This day that can be described as “chain left”. That means you don’t even shift to the big blade anymore, because it’s going up again right away anyway.

On days like this, the questions of the why that we all know always arise, only to have your subconscious poking right afterwards asking: what forced me to participate here.

But first things first. First it went about 30 km in the group with all participants along the Duoro, until then as always at the 15km long climb the wheat separated from the chaff, speak I was from then on again alone on the road.

When I Chris then in the evening something my disappointment reported that I am still the weakest after more than 20 years in the saddle, if it is hilly or mountainous, he looked at me with big eyes and asked if I have not seen what strong drivers are at work here and he has real trouble to keep up and must also tear off. That comforts little, but it’s true, what a power they put down is sheer impressive.

Chain left you understand immediately when you look at the altitude profile. After the first climb, it was actually only up and down and of course in gigantic descents. Of course, in this lonely area is actually no traffic on the road. There I asked myself often, how and from what and at all live the people here, where actually nothing really is. But maybe it is also that.The

The Start at 7:30 am

Impressions of the day

At the end it was a hard day for me, 140 km riding alone and these never ending climbs. Then came to the hotel about 2 hours after the others, some of whom were standing outside applauding me. They knew I was coming now as we were all wearing CPS trackers. This then again is one of the most remarkable aspects I like about cycling, the respect for others, no matter how strong, fit, young, old, etc. they are.

So and tomorrow, we go for a walk, means 133 km and only 2 mountains and start is only at 9:00, finally sleep a little longer and digest the last two stages.

And that’s exactly where I’m going now, to treat myself to a few hours of flat stage, as Beat once so aptly described it in France.

See you tomorrow.