The rest day seemed to have helped… or at least I don’t understand my body. My legs worked well today. We headed off at 9 as usual and rode down the valley taking a right hand turn and heading up to Passo Valles. I was feeling good and rode off with Thomas to the pass. I’m not entirely sure how but I rode away from him and got to the top with my heart rate up near maximum.
Above: Thomas and I rode hard up to the first pass.
We had a short descent and then a left hand turn. I followed Thomas up towards Passo Rolle. We duelled up to the pass. Thomas put in some hard attacks but I managed to close the gap until it came down to a sprint to the pass. I reached it with my heart rate up near maximum again.
Above: Thomas and I rode hard again to the second pass.
Above: Dark clouds.
The descent from Passo Rolle was very nice. It was very very long without too many switch backs to slow things down, at least once we were lower. The views towards the mountains were nice. We descended into the valley and found a place for a short stop. We grabbed a bite to eat and then it was up to the next pass.
I expected my legs to be well and truly cooked after the first pass and then definitely after the second pass but they seemed to be ok still. Kind of. Marco and Thomas rode ahead and I rode with them. Marco dropped back and it was just Thomas and I again. It was steep and very hot. I considered telling him it was his pass and dropping back. His heart rate was 155 and mine was 187, which I thought was not going to give me much room to continue. But at one of the steep parts I gained a lead and then managed to ride away. The pass flattened off at the top and with a heart rate of 194 I puffed past the pass sign.
Above: And another pass at high speed.
We didn’t stay long at the pass as there were a few spots of rain already and dark clouds in one direction. We descended then had another short climb, then a very long descent, which was nice. Once in the valley we had a 20 km ride back up to our flat in Caprille.
A good day out.
Above: Strava says…
Unfortunately it seems I was too busy riding hard to film the glory with my GoPro 