After a couple chill days in Lucca, we took off to France for the Tour Cycliste Feminine Internationale l’Ardeche…or just Ardeche. On the way through Italy we passed several wildfires that were blazing up in the hills, creating quite a billow of smoke. I suppose California isn’t the only place that gets hit with dry spells, heat and winds that combine to kick up an inferno in the parched hillsides. The wild fire planes seemed to have most of then under control, but I do wonder how many homes had been evacuated as the fires were tauntingly within reach??
So, after 7.5 hours we finally pulled up to the campground where we stayed for the week. Yes, campground. We didn’t sleep in tents but cabins that were complete with stove top for cooking dinners, a shower that may or may not have had hot water or water pressure, and beds with disposable sheets for everyone. 3 people per cabin. Tiny but doable. And we only had to sweep the dirt out about 5 times per day to keep the place somewhat clean.
The race – 5 days, 6 stages + small roads (and I’m talking SMALL) + rough surface + LOTS of climbing (and just as much descending) = HARD RACE. Every day had climbing and on day 3 we started with 27km of it. Was going pretty well on the climb until Amber Neben (my teammate) went to the front and picked up the tempo. Lots of people scrambling to stay with the front group. I made it over in the 2nd group of about 40+ and finished the long, twisting, fast descent with 12. I was 2nd wheel the entire way down the descent and I guess we were FLYING to have dropped that many women. Kind of cool to think we nailed it that fast. Cervelo had control of the race from day 1, only switching the lead from Soeder to Armstrong on day 2 and that lead never changed.
On our way out of the campground on the last day, buses of young adults, I guess you’d call them, pulled in to overtake the campground. I’m pretty sure most of them were still drunk as many of them were pretty chatty. One guy even told us Jeanie Longo’s secret to success, a cigarette in the morning and one in the afternoon and a glass of wine. But keep that quiet, we aren’t suppose to tell her he told us that.
We’re back in Lucca until we drive the 20km to Viareggio to start the Giro della Toscana tomorrow. This morning we woke up to rumbling thunder and bursts of lightening and pouring rain – the forecast isn’t looking much better for the week either. Ugh. Toscana is a fast, crazy race as it is and wet roads will just make it even more terrifying. I need the racing for Worlds prep but safety is my main concern…I don’t want to miss my first Worlds because of a crash!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed for us, please.
Ciao ciao
M
BBRoberts is safe from the fires here. The Big Meadow control burn that got out of control caused a lot of evacuations, but is 25 miles away from me. The last 4 years all have had fires within 15 miles, and two years in a row the fires were only one mile from my house. Luckily, knock on wood, I am still here safe from the fires. Last year I watched the fires with binoculars through the living room window, that close! Bigla wins stage 1, good luck!
BBR
And I was worried about my house being adequate? After reading about your cabin, I’m no longer concerned