It was very early to get up today, grab my seven things and hurry on foot to the transfer area. Then we had breakfast on the bus and enjoyed an espresso in Conegliano, picked up the bike, handed in our luggage and stowed the food in the Mavic Auto. At 9:00 a.m. the starting shot was fired and things got off to a leisurely start. Above all, there are a lot of amateur riders at the start, the majority of the field is, similar to La Marmotte, rather leisurely on the road and for these riders such a stage race is an incredible challenge. There were only a few German-speaking riders at the start, mainly English and French.
Quite different at the front of the field. Except for Nico, I didn't know anyone before today's stage, there is no starting list for the Haute Route. In any case, the Passo san Boldo got down to business and I also tested the competition at the top. After the equally technical descent to Tirchiana (which I know from GF Bellunese last year) and greeting my friends there Stefano and Paolo from the side of the road, we continued - steadily uphill through the valley via Sedico - Agordo and Alleghe.
Lots rolled back up through the valley and by the way to Alleghe there were at least 100 riders in the first group. In the first ramps after Caprile, I noticed that things were going really well for me and after knowing the climb from last year's photo shoot in Alta Badia, I was able to manage my strength perfectly. So I didn't show any weaknesses and made three sharp attacks to see which of the drivers I didn't know really had what on. With two men on the rear wheel, we continued, the rest were clearly distanced. Neither of them wanted to take the lead, so I waited until after the short flat section, where the Passo Giau really starts, to attack again.
After the timing ended at the top of the pass, there was nothing to lose and I rode the first kilometer with the knife between my teeth. Only then did the first of the two burst off, the other made a totally relaxed impression while I was struggling. I thought of last year's Endura nightmare and went up a gear again until my second companion had to give up too. From now on I fought mostly against myself! The gap hardly increased and I somehow ran out of gas. The emergency gel compensated a little, but the last few kilometers were a real grind! Snow sleet set in and quickly developed into a real hailstorm, the tires crunched like on a snowy road.
I didn't look around once, just fighting against the wind, the cold and every second I need as a reserve for the next few days. At the top I was completely empty, could hardly brake and luckily was immediately handed the jacket from the Mavic Auto that had been following me from the Flame Rouge. Luckily, the descent wasn't about anything anymore and as soon as we reached Cortina, the sun shone again!
After catering, massage, briefing, award ceremony and sauna, I'm now writing and I'm very happy with how things went today. It took a long time, but the first win of the season gives me a real boost. How I will put on the next few days will probably be decided tomorrow at the start. In order to have a chance of winning the day in Meran, I would have to attack early and ride the whole stage solo. With the king's stage with a mountain finish at the Gavia Pass, this might be a pretty exhausting tactic - but you'll know more tomorrow after the race.
Starting tomorrow it will be really tough, daily start at 7:00 a.m., straight up to the Falzarego, further over Prodoijoch and Karerpass; at the end the high-speed descent through the Eggental, the endless flat stretch from Bozen to Meran, where Alexander is waiting for me.
Greetings from Cortina d'Ampezzo, see you tomorrow!