Tales of a Wounded, Sick and Tortured Animal
Stage 1 was a challenging 50 km Time Trial
The 6th edition of the Andalucia Bike Race obliterated all records: 800 riders, 33 countries represented, 30% foreigners, with World, Continental and National Champions present, several using the first UCI race of the season as a warm up to this year's Olympics in Rio.
| Every stage race is an incredible adventure and it is an impossible task to anticipate what story would be painted across this beautiful Spanish canvas. Ahead lay 450 km of racing and nearly 12,000 metres of climbing. But the simple fact that I was racing in such a prestigious event was a minor miracle in itself. In May 2015, I had a botched hernia operation that resulted in several litres of lymphatic fluid leaking into my abdomen and the possibility that I would never ride again. Hooked up to a drain for three weeks, fortunately my body began to repair the damaged lymphatic vessels. It was another six weeks before I was able to do any physical activity and four months before I could race again. |  I raced through Crocodile infested jungle and dusty, baking hot outback for this! |
Since then, I have returned to England and managed to cobble together some work commutes and indoor rides. But would it be enough to keep up with Stage race rival and now Bikeboard Polish teammate, Zbigniew Mossoczy? Ziggy and I have raced against each other in both the infamous Crocodile Trophy in Queensland Australia (2013), where he finished 4th and I was 5th, and in the technically difficult Sudety MTB Challenge in Poland (2014), finishing 15th and Ziggy some places ahead of me. This mountain of a man was to prove my tormentor in the southern Spanish mountains.
Dawn broke, and the Bikeboard team, which also contained elite Polish pair Jakub Swiderski and Przemyslaw Maciejowski, simultaneously rose from the night's slumber. But four rushed visits to the toilet in the hotel and a final forced visit pre-race did not auger well for me. The first stage saw the riders depart Martos at 30 second intervals and the first kilometres were flat and furious. However, I was already struggling. The sight of the steep first climb blew to smithereens any lingering hope of remaining strong. The singletrack snaked steeply up the side of the mountain and despite incredible support from the enthusiastic locals, my legs and lungs spontaneously imploded. I felt pain in the glutes and the Achilles and although I was aware of the stunning views from the top of the mountain, I was in no mood to enjoy them. Zbig resorted to pushing me at every opportunity, which helped but also further destroyed my disintegrating ego. The crowd support continued to be amazing, the locals really embracing the race and the support was fervent. 'Arriba' , 'venga venga' and 'animal' they screamed as my partner continued to monster the climbs. I barely rode across the line and felt dizzy and weak. Never before, could I remember such a devastatingly hard stage. Shortly after, I was in bed and soon asleep not to wake up until several hours later.
Stage 2 was destined not to happen. The Queen stage of the race was apparently the most beautiful but, like Medusa, the most brutal. A sequence of steep, serpent-like trails, climbed the surrounding Jaen mountains, ultimately rewarding riders with rapid, technical descents. But for me they would merely be a vision from my stupor and not a reality. I could not drink, never mind eat, my stomach repelling the food as if it was its mortal enemy. During the night, I felt like a spit roast, constantly turning but finding no relapse from the stabbing pain. Uncontrollable vomiting followed. As far as I was concerned, my race was over. I just wanted to be removed from the spit that cut through my core. After waking from my tortured sleep, my three Bikeboard teammates reported similar symptoms and the culprit, we believe, was chicken brought in jars from Poland. The day was spent at the local hospital, medication and injections taken and a little food consumed. The symptoms began to subside, and we looked positively to trying to ride the next day.
We all dragged ourselves to the start line in Andajur, a transition stage between Jaen and Cordoba. We were now placed in gate six, at the very back of the 800 riders. Zbig and I cut through the pack, the first 20 km undulating, allowing fast speeds and the opportunity to ride with some of the stronger riders. We were treated to two difficult climbs but plenty of singletrack and some stunning vistas. We were to place 24th in Masters 40, our best position during the race.
Stage 4 departed the historical centre of Cordoba from the mosque and swiftly crossed the river. Mountains, forest, animals and singletrack followed in abundance. We hit the rocky abandoned railway track and my buddy punctured, as his spoke broke free of the rim. We lost a little ground, but as we climbed La Canchuela, we were surrounded by some of the top mixed and female teams and I couldn't help but be so impressed with the bike handling skills on display. Not that skilful female bike handlers are unique, but the strength in depth here is amazing. We descended the final roman road, which was typically fast and technical and finished a respectable 28th in category.
By Stage 5, my brief revival during the race dissipated. Like a dying animal, I had responded valiantly on the previous two days, but I was essentially masking weakness. The first long climb up a steep jeep trail ended in a conga line and delay going into the singletrack, which we knew would require intense concentration to avoid paying the ultimate price. Eventually, we realised that a rider had gone down hard and broken his collarbone and was being returned to the safety of the main trail. Now fatigue had hit me hard and I couldn't maintain the pace of the peloton. I dropped from one group to the next, hindered further by a malfunctioning freehub, and limped weakly to the end of the stage. Stage 6 started with a technical climb up El Reventon, just 4 km from the start. My pace was uneven and the flowy singletrack that followed, just seemed to present challenging hill after hill. The rain fell for the first time and the temperatures dropped. The final descent was made more difficult by the slippery rocks. Again I limped over the line, struggling to breathe, a pain in my sternum that would remain for a couple of days more. My race was over and I was truly cooked (unlike the chicken on the first night)!
Even the professionals were struggling on the steep climbs (Lakata & Hynek)
For the record, current XCM Champion, Alban Lakata (Austria) and former XCM European Champion Kritian Hynek (Czech Rep.) were the competition favourites but, on the very last day, they lost their slender 41 second lead to Periklis Ilias (Greece) and Tiago Ferreira (Portugal). This was to prove to be the closest fought edition in the event's history the winners finishing with an overall time of 18:38:24. Female World Champions Sally Bigham (Great Britain) and Katrin Leumann (Switzerland) dominated in the elite women's category finishing with a time of 23:28:38.
If anyone is thinking of doing a stage race in Europe, this is definitely one of the best organised as you would expect from a UCI S1 event, with maximum ranking points for the top riders. The climbs are steep and the descents are fast and thrilling, while there is an abundance of spectacular scenery and plenty of flowing singletrack. It is not easy and a certain degree of ability is a must. My one small gripe would be that accommodation is in hotels and so the race loses the camaraderie of races such as the Crocodile Trophy, Mongolia Bike Challenge and the Sudety MTB Challenge. Consequently, organise a trip with a few mates and share the experience together - My Polish friends and I had an incredible time, one that is etched deeply in the memory, despite all our adversity.
Official 2016 Andalucia Bike Race Preview
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