The morning started out with me feeling sick and very light on sleep due to jetlag but very heavy on coastal rain in the early morning hours. Luckily the rain lightened up when we rolled out as a group from Bilbao just past 7:30 am.
A 20 km warm up followed in light drizzle but nothing too bad. Then the climbing began. It was gentle gradient-wise and we even were treated to clearing skies atop the first climb - Loizaga. Then a rolling romp with steep ramps followed. With damp roads and little sun, this meant slick tarmac. Slid my rear wheel at one point but kept off the brakes and stayed upright. A few more climbs followed. The star and bear of the day was the Espina. It included ramps that some said touched 28% at times and based on how I felt, I'd have to agree. The afternoon climbs were not as steep but the before-lunch ramps made their mark.
Some of other highlights were getting back to Feed Stops today with Aimar's antics, can't ask for much else to help lighten your spirits. Scenery was spectacular at times with lush green hillsides, rock walls, limestone formations and roads that seemed to go nowhere in particular except up and down.
Total Distance today, somewhere around 200-202 km and ~4450 m of climbing, a healthy start to the week.
The rain stopped atop the day's first climb
Spotted, baguette home delivery
Atop Espina, worth enjoying the view when you had to battle to get there
Spanish kitties finally meowing after talking to them in Espanol
Climbing Lunada after lunch
Atop the day's last big climb with Jen
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