Lucca - Florence
Ascend: 436m , Descend 386m
** World Championship Stage **
This week, the world cycling championships are taking place between Lucca and Florence. It is genuinely a coincidence that we are cycling here at the same time. I only realised last week.
As a result, here are cyclists everywhere and everyone seems to think that we were competing today.
It's a superb effort by Neil to pop out for the World championship stage into Florence with us. He also gave me the huge honour of riding Clive's bike today. Neil's previous best distance up until today was 40 miles, another new PB was about to be smashed.
Here's Neil, Grant and I lining up before the start of the stage in Lucca this am.
And the new support team in action, 5 miles in.
We rolled along nicely for the first 30 miles, were all feeling good and with less miles to do today were happy to pull over for a quick beer and a pizza. 
Our smug attitude to how easy the morning had seemed, quickly disappeared as we hit the only climb of the day. A horrendous 250m ascent in just two miles into the olive groves and vineyards of Chianti. It was by far the steepest ascent that Grant and I had ever attempted (easily a 1:5). We barely managed it. Neil was a broken man by the end.
The views however, were worth all the effort.
Grant was pleased as Punch when we officially entered into the Chianti region. Just look at his face. 
With all the excitement of being in our favourite wine region of the world, I then managed to take a wrong turn, which caused Grant to take a tight turn at the last moment.
Before Grant knew what had happened, he had slammed down hard into the tricky gravel road. He had spilt his own Claret.....how terribly ironic. 
After Grant had dusted himself down, we began our descent. Neil made the point that the effort had easily been worthwhile as Florence spectacularly came into view below us. 
After finishing the stage, we rendezvoused with Louise and wandered into Florence to meet my Mum and Dad for a mountain of pasta. 
Another great way for a stage to finish. But not quite. We just had time to watch Arsenal beat Swansea in a sports bar , and see them go 2 points clear at the top of the league! Come on you reds!
Tomorrow is going to be very difficult, with a whopping 1775m of mountain climbing, and how about this for a forecast?
Til tomorrow, Brett x
I thought it would be easy after the Alps, it looks just as difficult, but what a region to be in, looking forward to joining you all on Wednesday! Tell Grant I like his pink top!
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