Round and round we go

Stage 26
Day Total: 162km
Total Time: 5:59:01
Avg. Speed: 27.2km/h

Song of the Day: Public Enemy – Fight the Power

Coming out of a rest day seems to bring both moments of gratefulness and discomfort. Better rested (for it will be some time before we are fully rested) one is typically more relaxed. On the other hand, the break in the routine can bring on protest from one’s body – most notably the legs – and the going can be rough early on in the ride.

Today’s ride was one of the 12 “Mando” days, 162km (100 miles), and featured some climbing. I intended to ride with the lead group of racers, but another “sniper” flat overnight put me a few minutes behind. Intending to ride with the group on the day, I failed to write down the directions. Thus, I pedaled out of camp only to have to return to the hotel to get some clarification. Fortunately for me, the sweep rider (the rider who rides at the back of the group to pick up or assist any stragglers) was still there and sorted me out. So it goes…

I rode the first 50km alone, setting my own pace, free to enforce my nutritional regimen without pressure from pace or insane tempo. To my surprise, I wasn’t feeling too badly, the illness that plagued me now gone and my strength starting to return. Even more surprising, about 50km into the race I turned around and saw the lead race group. Apparently they were even more directionally challenged than myself and rode an extra 4km. Their mistake was my gain and I rode with them for the final 20km to lunch. The pace was uncomfortable though, and the “good” feeling I had early on vanished. I resolved to simply ride out my day in isolation.

UK Paul was a bit ill on the day, so we let the lead guys leave lunch without us. I headed out on my own and immediately hit the wall. Maybe I hand’t recovered as much as I previously thought? I ambled along for 20km before Paul overtook me. He was encouraging and after about 40 minutes of good effort my life force came back to me and we rode steadily. The countryside was rolling with a few good climbs and lots of kids. We adopted the strategy of waving/greeting each child as we approached with tremendous effect: we were spared rocks or other child-launched projectiles. With steady effort, we gained on some of the group who left lunch before us, and with 15km remaining we were feeling quite good. Paul surged a bit up the final hill and we managed to open up a minute gap on the rest of the field. No great shakes, but minutes matter in an event with so many variables.

Camp was in a wide open clearing circled by stands of trees. In the distance the higher hills/mountains were visible and as the sun set on another wonderful day, the fading light bounced off the tops of the trees with stunning effect. The ususal horde of villagers came to the boundary of our camp, the entrepreneurs amongst them laden with cold beer, Pepsi, and Miranda (orange soda). I opted for a nap in the shade, trying to continue my recovery and rest my body for the efforts of the coming days. 4 more riding days until our rest day in Addis Ababa, including the epic Blue Nile Gorge time trial. The roads are not supposed to be flat, so these 4 days could be quite difficult.