Giro di Sardinia - Stage 1

[Plawless]

this was the Gran Fondo Costs Smerelda: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/30431887

I will post a report when I can type, see colour and go more than 34 seconds without coughing but Dave and I are (or ought to be) Canadian heroes!!

Peter

[Josh.E]

holy crap
31.1km/h for 138km with 2200m of climbing??!

no wonder you can't see colour. nice work!

[Plawless]

Let me start by saying that I think everyone should be saving their pennies starting now to make this trip next year - its brilliant. Great roads TONS of cyclists and great scenery. I reallly cant tell you how great the cycling is.

But that doesnt meanI wont try!

SO .. It seems that neither Dave nor I got quite enough sleep last night - I say its jet lag but "HONEST Dave" pointed out that its tough to sleep when you are scared! But we were up early munchng away on bread rolls and nutella (I LOVE CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST!!) and then rolled down to the start around 9:00. The start was at a marina / town square and it was jammed with colour. Plus a few big blow up archways to really make us feel pro. We stood in line for almost 30' then watched the "medio Giro" roll out - they were doing 93k (to our 140). It was a bit disheartening seeing then start from cold to a flat out sprint up the 10% climb out of town. But we got to ponder that for 15' until it was out turn. A bunch of sneaky guys rolled up the outside and Dave and I found ourselves closer to the back than we expected but soon enough the gun went and it was pandemonium.

I managed to clip in and got started I followed a fast guy up the hill doing a bit of duck and weave that would make a boxer proud. I was with a pretty fast group for the first 70k it got smaller and smaller as folks got shelled. I got popped about 1k from the top of a big climb - it totally ticked me off as by then the group was down to 10 or so and they were actualy starting to work together. It was generally amazing how no one would work together. About 6 guys (including me) tried repeatedly to get a paceline but every time some slacker would sit 5th wheel and then refuse to pull and barge into the slow lane etc.

After getting popped I caugh this whippet who i figured I coud work with and see if we could get the pack back. NOPE. I pulled the hills (Yup, that is me talking!) and he was yelling at me to slow down.

[Plawless]

So for me this was the toughest part (and you can see it in the HR data. I didt get very motivated to tow this guy around. So what ended up happening after a bout 25k was we got rolled up by a chase group of about 15-20. This was fine by me as they were working pretty well. Still a few tag alongs refusing to work but at least others worked too. This was the group I finished with.
The finish was technically challenging as there was a steep climb followed by a steep decent into a 90 degree left then 50m to the finish. I started at the back on the climb as everyone got all excited and started to sprint!!!! I crested the climb in 3rd and got pushed out by a guy trying t cut the corner at the bottom with a little skid to my tire then I punched down in anger and got back to 2nd in the bunch kick with me and 1 guy at the same time and 5 seconds to the following 3 (including the guy who pushed me out) – if it wasn’t for the corner I would have “won” the sprint for 156th!
Then it was a big plate of pasta and rolls with some fantastic salami to munch on. They even served red & white wine – talk about civilized!
Partial results show me in 157th overall for the Gran Fondo - 41’ behind the winner. I also managed 36th in my class (but I don’t know how big my class is). For an event with 2200m of climbing I am pretty fired up about how I did. (Of course I wont be able to ride tomorrow – or ever again for that matter so ..)
Sorry we don’t have Dave’s stats as they haven’t posted them for anyone else from a few minutes after mine went up. More to follow on Dave – plus ask him WHY HE STOPPED RACING TO HELP A TURTLE CROSS THE ROAD!!!!!
Tomorrow it wil just be the Giro (medio and gran) with our route going “just” 95k with what looks to be a “bump” in the middle with a flat lead in, hard climb then flat on top to a decent then flat to the finish. Oh yeah – when they say “flat” they mean hills like Ash rd are everywhere!
Ciao
Peter

[JohnT]

Peter leads the Garmin competition: Ride tracks from Vancouver Island, Hawaii and now Sardinia. Sounds amazing Peter. Can't wait to read more.

JT

[Lister Farrar]

and got pushed out by a guy trying t cut the corner at the bottom with a little skid to my tire

Was he wearing a Cinzano jersey? Those guys are bastards...Watch for pumps near front wheels.