Stage One: I Want To Ride My Bicycle!

At 9am we were all ready to ride, but there was already a rumour on the start line that today's stage would be cancelled. It started raining last night and it was still raining as we stood on the start line in Mittenwald (Germany). It's still raining now as we sit in our hotel in Kramsach (Austria). Up on the Alps it was snowing.

We awoke early at 6am with all the usual excitement of a race day - minds buzzing, heart rates a few beats higher than usual. When we looked out of the window we saw the first sign that today might not be a good day for mountain biking. The Alps were enveloped by grey clouds and the rain was torrential. Yesterday we went for a spin around the local villages in bright sunshine. Today it was only 4°C.

By the time we'd ridden from our hotel to the start line we were soaked and chilled to the bone. Beneath the clouds, at 1,500m, the snow was falling. The first climb of the day was from 900m to 1,800m, taking us beyond the safety limits set by the mountain rescue service. To our immense disappointment, the stage was cancelled. We were "all carbed up with nowhere to go".

The organisation that followed was something to behold. Trucks appeared to transport bikes, coaches appeared to transport riders. Any race organiser would be justly proud of a logistics exercise of this magnitude. Four hours later we arrived in Reith im Alpbachtal, on four wheels instead of two. Let's hope that the weather improves tomorrow - we want to ride our bikes!

Pete & Jon's sponsors:

www.skins.net | www.cube-bikes.co.uk | www.bentleybirmingham.co.uk | www.mulebar.com | www.highfive.co.uk | www.camelbak.com | www.udderlysmooth.co.uk | www.thecyclestudio.co.uk |Gateway Cycles