Stage 4: Kaprun to Neukirchen am Gossvenediger
72km - 1,700m Strava Link
Sorry about the delay final update. I posted a short piece to Facebook, and did not get to finishing this yesterday.
Done and finished the Bike4Peaks race. A great, but hard 4 days. Thanks for all the support over the past 4 days. Much appreciated. The final stage had a flat and fast, 45-50kmph, section at the start. It was like one giant rubber band at pace as I started in the lead 150 riders, and was not going to let them get away. Small bike paths, sharp turns, railway crossings, and it was all on all the time. This came to a nasty abrupt stop as we had a steep but relatively short 400 vert m climb to do, which was mostly walking as just so steep, and the person in front of me was walking so no choice. Then after a gravel road downhill, it was all on again on the flat. This time the groups were smaller and I had to do some work, no sitting in. Not so far and we all knew the last climb was going so the pace was down a little.
Lucky for us, the last climb had been reduced by 300 vert meters, due to snow, and it was only 1,100m climbing. A long steady climb and I have climbed better is how I would describe the experience. It just took a long time, or so it felt, and I was pretty darn happy that we did not have to go to the very top. The downhill was the best yet, although I did do a flying leap over the handle bars at the top, and landed on my feet. I have a horrible feeling the photographer caught it on film as well. Will see. A long flowing, steep downhill all the way into Neukircken, and the finish in the middle of town. Cross the finish line feeling better than yesterday, and maybe I should I have gone a little harder on the climbs but a good feeling to be done. On the day 40th in my age group at 3hrs 35mins. It is amazing, as 10 mins faster and in the top twenty, so tight.
8,887m climbed and 296km. No punctures and 2 good falls. no injuries and bike is in one piece.
Total time 15hrs 58mins for 27th in my age group. Happy with that as first stage race, and I live in a land that is more below water than above, and this is a mountain race.
Highlight for the day - seeing Leah just after the finish. She did a marathon flight-train-taxi-train effort to get here. I am not sure which was harder....
In the evening we went back up to the top of the climb, this time by gondola, for the closing ceremony. The organizer made the right call not climbing to the top as it was more ski field than bike area, with a good 30 - 50cm of scattered snow about, and their downhill trail covered in snow. It looked amazing, flowing and sweeping all the way down, but covered in snow.
Yesterday, was a day off the bike, but went hiking with Leah up to a mountain hut. a casual 3 hour walk up and 2 hours down, and i was really dragging to tell the truth. The hut was beautiful, up a valley, set in a high alpine meadow where they have 27 cows, and make their own butter and milk. A summer only operation, as in winter there would be a lot of snow.
Next big event Haute Route Cycling in late August. 7 days of road cycling from Geneva to Nice. Although the IronBike mountain bike stage race in Italy has caught my eye. Late July, but that might be a bit much and a bit close to the Haute Cycling route.