Mother nature decided that Andalucia Bike Race’s Queen stage on day 4 wasn’t quite difficult enough, a dumping of snow on top of the mountains would make things a little more interesting. A route diversion followed cutting the stage to ‘just’ 2,500 metres of climbing over 65 kilometres.
A neutralised downhill section out of town with tight gravel corners was a fun start to the day, 650 keen lycra clad mountain bikers drifting down a 20% gradient hill elbow to elbow. The sound of bikes and bodies hitting tarmac didn’t sound pleasant.
There were some awesome bits of singletrack on yesterdays stage but today was pretty amazing, there were some great sections including a downhill littered with 180 degree turns, a rickety old wooden wall ride, steep loose bum on the rear tyre sections, jumps, rock gardens… It was good!
The Queen stage of the race lived up to its moniker. Photo: Vermont Images
The views from the top of the mountains wasn’t bad either, look one way there would be olive groves for as far as you can see, look the other direction and they’d be the snowy peaks. On climb number 2 we did reach snow level, a few inches of snow had fallen at this level and there was plenty of ice about.
It was a stage worthy of queen status, the winners certainly earned they’re glory. Thomas Litscher and Ondrej Cink won the Elite Mens for Merida, in the Elite Womens Sally Bigham and Milena Lantwing continued Topeak Ergons winning streak. Overall Robert Mennen and Alban Lakata still lead the Elite Mens, Sally and Milena lead the Elite Womens. Brits Seb and Hamish Batchelor put in a storming ride to finish 8th elite team today.
Washing down after stage 4 at the Andalucia Bike Race. Photo: Vermont Images