Epic Italy - Day 6

Day 6

Swim 3km

Run 10km race + guess your time

Bike 100km incl Passo di Erbe (2004m)

In an Epic first (since I’ve been involved) we were forced to pack the bikes into the van this morning and cut the first 55km off the ride. It was just pissing down with rain and with the majority of the trip to the pool downhill we would have been icicles on arrival. We do what some people consider stupid things on epic but riding in that rain would have been nothing but misery.

Ironically once we did get on the bikes after a swim and 10km run race (guess your time) it was the first day on the camp where I have gone the entire route with no rain. The passo di erbe was a douzey. As I warned the guys it was very steep to start with plenty of other nasty pitches through the climb. I had put the pedal down a little in the valley and dropped everyone except Gordo, Steve wasn’t too far behind but I was finally starting to get my cycling legs back (as planned). Each day I seem to be getting a little stronger on the bike, my climbing still isn’t great by any stretch of the imagination but my flat riding is heading in the right direction.

The summit of the Passo di Erbe was just wicked; like so many of the other passes we’ve done. Great views on snow covered peaks The decent was long and narrow and I sure am glad the cows wear bells around the necks up here. I came screaming around a corner and heard some bells coming up, around the next corner was 3 cows and a Shepard in the middle of the road, without the bells I’m sure I would have gone ploughing straight into them and come off second best.

Gordo and I lapped out the final 30-40km at very high speeds which felt great. Tonight we’re in a reasonable hotel on the outskirts of Bolzano with great views over vineyards and up the valley to the mountains.