Milano San Remo Stage 2

Lago d’Orta to Santuario di Oropa

Strava (to lunch only): 51.22 km, 752m, 2:36, 123 shifts

I slept pretty well but felt like I could’ve used more. Breakfast was at 7am, and we left as usual at 8:15. The first part of the ride was nice and cool, easy riding around the lake, nearly flat. After a 12 km warmup, we started climbing Passo della Colma, 640m up in 15 km. I felt weaker than yesterday and kept telling myself to take it easy. I rode with Curt, Carien, Louis and a few others, nice and easy. I wasn’t looking at the distance so when we made it I was a little surprised. We took some photos, then headed down.

I enjoyed the descent and got ahead, then continued solo to a town where I had a banana break but it was only a few more km to lunch from there. I did not really feel right…but told myself I’d be better after lunch. That didn’t work at all so I decided to listen to my body and not push. After lunch there was almost 1,500m more to climb, some of it steep. So opting out seemed like a good idea.

After everyone ate, we cleaned up and I rode with Hans in the extra van. We talked for a while then I fell asleep and never saw the hard climb, but I woke up just as we arrived at the monastery where we’re staying, the Sanctuary of Oropa. It’s quite impressive and large and as soon as I got out I felt the cooler, drier air and it felt good. I checked in and took some photos, had a shower, then soup with the early riders. They’re all so tough and it feels bad I wasn’t myself riding today. I took a nap and read a book in the afternoon.

We had dinner at 7 and got a laugh at the first course. The monastery is somewhat austere and each person was served a very plain white plate with plain white risotto on it. The pescatarians were identified with name tags too. My second course was trout with veggies.

After dinner Wilbert explained tomorrow’s stage and I retired early to try and get healthy for a big ride tomorrow.