2023-STAGE 3 | FORNOS DE ALGODRES - PENHAS DA SAÚDE

The start today is different. My whole wave starts and rides together for the first 5k. The reason is obvious of course, its all downhill on mostly paved road so everyone can keep up. This is billed as the hardest stage as there are 2 long climbs over 1000m each and in places steep. Most people I talk to are worried about this one. The cut off is set at 6 hours and 30 minutes. 

The the fun starts. We start climbing the mountain we have been looking at since yesterday evening, After a hard day in the office yesterday, my legs are taking their time to wake up so I cruise along at a steady pace and wait for the muscles to switch on. This takes ages and I begin to suspect I might have tried too hard on the first 2 days. Too late to do anything about it now. 

I join a small group made up of 2 South Africans and Frenchman and we roll along together for a few kilometres. Then I see that 2 of them struggle to navigate and keep making wrong turns so it ends up being just 2 of us. That's the trouble with this race, you have to keep looking at the GPS and some of the directions are downright sneaky, It doesn't help that the map in the GPS is out of date and there are many more tracks on the ground than are marked on the map. Less haste, more speed is my mantra at junctions.

We grind our way to the top of the first mountain which takes almost 3 hours. This is a hill that keeps on giving. There is a section of Roman Cobbles which are essentially boulders laid in the ground which are just brutal to ride up. Most people resort to walking this section as it is quicker and gets the weight off your bum which is a welcome relief.

Over the top is when the course for today joins back on the track of last years route and it is a fast rubbly descent that goes on for ages. At least 10 riders overtake me on the descent. They are flying but I don't dare try to keep up. I cant afford to crash again so I tell myself that I might catch them on the next climb. Fat chance....I'm on my own again.

A quick pitstop at a fountain at the bottom of the last climb to reload my drink system on onto the last grind of the day. I throttle back and tell myself to conserve energy for the rest of the week and just keep pedalling. I clear the forest on the lower slopes and then the track opens out to reveal the mountainside has been burned black since last year. All the trees and bushes on this side of the valley have been turned to cinders and charcoal. Must have been an inferno up here.

Eventually, I reach the plateau at the top where I have a palpable sense of relief at making it, legs are tired but OK, my back is aching but not terminal and I feel that I have got over the first major obstacle in this race. Only one more (relatively) easy day and we will be half way....but best not count those chickens yet.

I finish the stage in 40th place and Al in 49th. My conservative approach to the day (and my crappy descending) loses me 2 places overall so now I am in 31st. Al retains his position but seems determined to move up the rankings. 

The Stage Video:

The Route & Stats.