85 miles and 4,300 feet - it’s not the longest distance (4 others the same or more), it’s not the highest climb….but it is the highest climb of the long days. Did we just do the most difficult day at a moving average of 15.6mph? Time will tell, but we were all pleased that last night’s testosterone-laden suggestions to add more distance and ascent did not, in the end, prevail!
When we left Chiavari, as you can see, we had to negotiate the tiniest tunnel to pass under a railway - I’m surprised our GPS software doesn’t feel it necessary to ask height and weight before sending you on this particular “cycle path”!
The “warm up” was nice with a slight incline for 9 miles and then the real climb kicked in…8 miles and 1hr 10mins later we peaked at 1,975 feet of climb. The maximum gradient was 12%. The views, as you can imagine were spectacular. The sobering thought, for my day at least, is that this is about half of Mont Ventoux which is on the schedule separately for October!
The descent was glorious and fine compensation for the climb, with the added surprise of finding a local bakery open at lunchtime on a Sunday (the first I think I have ever seen in Italy!). Lovely savory tarts followed by the wonderful chocolate ganache tartlets shown in the photo…..a very adequate replacement for yesterday’s gelato!
And “The Man from GQ” made an appearance this afternoon with Paul sporting his Burberry sun protection arm covers…who ever knew Burberry made those for cyclists and what self-respecting cyclist would ever buy them?!
Massively long ride along the beach front, which did get a bit dull, but the final ride up to the village and this charming house was a good way to finish!
Tonight we’re off to Pisa…I’m not a betting man, but the odds of a picture appearing tomorrow with one or all of us trying to hold up the Tower must be quite high!
Data for today: 85 miles (136km) and 4,268 feet of elevation (1,293m). Cumulative: 339 miles (543km) and 21,557 feet of elevation (6,532m).