At the pre-race briefing for Day 4 riders were advised that today they would encounter some “funny trails”, and that perhaps today would be the hardest stage. An overnight storm gave riders their first taste of mud for the tour so far.. The British contingent revelled in the familiar conditions, but for many the slippery tracks proved a challenging start to the day. Some ultra steep and very rough climbing and similar descents for the next 60kms meant that riders with 3 hard, long days all ready in their legs arrived at the final 25km descent fatigued both mentally and physically. A very steep and rocky track was described by a team of brothers from South Africa as “the most sustained technical and difficult track we have ever ridden”. Another pair from Norway commented that “this is the reason we came to Transpyr, to ride these amazing trails”.
At the end of the stage riders reached the halfway point of the ride, passing from the Catalan to the Aragon Pyrenees. Team Buff International again crossed the finish line first, in a tight finish.
Stage 5, with 2000m of climbing and 100kms again provided riders with amazing views across snow covered mountains but gave some respite from the very long previous days. Finishing at the pilgrim town of Jaca riders will rest before tackling the “Walking stage” of the sixth day.
