Up up and away

Finally I am on my way. ✈

Two bikes packed in bags and checked in, with some of my bulky gear and things that can't go in carry on. TT bike in the bag was 14kg and road bike in the bag, plus assorted gear, was 18kg. Only 2kg over my weight limit which was better than I thought, but I did leave a lot at home!

My carry on bag they also weighed, it was 12kg which is 5kg over the limit! Thankfully they didn't charge me extra for any of my bags. I really did minimise what I packed, only one change of clothes, two sets of every day riding kit, some bike nutrition for my first event, and everything I need to ride. Oh, I also packed a first aid kit as an insurance policy.

First task for when I arrive in Toulouse is shopping - bike shop, clothes and toiletries.

Schedule for Europe

This week I head to Europe for the UCI World Cycling Tour qualifying event and finals.

I leave on Wednesday 4 September in the afternoon, landing in Toulouse France on Thursday 5 September at 10:30am. From Toulouse, I make my way down to Vielha Spain, in the Pyrenees, for the UWCT qualifying event.

Saturday 7 September is the first big event - the UWCT qualifying event in the Pyrenees. It is the Val d'Aran Cycling Tour, a 142km ride with around 3,600m of climbing. It is very similar to Stage 9 of the Tour de France this year, with five mountain climbs, four of them Category 1, and even following some of the same roads. However, the Val d'Aran is only 142km long, compared to Stage 9 of the Tour, which was 168km. Not much relief! I need to finish in the top three women in my age category to qualify, which should be possible as last year only three women finished the event across all age categories!

Here is the Val d'Aran Cycling Tour event website: http://www.valdarancyclingtour.com/?q=en.

The next competitive event I am doing in Europe is the UWCT individual time trial final. This is held on Friday 20 September in Cavedine in the Lake Valley (Valli dei Laghi) in Northern Italy. The time trial is 24km long, with one Category 3 climb. 

The UWCT road race final is on Sunday 22 September. It is held in Trento, Northern Italy. The race is 112km long, with three climbs, including an "Alls Category" or "Outside Category" climb for the last 20km of the race. Yes, that's right, 20km all uphill to the finish. What fun! :) 

After the road race final, I have one rest day, then I head home, arriving home in the evening on Wednesday 25 September.