UCI-race 2.1

First stage led over 130 km with 3 short climbs from Trento to Mante. The bunch started slowly, enjoying the nice countryside along th Adige and showed no reaction to the attack of Bastianelli who got up to 3 min advantage and was caught back after the first gpm. Then the rhythm grew up and the teams tried to place their sprinters for a rather technical arrival. I found myself in about 20th position, but as the “cales” on my new sidi shoes were not correctly positioned, I had cramps in the last meters and couldn’t force finishing only on 35th position. This was a bit dissappointing for me because this stage suited me really well and I couldn’t expect a first position in the next stages with long climbs.

On Saturday in Roverto my stage started more or less intentionally, with an attack right from the start, that gave me the opportunity to grap some points in the mountain classification, but the big teams reacted soon and the speed in the bunch grew faster. After the third passage of the gpm on there was a front group with 22 riders, with all the favourites. As for myself, I payed for my initial efforts finishing with the gruppetto. Must say that those long climbs aren’t really my thing!

The last stage began just as the second finished: with a really long climb and 36° temperture!This time Karin Thürig attacked right from the start and the bunch got streched even before the long climb at km 4. I didn’t struggle to stay in the bunch (the heat made me suffer a bit more than the youngsters), but took my rythm and found myself on top of the hill with a dutch rider...(all the others I cought up didn’t follow). In the downhill (which was by the way absolutly awesome!) I was all alone (without water, car or another rider). Then I saw a group in front but I couldn’t reach them, so I finally waited for the others being brought back by the motorbikes.

Anyway I was happy to finish my first UCI point 1 race this year and I’m sure I’ve made a good preparation for the nationals, where I expect to finish on the podium once more.

Pictures in the next days

See you all in Roeser (LUX)

Suzie