Badlands

Figured you were gonna pull the pin though you did seem quite chipper - I guess you knew and had made peace with the tired legs. Just in case, most people quit when I make an appearance, so apols :D

I was actually in a good mood most of the time, just getting on with it instead of having to dig really deep just to turn the pedals. It was hella hard, no doubt but I guess having fewer big races meant I had more in mental tank. Made for a nice change. The only stumbling block was the climb out of Almeria which had me pushing more than riding which I wasn't used to and it fucked with my head with the timing of the next, longer, climb. I was thinking I wouldn't be able to do it with the water/food I could carry. Turns out it was actually rideable - sand rather than rocks, with a more manageable gradient and the day wasn't too hot so I didn't need to worry about water so much. Once that little hurdle was overcome I was back in the game. I reckon I could've pulled out a higher position finish but I wasn't watching the tracker and I slept longer on the last night so as to see Picco Veleta in daylight unlike last year's Transiberica when I summited at 1am or something grim.