RdC Stages 3 & 4 - getting used to it

So stages three and four were yesterday. I debated putting something up, but I was pretty shattered. Stage two was the longest road race I'd ever ridden. Stage three was longer, and followed by another stage in the afternoon.

Legs were feeling good in the morning. Stage three was a hilly 95km, with three laps over a steep ~150m KOM. I tried getting into a better position in the bunch early on, did better than the previous day, but not good enough. Kudos to the indomitable Dave Mc for coming back to me at the base of KOM 1, guiding me through the bunch up the hill, and then when I failed to recover in time to stay on the wheels of the pack, towing me most of the way around the course. We formed a group with about ten other riders, up and over-ing our way around another lap. We went up KOM 2 at a civilised pace, keeping things steady, and holding the group together.

Unfortunately the next time around, a few of the other guys, despite being seven minutes down on GC, decided this was their moment, and attacked. Such is the way in competitive cycling, but I couldn't help but feel a little hard done by, as once again I watched people ride away from me after the climb. Dave once again came back for me, and we span gently back for a cool down before the afternoon. Not my most magnificent outing, but better than the previous day's.

Grabbed some grub and chilled out. We had about two hours before we were due to start the team TT, and needed fresh legs. The course was out with a tailwind, around a roundabout, and back into the headwind. We had no practice as a team in formation, and the lads were taking extra turns to save my legs on the way out (so I could hopefully save theirs on the way back).

I surprised them (and myself) by riding through a few times on the way out, but I badly misjudged the on into the roundabout. The lads kept going, and I tagged on at the back swiftly enough, but we could see the following team had put time into us as we passed them on the other side. Steamed across the line with tired legs, but satisfied we'd left it all on the road. We didn't manage to beat our nearest rivals though, and maintained our spot on team GC.