the riding out there is in no way technical and so the challenge came from adding distance, as much of it off-road as I could. My planned route hit a couple of snags firstly where what looked like a road I could link two tracks on, on the map, was marked as private property on the ground. A footpath linked it up in the end and I’ll leave you to decide if I rode or walked it depending on how law abiding you think I am. Secondly a new cycle route had appeared, starting right next to a bridleway I was looking for, and my assumption that it was the right way led me a fair way out of my plan. Still it’s those things that help you build and improve this sort of ride. I was faster on the parts I’d ridden before without having to navigate and next time I’ll iron out the issues and refine it.
Still, here it is, 67KM and 4 hours starting a half-hour drive from home.
Talking of local riding, it sounds as if Swinley Forest has had some work done to formalise the routes. I may get there to check it out soon.
Moving on to professional cycling there’s as much as ever to cover
The UCI MTB World Cup launched with Cross Country in Germany this weekend with the first Downhill event to be Fort William on the 8th June.
Meanwhile in Italy on Friday Cavendish was adding another win to his tally for this year’s Giro and then the weather and the mountains combined for the weekend making for stages that were cut short and for a time invisible with TV pictures unable to be broadcast. More riders pulled out with illness, including Dave Millar:
Quit the race today, finally gave into sickness. One question: is the TV coverage always this (uhhh, how do I put this...) suspenseful?
— David Millar (@millarmind) May 18, 2013
Through the murk, rain and horrendous conditions Nibali strengthened his hold at the head of the race, with a question over whether there was an agreement with fellow Italian Santambrogio to allow him the stage win as Nibali put the hammer down to grind his rivals into the mountain. Evans lost time and it now looks like the Italian’s race to lose.
Sunday’s stage was also shortened due to bad weather on the Galibier and the day started neutralised by the riders with racing only really picking up with 70 or so kilometres to go. After that a number of breaks went out as the main contenders marked each other in the pack. Visconti made it stick holding a 40 second lead at 10Km to go up to over a minute's lead and a stunning stage win in epic conditions as the snow fell on the Galibier. Back down the road Nibali kicked to put his rivals under pressure, and it was Evans who suffered the most, psychologically giving the Italian more of an advantage.
While the road guys were focussed on going uphill, there was a reminder of how to go downhill from a certain Aaron Gwin:
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