AnDALUSIA BIKE RACE 2018 - STAGE 4

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 28th February, 2018

Stage 4 was the first of two stages from Cordoba, originally planned as the Queen stage at 92 km. However with rain forecast for the day the organisers made the wise decision of shortening the stage to 61kms. This still meant 3 hours 38 of riding for me which was plenty in the conditions.

Apart from an early 8km climb the stage was fairly rolling and fast over wide tracks, with big puddles and trees to weave around. There were also a couple of great long descents, a rocky wide one at 40kms and another fast single track at 50km that weaved around small trees with low hanging branches to add to the fun.

The stage started with 3kms road to get us to the hill. A difference to previous years is the non neutral start, which is less congested and nerve wracking though if the legs are not feeling sprightly it is very easy to be dropped. I was not hanging on to the ladies I wanted to be around at least for the first third of the race and then kept making mistakes on the climb early on - taking bad lines and having to jump on and off. I had a quick word with myself, reminded myself to relax, enjoy and look ahead, I enjoyed it a lot more then and made fewer mistakes. The climb was off road on a wide track and had rocks to ride around or over so riders were getting spread out, at the top we entered single track where a queue had formed. I felt like I was further back than usual and decided not to worry and see if I could pick up places later. After a couple of minutes of queuing It was fast again and I had to work hard to make sure I was keeping up on the single track that climbed a bit more.

It was really wet with lots of mud being flicked in the eye from other riders wheels and big puddles I had no zip in me but felt strong enough to enjoy it and stayed consistent. The stage felt fast because although wet it was nothing like the mud we slog through at home. And it was warm enough to be in shorts and jersey with a wind/waterproof on. An added bonus of today’s stage was that it was Andalucia Day and even with the poor weather the trails were packed with cheering supporters, many of whom would call out our names read from our number boards.

I finished thinking I was down on yesterday, maybe just in the top 20 but I was happy from riding the trails. Later on when the results came out I was chuffed I had finished 11th, and moved up a couple of spaces to 13th overall, that was a nice surprise.

Unfortunately Natalie Fischer the stage winner from yesterday had to withdraw due to Hypothermia and Charlotte Davies our top British Elite rider had to withdraw today from the pain in her knee which is swollen up like a ballon.

Mark found the stage really hard though he hung on to a fast group which Crispin seemed to be leading to finish 20th and 17th overall and Crispin felt OK though now has a bruised backside from sitting heavy on some rocks at speed finishing 17th and now sits 20th overall.

Tomorrow’s stage is in Villaviciose de Cordoba, a fifty minute drive north of Cordoba. This is the first time the race has started there and I get the impression it was selected for the outstanding landscape. With heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow we may not see much of it. The stage has been shortened from 66 to 53 kms.