Lessons Learnt and New Experiences

Things that I have learnt / discovered on this trip:

1. Mountains are hard.

2. To effectively climb mountains requires a good power to weight ratio. I have not enough power and too much weight to be competitive in this environment (Europe). I need to lose at least 5kg and increase my power threshold.

3. To ride mountains, get into the easiest gear as early as you need to (for me, when the gradient is higher than 6%). Start at a power level below threshold that you can maintain for 2 hours, and use your cadence to adjust your power output to remain within this level. Enjoy the scenery. You'll have plenty of time to look at it.

4. I still love Italy and the Italian attitude. Unconcerned with rules and authority yet steeped in tradition that would be unquestionable to violate. For example: pasta is a first course, not a main course. Early evening is for socialising and enjoying the day with a promenade or an Aperol Spritz and a light snack.

5. I love Italian food and could eat pasta twice a day without getting bored. I don't love French food. Too much cheese and cream. Not enough fresh fruit and vegetables.

6. I do love my bike and love riding. I like the social/community aspect of it most of all, then the freedom, and finally the sense of achievement and competition.

7. I love my family, friends and community.

New experiences on this trip:

i. Riding up and down four major mountains: Port du Bales (Pyrenees), Allez d'Huez, Passe della Herbe (Dolomites) and Mount Bondone. See (1) above.

ii. Representing Australia in an international event.

iii. Visiting France.

iv. Ticking off some more World Heritage sites: Albi, Avignon, Pont du Gard, Carcassonne, Roman amphitheatre in Orange and the Dolomites.

v. Racing 140km through rain and thunderstorms, riding 20km down a mountain while shivering uncontrollably and unable to feel my hands. Climbing my first mountain (and my second, third and fourth). And finishing fourth female. Thanks, Val d'Aran Cycling Tour. It was a challenge, a learning experience, humbling and character building.

vi. Adopting macciatto as my coffee of choice. It works in Italy where the coffee is good, but in Perth where the coffee is questionable ... Sometimes the extra milk and chocolate sprinkles are needed to disguise the flavour!

All in all, it has been a great experience. Not exactly a relaxing holiday, but a good break and an amazing experience. 

Now to lose those extra couple of kilos, and get back into a training routine in Perth. I definitely want to do the UWCT again, but next time I want to be more competitive - in the middle of the bunch rather than at the end! 

Food and Drink of Italy - A Photo Story

Vino rosso

Deer carpaccio

Spinach gnocchi

Tiramisu

Hot chocolate (incredibly rich and thick)

Cafeteria style food - Italian quality

Prosecco and chips

Gelato

Aperol spritz and a snack

Pizza and Coke

UWCT Course Reconnaissance - Road Race

The road race course for the UWCT final is 112km long (except for men 65+ and women 45+ who do 58km). It starts in the Piazza Duomo (town centre) of Trento and heads north on the main highway for the first 9km.

We then turn right and head up the first of three climbs. This one, in theory, is the easiest as it is only Category 2. It is only 6km long with an average gradient of 4.7%. However, this climb is potentially the most important for position in the road race. When we start in Trento, we start in order of slowest to fastest - I.e. women oldest to youngest then men oldest to youngest. So as we go up this climb, the faster groups will be coming up from behind and passing us. And after the climb, we have 40km of flat as wet head south back to Trento and beyond for the second climb. So it will be critical to stay with the main peloton over the top of the first climb and as they speed along the flat.

Then, 60km into the race, we hit the bottom of the second climb. This is a Category 1 climb. It is 12km long with an average gradient of 6.5%. The descent from this climb will be very fast, as the bends are sweeping rather than hairpins. It will also be cold, as it is through a forest.

We then have another flat section of approximately 10km as we head north again to Trento for the final climb. Up until this point of the course, my recon has been by car and looking at the course profile only.

The final climb is Mount Badone. It starts right on the edge of the city of Trento. It is an "Outside Category" climb. It is 20km long, with an average gradient of 7.4%. This is the only part of the course I have ridden, and it is the first mountain that I feel I have conquered, rather than the mountain conquering me! Were shall see how I feel after the end of the road race.

It is a mountaintop finish on Mount Badone. At this stage my race plan goes only as far as the bottom of the second climb: try to stay with the peloton. Depending on how that goes, how I feel and how everyone else is riding, we shall see what happens from there.

The photos are from the climb and the top of Mount Badone.

Gli Dolomiti (The Dolomites)

The past two days have been a lot more focused on cycling and resting than the trip to date - which has been a nice change!

I picked up my travelling companion, Kalvin, from Milan airport, and we have been based in the Dolomites. Which is a World Heritage Site, by the way

Yesterday I did a ride down the mountain, along the river for an hour or so, then the 9km climb back up the mountain. The climb went well; I have realised that when I'm feeling fresh at the start of a climb I need to watch my power output and keep it within sustainable levels, otherwise my power profile graph tends to go in the opposite direction to the elevation - downhill.

In the afternoon I did some yoga on a terrace overlooking the mountains, had a quick dip in a lap pool, then decided to take the plunge and get naked so I could fully partake of the "spa". I spent some time in the steam bath, hoping it would help my cold. Unfortunately my cold has not improved. Although that may have something to do with being conquered by another mountain today ...

After my success riding the first 9km of the mountain yesterday, I decided to try to tackle the whole climb today. The weather was idyllic and I figured I may as well practice climbing mountains while I have the chance.

The route was called the Passo della Erbe, and I had read that it was scenic and not too steep, apart from a section just above the town we are staying in (San Pietro). That was true ... But the steep section was ridiculously steep (14-16% for tens of metres and the rest >10%) and a lot longer than I had hoped - it took me almost half an hour to get past this section to the easier part of the climb. And by this stage it was just survival mode, keep going pedal stroke by pedal stroke, counting down the km to the top.

I eventually made it to the top after two hours and 21km. My average speed was 11km/hr, which I was actually pleasantly surprised about. 1km can be a very long way when the gradient is >10%.

Happily the descent took me less than 1/4 of that time, even though I was riding like a grandma due to factors such as blind corners, oncoming traffic on a road only wide enough for one car, angular gravel, cow pats and potholes. At least I was warm with my Aussie team rain jacket on!

Luckily I managed to find a cafe in town that was still serving food at 2:30pm and I got the ham and cheese roll I had been anticipating on the descent. Recovery food European style!

The afternoon was spent resting and watching the Vuelta a Espana being fought and won on a mountain even steeper than what I had been riding!

Oh and there are cows here - with bells on! ��