Entering the sought-after race with a popping question mark in your head doesn’t bode well. As good as my off season preparation went, I ended up with chronic insomnia, preventing me to fine tune and peak for the season openers.
I did reasonably well in the first four road marathons, but Rally di Romagna, being a stage race, is a different chapter.
So being here in Riolo Terme, Tuscany I am lining up for the first stage, basically an Olympic distance, not really my forte. The competitive field promised an exciting rivalry. My ambitions for high ranking had been lowered accordingly, and I saw myself content with top 20, top 15 at the best.
All out from the get go, a downright poison for my diesel engine, so at the time when we finished I had just warmed up. Coming 24th, which is less then mediocre. I had good sensations though and hoped for moving up in the ranking on stages coming up.
2nd Stage Riolo Terme – Marradi
The long feared rainy period came true and the Riolo Terme – Marradi stage made us want to gear up with heavier clothes. This is exactly not what I associate with Tuscany, the cliché-like region blessed with abundant sunshine and warm weather. All the same, they are the same conditions for everybody, and I was just way too concentrated on making up ground in the GC.
What awaited us were soap coated tracks no tire can handle. So we were all along on the verge of keeping the ideal line and not losing traction. The lion part of the stage went along the lines of hiking-hiking. The biggest trial I had to tackle in general, however, were the inconsistent ups and downs. There was no way to find a rhythm. Not only came those hidden uphills way too abruptly, they were knee-breaking steep, urging you to be on the granny most of the time. To cap it off, we took the wrong turn, whereby the general consensus was that the markings left a lot to be desired. A good 25min backtracking had me lose my spirit and took me a while to get my motivation back.
That wasn’t enjoyable at all, even though I was all day in calculated-optimism mode. Bottom line, I moved up 3 places in the GC and was blessed to conclude this day accident free, albeit shivering no end.
The conclusive accommodation had us wonder whether it was for real or an ill meant joke. Some remote barracks that doesn’t seem to be able to swallow this bunch of poor survivors, being on the verge of despair after these inhuman conditions. But kudos to the personnel giving it all in their power to make it as comfortable as possible.
3rd Stage Marradi-Tredozio
I dug deep into my sport psychology toolbox to prep myself for this daunting cold and wet day. Basically, the name of the game is constantly bullshitting ourselves and faking all along just to stay in the zone. The briefing announced a stage shortening, which attracted a huge unison of applause. They pledged to minimise the hiking section, and they actually did. Mind you, even the slightest undulation called for dismounting as there was zero traction – all the more tortuous maneauvering like walking on eggshells. Cursing all-around me, mostly casting blame at the organisers for putting us through such a mud bath. I kept quiet, pushed hard and paid high attention to the sparse route markings in the process. I’m just not keen to waste my precious energy to distract myself by elements I have no control over. And after that stage I made up my mind to keep my tempers at bay knowing this doesn’t help.
That paid off greatly as I, despite draining circumstances, became better, passing my most respected rivals in the ranking. The first sign, I do feel things are starting to play to my favour is, when I pick my direct opponents, watch them cautiously, play a little mental game and calculate in the process. Their spent bodies and worn down spirits downright strengthens my spirits. That’s my card I always play. Gone are the second guesses as for the consequences of my insomnia. On the contrary, I felt the immediate effect of rarely happening great recovery. With this mental boost I was able to put myself really deep into the pain-cave in the last hour of the race, which I normally rarely do on the 3rd stage knowing there is an immensely huge part ahead of us.
Principally, a well-established competing field is more than welcome. It’s just that your effort is more valuable. In the top ten ranking the usual suspects, the Portuegese armada spearheaded by JOAO MARINHO , his teammate Tiago Silva, reigning RdR 2011 winner, Italian Christian Fabbri, the Austrian famous Silvio Wieltsching. It has been meaningless for me to focus on them as they are beyond my realistic realm of competition.
One thing kept my head busy, however. I was keen to figure out why there are so many challenging track here. I don’t talk about any routes that are here and there a bit technically demanding. No, the RdR is literally “assuming” on the rider. After some interaction with my fellows we come to the conclusion that the organizer must be fixated on enduro like routes. Now that makes the race interesting and demands the highest concentration, with the hopefully final outcome of fun riding. Me, I love them, it is a sort of honest race, requiring a complete versatile rider. There is no hiding.
The stage ended up in a beautiful sunshine on the big piazza of Tredozio. Gone are the ambivalent emotions and hike-struggles, the hope for better weather in the coming days prevailed.
4th Stage Tredozio – Palazuollo.
I was fairly fed up with makeshift accommodations, sparse food, and unprepared staff. So we all really longed for a civil [hotel like] environment where we were able to clean and dry our gear under standard conditions.
I was set to go beyond my planned racing effort today, seeing the real possibility to do top 15.
That stage proved to be a genuine challenger as far as riding skill go. The stage kicked off with rain coming down. I geared, nevertheless summer-like in the hope, it’s only a matter of time and the sunshine conquers the gloomy elements. Well, that wasn’t the case – sadly.
Business as usual, all out for the first 45 min, which is toxic for my engine. I acted wisely, and kept a controllable distance to my direct competitors, namely the Italian Thomas Steger of Green Valley, [his whole team rode very cohesively], Pierpaolo Agnoletti [ITA], Carlitos Ramos [POR] and Pierpaolo Bresciani [ITA],
This time around there was no stalking anymore; we were attacking each other where ever possible. I had some slight drawbacks in fast narrow slippery downhills. Due to my clinical retinopathy and not wearing my corrective glasses, I frequently lost balance and it has been a hazardous ride all along. Once that turned into utter technical, rock-garden like sections, with steep stair-like paths, I was able to make up ground.
Apparently, my forte laid on the uphills, the steeper the better opportunity to surge and amend losses.
What followed was pure bliss for the enduro soul. After dropping all three, I kept a decent pace and was just absorbed in the rock littered track.
Partially I was flip-flopping on my decision whether or not to put myself at jeopardy and ride down the whole way with its mind boggling obstacles. I guess, the last 6km of that stage went beyond the ride-able stuff.
When I finally crossed the finish line, I was in total disbelief that I m still alive. We learned right after this that this part, and actually the larger part of the whole stage, has been the original route of the Italian Super Enduro Championship. Well, chapeau then – I did it all on my lightweight S-works 29” hartdail.
I was upbeat about the results, now 13th on GC and 10th in my category.
A generous Spa-Hotel welcomed our beaten bodies with all necessities. I could not wait for the 5th stage, where I saw myself riding offensively.
Please stay tuned for a follow up on stage 5-7.