Stage 3. After all the rain last night I was happy to see that it was dry when we woke. Not just that but the sun was coming out too. The stage started with a 1000m neutralised descent. I had slid back into C start block due to my bike issues yesterday and so set myself up at the front of C behind the motorbikes. It got warmer and warmer as we descended. The start was neutralised for 20km but unfortunately the bikes didn’t let us pass until after the race had began which meant lots of riding hard to try and get further up the field. The descent had been very steep while neutralised and after the race started we were still descending but much more gradually. It made for exciting riding with sweeping corners as we flew down a valley, and in and out through tunnels. We took a left into a climb and I continued passing people until I reached some sort of equilibrium. I also caught up to Gabor who had started in B, and we rode together.
The stage had two major climbs, the second being much more major than the first. The descent from the first climb was nice and I descended quickly. At the refreshments further on I waited for Gabor to catch up and then we continued together riding with a couple of the women for a while. The ascent towards Monte Grappa began and one of the women dropped us and we dropped the other and continued up. It was hot and the patches of shade on the road were very welcome. I was pretty sure my legs would explode at some point as the climb was 1500 m. They held out well though, at least to the next refreshment point. I stuffed myself full of delicious cold potato dipped in salt. Yum, yum, just what I needed. Gabor continued ahead and I went at a slower pace to the top of the climb. The descent was very windy and I caught up to him after not long. I continued down and it got hotter and hotter, a wall of heat coming up to greet me.
There were two others at the bottom of the climb and they followed me as I set the pace. An electronic sign by the side of the road told us the time but more interestingly, also that it was 37 degrees. I dropped back and the other two continued ahead. I rode mostly alone for the last 24km to the finish, time trialling along in the the heat, occasionally catching up to the other two and then dropping back on the hills. At 132 km I crossed the finish line and wobbled off to the food area where I consumed as many smoothies as I could (these are for me a Transalp highlight!). I felt pretty cooked. In the evening Gabor and I went out to a pizzeria and ordered a large bottle of chilled sparkling water that came with a slice of lemon. It tasted amazing, cold and delicious. Who would think water could be so tasty?
Tour Transalp 2023 Stage 3 – San Martino di Castrozza to Pederobba
Race Time (transponder): 5:37.07,4 Distance: 132km/2600m Category Place (Single Masters): 22/38 Overall (Single): 77/168 Start Block: C
TOUR Transalp 2023 – #3 San Martino di Castrozza – Pederobba – single masters
TOUR Transalp 2023 – #3 San Martino di Castrozza – Pederobba – single overall