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...