Finally we reached the top and the so began the biggest challenge of the day. All week we’ve been able to put time into people on technical singletrack descents, but when it comes to fireroad I’m terrible! The problem was that I couldn’t stop myself pulling the brakes, I know the theory of going fast but couldn’t make myself do it. I knew today was mostly fireroad and to do well on the stage I’d have to learn some rapid descending skills. Again it was all about getting my head in the right place, I simply decided that I wasn’t giving the wheel in front a gap and before long I was hurtling down at high speed and passing people out.

We had pulled away from the girls and most of the group we were with on the climb when disaster struck, my front tyre suddenly lost a load of air. We decided to put a tube in and had to use a pump to blow it up so it took a while and as we worked the front 3 women’s teams cruised past. It wouldn’t pump fully so I spent the rest of the day squidging around with 20psi. Gutted! to make matters worse it started to rain what should have been the best day yet became a horrible test of survival and we lost any hope of chasing back on.

The temperature was down to about 5 degrees but rain and wind-chill from descending at high speeds meant it felt much colder and we weren’t prepared for it. Luckily I had arm and knee warmers and a thermal top but they were no where near enough. We had over an hour of descending to do, getting colder and colder as we went. Fingers that won’t brake or shift gears is has been fairly standard this winter but its when your body gets totally chilled that there’s really trouble. We hurtled down screaming out loud in pain using every swear word we could think of in some sort of attempt to generate heat. I was praying for a climb but even when they came they were nowhere near long enough to warm up. Towards the end we started to catch people again, all suffering similarly. It went on forever so that by the end I was a shaking, whimpering wreck.  We could barely lift our arms to celebrate the race win but to be handed a cup of hot soup at the finish was like a dream that seemed like it would never happen. We finished the 82km/2400m climbing in 4 hours 44 mins, winning the 6th stage and taking first place in the mixed category overall.

Hot showers, a massage and good Spanish coffee soon sorted us out so that we were ready to move on to beer and tapas. After that the final stage began – the podium presentations followed by a great after party with some crazy dancing. The Scandinavians and Eastern Europeans are a force to be reckoned with on the dance floor! With only 2 hours sleep and a hangover the journey home was the final test of mental strength.

 
Thank you to everyone involved in organising the race, one of the best I’ve been to and definitely one for the diary next year. Also thanks to WXC World Racing and team sponsors – in particular Compressport compression clothing was very useful for recovery between stages and Sportique warm-up oil and chamois cream were essential for staying comfortable during the long days.

more photos here

We’re now based in Jaén, a city high up in the mountains surrounded by olive groves and a much drier, barren landscape than Cordoba. The winter sun is strong but temperatures have dropped so we’ve have to learn the Euro racing skill of stuffing newspaper down your jersey to keep warm at the start. The day began with a huge long climb through the olive trees up into the high mountains. Tired legs are to be expected at this stage but we settled into a steady and manageable pace in a group of about 15 riders, though a bit of pushing from Josh was required from time to time!

Over the top we moved up and followed Sally and Kristine into an amazing singletrack descent once again. We were on top of the world with incredible views and a narrow track swooping through alpine like pine trees before turning into a dusty rocky trail running along the mountain with a big drop of the side. Eventually we finished with steep, switchbacks through more olive trees into the valley. Its amazing how great trails can motivate a tired body and it was back full on race fun.

Unfortunately towards the end of the descent Josh’s wheel bearings collapsed and we had to ease up. At the next feed station we stopped to try and fix it but there was no hope so we continued as best we could but had lost several minutes to the girls who were still looking super strong on the climbs. After another killer climb and some brilliant descents we finished just over a minute behind the girls and 1st mixed team. From being dying for the race to be over yesterday I now can’t believe there’s only one day left!

What a day! I’ve never ever felt so horrible on a bike before. After a 5.30am wakeup and bus transfer to the start we began with a parade through the narrow streets of Preigo de Cordoba, a pretty whitewashed mountain village. The locals were out in force to cheer us on and with all the school kids lining the streets there was a good atmosphere and plenty of noise.

Into a long fireroad climb through the olive groves my legs felt awful. Josh encouraged me to push on to catch a group in front and we ended up working hard to get there. After all the effort the descent was a fireroad so I wasn’t happy. I thought Sally and Kristine were way ahead of us and didn’t find out until too late that they were in fact behind – if I’d had known that I’d have slowed on the climb and maybe avoided later energy issues!

The main part of the stage was around 70km of gravel track along a disused railway with a slight uphill gradient. We set off alone and had to work really hard into a headwind attempting to catch a group and save energy. I hate the flat, I hate headwinds, and my legs weren’t happy! Sally and Kristine eventually caught us and after a last gasp effort to jump on we had to drop back and settle into a steady pace. Eventually we ended up in a group of 20 riders and it became a road race. There was some spectacular scenery through vast dessert landscapes and olive groves but I wasn’t in the mood for enjoying it, apart from anything else it was monotonous and boring.

Around 4 hours in we turned off and hit the last climb of the day, and what a climb is was. Despite taking extra food for the long stage I was running out, not factoring in the extra energy required to overcome tiredness after pushing hard yesterday. Slow and steady on the fireroad was manageable but turning into steep singletrack was the final straw. I’ve never seen so many destroyed looking people. I think normally the climb wouldn’t look so extreme but all around us people were crawling, most pushing their bikes, shoving every morsel of food they had into their mouths, stopping and keeling over. Hanging on by a thread we made it to the top with several moments of really wanting to throw the bike off the side of the mountain.

After longing for it all day it was into a long singletrack descent. The first part was great, nice and flowy with some really spectacular views. Then suddenly I just couldn’t ride anymore. I’ve never blown up on a descent before but I just couldn’t trust myself to concentrate, I could see a corner coming and my brain registered that I needed to turn but there was a big delay before anything happened!! horrible. Eventually made it to the bottom very slowly and crawled along the road to the finish, ready to smash my bike up. After 5hrs 30mins and over 2100m climbing that was my longest and least enjoyable training ride of the year, I can’t imagine how doing more again tomorrow will be possible…

Today was the best stage yet although a complete blur between the extremes of pain and suffering and adrenaline and exhilaration. It began like a road race with a 10km neutral start to cross the city, before we hit the first big, incredibly steep climb. We lost sight of our Topeak Ergon-Hansens Flodeis Team targets during the start, but managed to catch them just before the top of the climb. From there a great day of battling began!

We had to push hard to stick with the girls on the climbs but knew that if we managed that then we could be faster on more technical descents. Halfway through we came to a massive long rocky descent that must have gone on for half an hour. Sally and Kristine were in front going in to it so we chased them down rocky drops, tight corners, around big berms at breakneck speed. It was SO much fun! Towards the end one of them overshot a turnoff and suddenly my racehead kicked into play – I darted in front and hammered the rest as fast as possible to try and get a gap.

The caught us again on the next climb and we were back to chasing along a dusty, trail of drops and kicker climbs following a river. It was a struggle to hold on for another two long, steep climbs but fighting the pain we just about managed it until the course left the steady fireroad and hit a killer steep technical climb. It was unrideable in parts, especially at that stage in the day when my leg muscles were screaming to stop. We were still only a minute or so back and felt confident we could catch them on the final long descent. I can´t believe that the graph of the course is accurate because everytime we thought we couldn´t possibley have to climb more, it kicked up again so that in the final few km it was back into survival mode. In the end we were 6 minutes back from the girls, 1st in the mixed cat and much higher up in the overall field than previous days.

After the stage recovery is almost as important as the racing itself. Firstly a recovery drink whilst we clean the bikes an prepare them for the next day, next a hot and cold shower followed by compression clothing and more food. After stretching and a massage (provided free by the organisers), its time for a rest and maybe a snack. Then the daily award ceremony and video followed by a big dinner with our rival team at a great Italian we found down the road. To be prepared for the next day eating enough is really important but you have to eat so much its getting to be really annoying! Tomorrow is a monster - 115km, over 2000m climbing.

Josh’s video is here

Today we were gridded at the front along with all the pro men and world champions and with tv helicopters buzzing overhead we instantly turned into a mental descent down a steep scree slope. There was carnage with riders all over the place, some attempting to ride, others sliding at high speed on foot. We negotiated safely to the bottom and it was straight onto a flat 8km dirt track that required some good road racing speed.

Our target for the day was to keep up with women´s team leaders Sally Bigham (Topeak Ergon Team) and Kristine Norgaard (Hansens Flodeis). Into the first long climb we were perfectly positioned following their wheels and kept this up until halfway through when mechanical issues meant we dropped back. There was less of yesterday´s mental xc pace early on and my legs were feeling more recovered than I had expected. We climbed for ages up through cow meadows and pretty farmland before finally reaching the top.

Todays trails were mostly less technical, which although nice to give the body a break, meant our techncial skills brought less of an advantage. The sun was scorching but luckily we spent a lot of time in shady woodland and splashing through streams was good to cool off.

Just after halfway Josh´s bottlecage came loose and shortly after he got a puncture. The one disadvantage to big 29er wheels is they need more air to pump up and we lost a big chunk of time! All was not lost, once fixed we charged on, following some great twisty tight trails and fast descents before hitting the final climb.

The day ended with a long technical rocky descent back to the hotel – a lot of fun and I was pleased to feel far less destroyed than at the end of yesterday. We completed the 78km in 4hrs 26 and retained the leaders jersey for tomorrow (results here).

Today it was important for Josh and I to figure out how best to ride together as a team, where our strengths and weaknesses are and how to manage them. A few pointers from more experienced team riders at breakfast proved very helpful. As the female I quickly had to accept that I was slower and Josh used his extra strength to give me a push on the climbs (something I could get used to, might employ him for xc races!). He was also faster on descents but if he slowed slightly I was able to push myself and hold onto his wheel. It didn´t take long to get a good system going and it worked very well.

The race course was absolutely brilliant, a real mixture of terrain and scenery. Tight, twisty singletrack through dusty ground covered in herb plants. Swooping fast trails with fun bombholes and kicker climbs. Tough, technical rocky climbs. Steep, rocky descents with big drops. We went hardish on the climbs but descending was the real place to gain time. All these Euro riders need signs on their backs saying ´danger´, the amount of people walking or riding really slow was unbelievable. I did enjoy passing guys though but don´t think they liked it!

The crowds cheering us on were amazing too, I was wearing my Irish national champ jersey so got loads of ´champion, champion´ cheers, and in general they were particularly enthusiastic when a girl went past. Great to help forget the pain on the many nasty, steep climbs. The lifestyle here is incredible, we passed loads of families up in the mountains having bbqs in the sun (in February!!).

I enjoyed it all until the last climb which was pretty hellish. Every time you thought it had to be the top it would kick up steeply with loads of technical rocks to negotiate, I was pretty destroyed by the end. We finished the 75km in 4 hours 33 taking first place in the mixed pairs category and beating all but one of the women´s teams (full results here, and you can follow life timing on the website each day). Standing on the podium alongside world champ Jose Hermida was pretty cool and riding in the leaders jersey tomorrow saves washing kit in the sink. Absolutely shattered but very happy!

Josh´s handlebar video gives a good impression of the race, mostly of the first half which was faster and less technical. Also photos here.

So far the Andalucía Bike Race is looking good, I´m not sure if I´m in Córdoba or heaven. This morning Josh and I went to explore the trails out the back door of our hotel and the start of tomorrows race. Steep climbs in 25 degrees heat takes some adjusting to but I could get used to it! We found some great singletrack, a mixture of fast and bermy or technical and rocky, with stunning views out across the city and surroundings.

The race organisation is incredible with every need catered for, and with accommodation in a 4* hotel this really is the life of luxury. The atmosphere is super chilled out with loads of world class pros hanging around to chat to.

This afternoon we explored Córdoba, wizzing through the narrow streets, dropping down steps amongst the old ruins and Moorish buildings and scattering tourists. Traditional tapas and a sneaky beer on a sunny terrace were essential race preparation too.

Can´t wait for tomorrow!