2023-STAGE 7 | ALBERNOA - MONCHIQUE

Today I face my demon….at least that’s the way I remember it from last year. This stage for me was the hardest last time round so I am treating it with a lot of respect. It is a long hilly one at 148K and nearly 2200M ascent. It is effectively 2 stages in one with a nice rolling first half through some very pretty farmland and a second half that has all the climbing and heat. I had an awful day last time round and I am determined not to repeat.

I set off as usual at the back of my wave and pretty soon the main group is away over the horizon and out of mind. I get my audiobook on and begin the grind. I resolve to hold back today so I can finish strong tomorrow.  No way in hell I want to repeat last year.

The day starts off pleasantly warm but the mercury keeps ratcheting up throughout the day. The last water stop is at 85K and there is nothing again till the top of the last hill so there is a queue to fill up at the fountain. I’m feeling OK at this point and have some energy but not as much as I would have hoped. By now, the temp is 32C and I am coping OK.

Al comes past at about Kilometre 90 full of beans so I wish him well and send him up the road. He has a different plan to me :-) Later he tells me that he looked round at to the top of the 3rd last climb and could see me on the lower slopes. He is on a mission to gain places today and I hope he doesn’t burn too many matches. The last day is not without its challenges.

I grind out the 3 last climbs and have a mild feeling of euphoria when I crest the last one. I have put last year’s mushroom cloud behind me and can now give the rest of the race all the remaining beans. I blast down the hill for the last 15K and to the finish line, beating last years time by 30 minutes. This is all of course due to the tailwind and lack of punctures :-)

The Stage Video

Some stage stats: