Another day and
another crash. If your trying to do well
then the first rule is stay on your bike.
We started again and
it was much about 13 degrees or so and thankfully not raining. There were several non starters this morning
with yesterday taking it’s toll. Quite a
few guys high up in the GC didn’t finish
yesterday and one didn’t start today. If
you don’t start a stage or finish it you are a non finisher and ranked below
all the other. You also don’t get the
finishers T-Shirt
The torrential rain
overnight however had left massive puddles everywhere. We started at 9am and within the first 2-3 km
where in a narrow farm track (river) with deep puddles. I was riding the centre and slipped off into
the puddles balance wrong and handlebar hit the stone wall and threw me at
about 20km/h. Head hit the wall and
brambles and shoulder took some impact.
Other riders having to dodge me and bike and asking if I was OK. Untwisted handlebars and checked bike.
Both GPS’s still attached and drink bottle still there. Everything looked straight so set off
again. I then remembered that I was
wearing sunglasses. Thankfully undamaged
and still in the brambles 20 metres back.
Not too much damage
but scrape on elbow and a few bloody bits around my faces. I suspect just from the brambles. Very sore thigh which I hope the masseur will
sort out tonight. Speaking of which they
do a great job making you feel slightly human again each day. The quicker you get in each day the faster
you can have a massage, wash your kit, eat dinner and go to bed. Seems like not enough sleep each day.
I was angry at coming
off and set off after the pack. They
were never to be seen again. In fact I
think I rode 107km by myself. I had a
great day riding. Scenery was
great. Weather was even better. Up to 28 degrees and sunny. The course was perfect for me. Not to many hills and all that were there
were short. A power mans day.
The mud was an issue
and I stopped at the first water point to try and get the gears working
again. Hosed down the bike added some
lube and the chain promptly chained sucked to the granny ring on the next
climb. The clay was so thick not much
would sort it. The rivers we had to cross
later finally later sorted it. However
no lube meant the bike was very noisy and squealing like a pig for the next
20km
I’ve learnt in
Trans-Portugal that if you see an amazing village in the distance you are going
to visit it. The 2nd thing is
that all these villages are generally on a hill. White houses with orange roofs and just spectacular
scenery. We climbed to an amazing one
called Monsanto today. 2km up a steep
roman track with big boulders. I had
chain suck right at the bottom and had to stop and lube the bike. The climb was a bitch up, but worth it. Quick water stop at the top at 80km and back
down again over another roman road.
I finished in good
shape today and had a good day apart from the crash. Getting the mechanics (who wash and clean and
service the bikes) to check mine over.
New creaking from the front afterwards which always makes me
nervous. I’ll be looking for a crack
later again. Although MTB’s can take a
beating always better to be safe. One of
the Portuguese chaps showed me his cracked Carbon Fibre frame today. New one waiting for him tomorrow to swap out
but he has another day riding on the broken one yet.
Think I finished 16th
today which is good. Hopefully we shall
climb up the GC 1-2 places.
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