Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:49 am
As last year, I went to Italy for the Maratona Dolomites, and got knocked out by fearsome heat.
Riding through a village before the turn off for the medium/long route, the digital sign above a chemists kindly informed you it was 35 degrees. The medium course suddenly became attractive, the idea of climbing Passo Gaiu, 10km long at 9.9% average, went out of the window.
People were dropping like flies, ambulances flying past all day, and although at the halfway point I was almost an hour faster than last years times, I still ended up doing the medium route 9 minutes slower than last year.
I've never been in heat like that, it was horrible.
However, as an event, it is simply unbeatable for scenery, organisation, facilities and freebies.
Highly, highly recommended.
I managed to pass super Mario Cipollini climbing ther Passo Pordoi, and the fast chap who finished 3rd in my age group, at a fantastic speed, was former footballer Fabrizio Ravanelli, who now rides at alomost professional level.
Garmin details for those interested:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/39182947
Riding through a village before the turn off for the medium/long route, the digital sign above a chemists kindly informed you it was 35 degrees. The medium course suddenly became attractive, the idea of climbing Passo Gaiu, 10km long at 9.9% average, went out of the window.
People were dropping like flies, ambulances flying past all day, and although at the halfway point I was almost an hour faster than last years times, I still ended up doing the medium route 9 minutes slower than last year.
I've never been in heat like that, it was horrible.
However, as an event, it is simply unbeatable for scenery, organisation, facilities and freebies.
Highly, highly recommended.
I managed to pass super Mario Cipollini climbing ther Passo Pordoi, and the fast chap who finished 3rd in my age group, at a fantastic speed, was former footballer Fabrizio Ravanelli, who now rides at alomost professional level.
Garmin details for those interested:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/39182947
