STAGE 8 | MONCHIQUE - SAGRES (94km / 1496m+)

The final day! Only 94km to go to the finish and we are done! There is an air of elation in the camp and everyone is excited to be so close to the finish. At the briefing last night we were told there would be a stiff headwind for the first half of the ride. Today, Chris will 'unleash the dogs of war' and see what he can do. I will hang on for as long as I can and finish as strongly as I am able. Mascot 'Gordon the Rat' observes the whole thing from my helmet.

We set off in a big group and the pace is steady and I hide in the pack. I am happy to be hiding out of the wind. Chris bides his time and waits until the hills come and it gets a bit harder. Which of course it does. This is Portugal after all. We start climbing up to a wind farm and the hammer is starting to go down. I'm still just about hanging on. The climbs are not that big, only 100-200m but they are punchy and the accumulated fatigue is showing. Some people get off and walk.

Eventually the elastic snaps when Chris gives it full afterburner and drops just about everybody. I don't see him again till the finish line. I slog on and keep going at the max my body can do. 

Suddenly the finish line is on the horizon at the lighthouse and Chris rides back to accompany me to the line. At this stage, I am frazzled and emotional and when I cross the line I finally blow. I face a wall and sob. It is really, really weird and I couldn't care less. I don't know where this is coming from but I feel everything coming apart and blub like a baby. I give Chris a hug and this sets him off too. There's a lot of this going on but most hold it together. 

Eventually, I relax and can enjoy the sensation of having finished one of the hardest things I have ever done. I tell Chris he has my permission to shoot me if I ever suggest doing this again. There is a party atmosphere at the lighthouse with a band and a bar. Try re-hydrating on gin & tonic...it is a fantastic feeling!

We soak up the atmosphere and celebrate ourselves and the finish. At this stage, I don't realize how well Chris has done on the stage. Eventually, we find out that he has finished 7th on the day. What a result! I rock up 23rd which I am amazed by.  

We eventually wend our way to the hotel and have to face the pain of packing our bikes away ourselves. 

Every evening this week, I have gotten off the bike and handed it to a man who takes it from me and when I see it again the next morning, it is like new. These mechanics and masseurs take such good care of us and our kit that the challenge of slogging the length of Portugal mostly off road in 8 days became possible for us. 

Cheers y'all.

The route