The Raid is done. Kaput. Finito.
It is hard to summarise the experiences from a 9 day ride into a blogpost. Far too much content occurs in the frame by frame memories burned into the brain's cortex by the lactic acidosis to be able to put it down on paper. I finally understand why they sang "Route 66" instead of writing the book.
Here's a quick snapshot: 1,200km's from Lake Geneva to Trieste along the frilly top of Italy's boot over the Alps and Dolomites. Four countries (France, Switzerland, Italy and a border sighting of Slovenia). 9 days. 133k's average a day. 21,000m of climbing. 40 cols. 20 riders. 2 support vehicles. 1 tub of shammy cream. One Train of Pain.
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| Gary, Rich, RobbyRicc, Vervie and Nick The Destroyer |
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| San Bernardino and the aftermath |
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| Chris (The Pistol from Bristol), RR and Vervie |
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| The Splurgen fettucini |
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| The Maloja (literally translated, and rightly so, as the Evil Eye) |
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| Cleat petite |
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| Assault of the Stelvio |
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| The Stelvio has assaulted |
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| Cima Coppi with Rich the Wright |
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| Coppi Country |
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| The start of the 70k Stelvio descent |
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| Gary and the smoke from the Dolomites |
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| Fausti monument on his favourite climb, Passo de Pordoi |
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| Aqua aerobics for recovery |
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| Climbers on the Valparola |
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| The obligatory pic with the Swedish biker |
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| Passo di Giau |
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| The horse whisperers |
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| Vervie's battle with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo |
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| GQ Magazine |
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| Tunnel next to the lake |
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| Train of Pain |
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| Illegal celebratory swimming |
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| Blue Steel |
Ker-pow!
~RobbyRicc
