Vallebona &

Arvo cruise to nice via cap ferrat

Morning Ride

Night Ride

My initial plan was to go all in over the penultimate climb with a technical descent that looked dangerous in a group at speed, adn 35 km to the finish- but the team i had ridden for the prior day had warned me that wasn't going to happen (they were riding fro one of their team)- so i really just looked to captalise on anything interesting in the race as it unfolded. first climb i suffered, furst time i've really felt under pressure and at real risk of wrong side of a split this week, or indeed in any race for a good while-(since VB). despite getting active with some attempted moves, everythiung was being neutralised as i was warned- so i relaxed back into a pace (after the climb) which was very easy..and typically a break was allowed to go - still maybe 80k to go- i didnlt think it stood much chance- but it quickly got mins..and ended up taking a min on the stage. would have been v tough. I turned my attention rest of stage to getting down the descents safely, driving the pace occasionally, adn looking out for a few friends who still were high on GC - meant quite a bit more effort than you;d chose to make if riding for pure result.  Sure enough the final 10k ish climb i really did suffer.. not the breathing oput of control type- more legs and body on limit- and having to find own rhythm as the relentless pace just got to much to sustain on the steeper sections. Managed t get into a TT type mode at my own rhythm and ride back some of the gap the ;ast few k as grade sunsided, but 30s down on the lead rider- and yellow jersey. For sure i could have been there had i played it a little more conservatively - but for sure this was absolute limit riding, was good to be really tested like that- and come up short. It begs the q, can i go deeper/ ride smarter etc or do i just need to raise the level- pretty much all three at the sharp end of a week of this to be a real contender. Tomorrows stage looks to be a barnstormer with 40k/h crosswinds..

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Paul elcock

Giro Sardinia Stage 5- Queen stage

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Vallebona &

Arvo cruise to nice via cap ferrat

Morning Ride

Morning Ride

Night Ride

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