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Today: 105km, 9,068 ft climbing…Castel Brando to Col di Lana

That dastardly King Richard is running scared of us and has resorted to messing with our communication lines. Hence the delayed blog posts!

Another bright sunny morning  in Cison di Valmarino brought the heat once again, temperature topped out at 32C today. But what a day it was!

A sumptuous breakfast in the castle’s ‘breakfast rooms’ made us feel a little under dressed with our kits on.

This was truly a challenging ride for me, all of Team Canuck and the newly but loosely formed Cycletooth’s Army. The Aussies put in a solid effort and the Brit rode like the wind!

We started climbing basically right out the front door of Castle Brando and then ascended the brutal and iconic San Boldo with its series of switchbacks and tunnels.

We then descended thrillingly through the Belluno Valley and then entered the Parco Nationale Dolomiti Belunesi in the shadow of Monte Civetta to the Col di Lana. Lunch was in Agordo where we had a hearty meal before tackling the Emerald-Lakes Pass and a really tough finishing ascent to our  hotel in Col di Lana. Two nights here at this lovely family alpine hotel.

This truly was one of the reasons for doing this trip, to ride a tough route in spectacular beauty…a Living The Dream ride! But tomorrow brings more of the same, as the classic Sella Ronda awaits.

Note: the Cycletooth Army has gained ground and time on Richard and Team Plantagenet, and Mr. Pink is out of detention and locked and loaded, team confidence growing!