Siena - Sorano
Ascend: 1716m Descend 1456m
Last night, Grant and I very much believed we had cracked the back of the tour. With the tough stages over the Apennines behind us, a feeling of being close to the finish line and having just recharged with a rest day, we were in great spirits as we headed out into Sienna for dinner. 
We'd both got a bit bored of pasta, and had a craving for something spicy for dinner. After demolishing a kebab on the way into town, we settled upon a Chinese restaurant where we ate like kings.
All was well. We headed back to the hotel for a planned early night so that, fully refreshed, we could tackle the mountainous stage (1700m of climbing) south of Sienna tomorrow down to Sorano.
Due to the siestas we both found it difficult to sleep, but then my world turned completely upside down.
I had either picked up food poisoning or was coming down with a novo virus type bug, as I was too hot/too cold, my stomach was cramping badly and I had constant shivers down my legs. I spent the next 5 hours back and forth from the toilet not knowing which end to point first, and finally collapsed into a sleep at 5:45am, knowing full well that we had to be up at 7:30am to deal with the challenging (about to be immensely difficult day) ahead.
There was no choice, we have to keep on schedule, so despite feeling completely rancid, I forced some breakfast down and after much encouragement from Grant that the day was still possible, we arranged to set off.
As we were the only riders from the UK to complete Sundays world championship stage in Florence, we had awarded ourselves with winners Jerseys.
Taking it very easy, we both weaved our way out of Sienna, catching the magic scenery....
I was really struggling with my lack of sleep, stomach cramps and general exhaustion, so just tried to stay on the back of Grants wheel.
My pace was slow, particularly on the climbs, which were now coming thick and fast. I just had nothing to give, and desperately had the urge to just curl up by the side of the road.
We had lunch in a cafe at 50 miles, and after an hours rest, I began to feel that the day might be possible. The truth is that I couldn't have done it without Grant constantly talking me through it all and pulling me along.
To make matters worse, Grant then got stung twice on the back of his head by a bee which flew into his helmet and became lodged. Nightmare. What else could this tail end stage throw at us.?
After a few more brutal climbs, we finally reached the hotel at 5:45pm, after 75 tortuous miles and having climbed 1716m.
Mum and Dad were there to greet us, and then our latest tour support driver suddenly arrived, my good friend and best man, Simon Spong!
Simon has given up his time to follow the tour and share the support driver duties with my parents for the next four days down to Rome. He has driven all the way here from St Tropez, where he was working at the boat show for the previous week. Here he is arriving clutching his pink toiletry bag. Hello sailor! 
It's a big lift to have Simon join us, he was my brothers best mate, so this remembrance tour means a lot to him in many ways.
Here's a last pic of Simon, Grant, Mum and I tonight, laughing at the days events. 
What next? I need something uneventful, and badly need some sleep.
Night. Brett x
No comments:
Post a Comment