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Thursday, 20 June 2013

La Premier Maillot Jaune in Corsica……for Jotown !

Today was even earlier than normal,5 a.m. – I’d decided to do the entire North Coast cap of Cap C’orse, combining both cols I’d done earlier in the week, and hopefully having the energy to get back up and over them both together !IMG_3124

The day started with another Christmas present opening, what was it ?…Oooh look a new cycle jersey, specially commemorating Sir Bradley’s win in the TdF last year.. IMG_3129The first yellow for Britain already !! 

Enough fun, I was ready for the road, and set off for 6-15 a.m., already other cyclists were out on the road, unfortunately going the other way !IMG_3145 I was off on the coast road, again travelling up North, through Santa Severa, and on towards Macinaggio , which I reached in just less that an hour, and after a short rest, carried on up towards Col de la Sierra,IMG_3147 a hard climb when I did it the other day, however now I knew what was coming…found it almost pleasant ! I got there just less than 2 hours after starting, now the big decision…turn around, and coast home…or drop down to the West Coast, and hopefully get back again ! ?? It didn’t take long for me to decided to go straight down, onto the West Coast, so I set the Muvi camera off, and flew down the road towards Porta Centuri – I had a car behind me, but I was going so fast they couldn’t overtake me, and I couldn’t slow enough to let them ! –they dropped into Centuri though, as suddenly the road turned from smooth asphalt, to a potholed rough track, with only one lane for traffic…and sometimes none ! ending up as grit and gravel, as I continued to drop down towards the coast, and distant villages..not a pleasant experience, as I didn’t want to break anything ,and have to walk home.. no wonder most cyclists go over Col de Ste Lucie, rather than further north !

IMG_3154The views down to the rough rugged coast were spectacular, although I wouldn’t take Wally on these roads, there’d be nothing left after a big boneshaking.. IMG_3158I eventually got to a crossroads at Pino, and turned left to leave the West coast, and traverse the island again over to the East ,the road was slightly better as I climbed , but still not brilliant..until suddenly all became smooth again,and i was back on smooth asphalt again, climbing up towards Col de Ste Lucie.. I’d not done too bad, as I hadn’t quite dropped to sea level on the West coast, so although harder, as I was tired, I did manage to ride,ride and ride…to the top, a whoop of delight, and then whooshing down the other side into Luri , at a great speed, delightful ! 

A short stop at Santa Severa, and then back to the campsite, in a wonderful 4 hour bike ride, IMG_3162where I’d climbed 890 mts, ridden 73 kms…and so awarded myself the first ‘Maillot Jaune’ on Corsica..and all for Britain..IMG_3163do you think they’ll need me next week ??

So, what to do now…eat,drink,sleep,lunch,sleep,drink…swim later..and finish my curry !

A good satisfying day, hope I've not ‘peaked’ too early !

Good night all from a happy Jotown !

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