600km a day Jan obviously got to the top well before me.

Then when the rest of the Luminus Marketing crew reached the top we had the obligatory team photo.

Then after a good hour or so at the top Jeroen, his wife and I started the decent with a few pre agreed stops for yet more photo opportunities.

We then made it safely back to Bormio for yet more pasta/beer in the riders' village.

In the village, I was further buoyed by seeing the results of yesterday's timed ride up the Gavia - 117th out of 794 which, being ever so slightly competitive, I was v happy with.

The shorter ride certainly made for a more enjoyable afternoon and alongside getting Bluebell and the girls some presents, I wandered around Bormio which is a really cool mix of medieval italiante and alpine architecture.

Tomorrow, home, sweet home. So that's it, till the next time...

Elation and pain - Day 3

Today's inspiration is Andy Hampsted who effectively won the 1988 Giro on the Gavia in a snowstorm. There wasn't any snowfall today but is was still hard, very hard.

Only 2 categorised climbs today but it was another 110km with 3,200m of climbing.

Passo Gavia 2,652m, 25km @ 5.5% but with sections of 16%
Passo Mortirolo 1,852m, 11km @ 9.5%

To make sure I got an early start I was one of the first few people down for breakfast and I sat down with Jan, a customer of Luminus who won the trip by switching from Electrobel. We agreed to set off together even if he looked a little semi pro.

It soon transpired that Jan was an extreme long distance cyclist and his record in one day is 600km. Stupidly I kept up with him for the first 15k of the Gavia even if at times he was doing a Barjne Riis in the big ring, I then came to my senses.

Still, I was only overtaken by a few more semi pro looking Belgians and the 3k to go sign inspired me to also go 'Sur la plaque' for a couple of kms. I finished the climb in just under 2 hours, apparently only 5 minutes behind Jan. The mountain was beautiful and I was properly elated at the top. Cue lots of photos...

Jan and I at the top

The proper sign

Gert and I at the top

Whilst the way up was stunning, the decent was even better. As I was descending in my usual sedate style it was easy to stop for some more photos...

After the decent, we had about 15km along a valley and I tagged along with Ruud who was doing a good impression of Gert Steegmans, the 6' 2" lead out man for Cav and setting a pace of about 35kph. I did a couple of turns of about 1km and he left me for dead on the aptly named Mortirolo.

Even drinking the world's biggest energy drink didn't help me for the first half of the climb...

But, after a whole world of pain on the first half, I perked up for the rest of the climb actually realing in some of the shaven legged Belgians who shot past me earlier on the climb.

And then at the top I heard some Engligh voices for the first time on the trip and it turned out there were a group from Brighton and Matt lived in the next road to me.

The Westbourne crew

To make the decent more challenging, there was a timed race for vintage cars...

But after about half way down I finally got used to the alpine descents and actually kept up with a group of yet more shaven legged Belgians.

It was all looking good then I finally cracked with 15km to go and the next 10 kms including 3km @ 10% were the longest 10kms of my life. Still, one Go Gel later and Bormio in sight, I finished on a high.

When I got back to the hotel I saw Jan and he'd done another 1,000m climb after the official finish to make the most of the day. Hats off or 'petje af' in Dutch.

I then laid down for a very very long time.

Tomorrow, the Cima Coppi - Passo del Stelvio...

Le Blaireau - Day 2

Whilst Bernard Hinault - the Badger - said 'as long as I breath I attack' today was a case of attacking on the climbs to make time up on the crazy descending Belgians...

Badger Man

After yesterday's thunderstorm, I awoke to beautiful sunshine - here's the view from the room

Today was the first proper day of riding: 110km with four categorised climbs:

Passo del Foscagno 2,291m

Passo Eira 2.208m

Passo dal Fuorn 2,149m

Passo Umbrail 2,509m

The Passo del Foscagno looked easy enough at 15.4km @ 6.1% but as it was 28 degrees the last 5kms were tough, but as with all climbs, the views at the top were worth it. Thanks to Mauritzio and Alexandra, two touring Sicilians for the photo at the top. 

Then, I met some new friends at the top, Johan and what sounded like Ivan. They worked for ING one of the sponsors of the event and were the the aforementioned mad decenders on the 15km decent into Livigno. I managed to catch them up when they stopped at a crossroads with no apparent signs. 

Ivan's descending was better than his map reading

Anyway, after putting in a 5km turn on the front it turned out that Ivan was feeling the pace which was handy as I certainly was. Still, the views of Lago di Livigno were superb and we were soon in Switzerland with an instant improvement in driver behaviour.

Next up was the Passo dal Fuorn which was not particularly hard but we soon got put in our places by the climbers of Italian pro team Area Zero D'Amico, still, we beat their sprinters to the top and then had a quick chat and the obligatory photo.

After a huge bowl of pasta at the restaurant at the sumit, there was more crazy descending to the foot of the main event of the day, the Passo Umbrail, 13.2km @ 8.5@ topping out at 2,503m. Johan and I showed some bad form dropping 'Ivan' after about 3km, then after some good Belgium cycling chat I managed to get away from Johan on an unpaved 500m section. After a few sections of >10% and what felt like 1,000 switchbacks I finally reached the top just before yet another Belgian, Christophe. Cue lots of pictures, including the view down the Stelvio which was our route back to Bormio.

Oh, and by clockwork, the thunderstorms started at 4pm which made the decent rather tricky.

Still, I made it in one piece and then met Jeroen, the guy that invited me to the event for a few beers and more pasta.

Tomorrow is the Gavia and Mortirolo...

Go Eddy go Eddy go go go - Day 1

The Eddy in question is Merckx. He built my bike and rode up mountains a whole lot quicker than me.

Anyway, the trip to Bormio was glorious, esp the train journey past Lake Como...

Similarly glorious is the hotel, esp as they're letting me keep the bike in the room. Nice balconies too.

However, the clear blue skies soon turned leaden and there was a massive thunderstorm...

Still, I got some local knowledge from the tourist information woman who said it would clear up after an hour or two. It did just that so I managed to get out before dark and did Bormio 2000, which as its name suggests is 2,000 metres high - twice as high as the highest mountain in England and 10k @ 7.5% - or in the Guv's currency only half a Ventoux. My training must have paid off though as it wasn't too hard and the views from the top were superb.

As it was 9pm it was deserted apart from a cat which I'm sure Leilani, Kamea and Olina will want to see a picture of, so here it is:

Tomorrow will be a whole lot harder but the Belgians are arriving...