Happy Birthday to my gorgeous wife x

Neil

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Didn’t sleep much last night, too excited plus worried about the bikes that were locked up outside. Some teams had their bikes stolen from a hotel garage so couldn’t start yesterday.
But it’s sat morning and they are still here so no excuse!
We have had a team strategy this week… I go ahead on the climbs and learn about some German culture from our new friends then go back to Chippo and take his mind off the climbing with some education…
or some singing if I have a bigger audience!
Our knees are competing with our butts to be our biggest pain but a lot of teams are quitting due to knee problems.
Last day today , and it’s all downhill. Apart from the final 9 miles, which are, of course, all up hill! Wish us luck, it’s been line to us so far. Just need enough for another 80kms, that’s all.

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Tomorrow is the final stage and if the last week is anything to go by then tomorrow we will be rock and roll stars! The crowds have been as amazing as the scenery, especially all the kids who come out before school and give you high fives as you ride along. Today we finished in the highest point of Saxony, East Germany and there are views that in for miles. I’ve seen plenty of riders stop and take photos!
The organisation has been tops and go out of their way to look after every rider, even the back markers when they finish by giving out free beer!
Who’s up for it next year? We are taking names already!
Tomorrow’s final pasta party should rock, everyone’s already on a high for getting this far. The shuttle bus laid on to take the riders back to their hotels doesn’t start running until midnight and stops at 2am.
Rock on.

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Well , if I was a few pounds lighter we would I’m sure be sitting mid table for our category. As neil has highlighted we are not last by 6mins so we are pondering what to do ( no one remembers who came second to last ) , we shall see.
Today’s stage was full of climbs as is usual for this race but the biggest climb was the big 1200m beast that takes you up and over to the stage finish.The final climb was 24k long and dragged on and on with false flats and some very steep sections that tortured my already buggered knees.
The downhill into the finish was not easy neither very bumpy ,technical and twisty.
I had an interesting moment at the finish as within 2 minutes of me crossing the line my front tyre exploded ( a side wall tear) which was fortunate as if it had burst on the downhill I may be righting this from a hospital bed. New tyre , next stage tomorrow and the final stage.
C mon the wycombe.

Chippo

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Finished today’s stage which went up to 1200 meters. Got a problem though, we’re now not last. Team Rotho are about 6 minutes behind us! What do we do? Where’s the glory in coming second from last?
Another load of teams quit before today’s finale. Yesterday we were 185th out 185. Today we are 170th out of 171. 220 teams started last Saturday.
Hmmm…

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