Kelly's Race Report
Transalp Challenge '07
From the editor - Sorry about the delay, I'll try to get you all caught up on Kelly and Walter's ride.
Sunday July 15th.
33 rd place
Hey guys, hard to find the net over here.....just finished 33rd place today and am very happy with that. Did a crazy hard day in the saddle ....around 3400 meters of climbing....the 3rd and last climb was the biggest one I have ever done...plus being about 35 degrees Celsius as well......the day one was not so good....my partner Walter was not himself and had a really hard day BUT came back and rode amazing today to bounce back on one of the hardest days in this race. ......
The views have been so wicked over here during the race, cruising through small towns and starting each day with 1200 or so racers....the Scott people here have been so great to me, fixing my bike and helping me find our hotels and stuff as well....not to mention a nice cold drink in my hand right after we finish! I have many great photos and will send some as soon as I can!
As for my bike it has been rock solid, the perfect bike for this race....it is so light on the climbs and takes the edge off the descents. I am so lucky to have it ...thanks to Bow and Ken at Mica for that and also for old man Kobra for always keeping it in top shape. ...
Thanks for all your support guys.....tomorrow we move up in the rankings.....top 20?
Later skaters
Kelly
Monday July 16th 1:26 PM
Italia!!!!!!!!
Ciao guys, we have arrived in Italy !!!!!! We have completed 3 days so far and are enjoying things alot........today we were 44 place after Bryant had a rear flat and we went a bit off course ........again another monster climb! Such wicked scenery again....and today a bit of singletrack !!!!!!! We honestly blew by teams like they had never ridden off road before....guys yelling and screaming ....Bryant and I made some suicide passes to try and catch up which was fun. We finished in Brixen today which is an amazing little town with the finish line in a beautiful piazza.
After some pizza, gelato and even a nice espresso we cruised around checking out the place. The Scale is amazing still and again the Scott folks treated me like gold giving me a nice cold water (with gas) and also a nice visor hat thing to shade my head from the heat.....oh yeah it was +35 today. We have met many nice people and have been helped out at every turn.....today there were tons of fans along the route all cheering us on! Forza Forza! I feel amazing on the bike and am very happy to get in all this hard racing in preparation for the TRANSROCKIES! My partner is hanging in there super well for his first big stage race and I am doing my Big Lebowski lines to keep him laughing! Off to bed before we head into the Dolomite in the morning! Two very big climbs waiting for us......just another day at the TransAlp!
Team Walter Out
Monday July 16th 10:34 PM
We are in Brixen in the South Tirol and leave in a couple hours for St. Vigil in the Dolomites! Doing well here, getting the pro treatment from Scott and having fun, my partner is starting to get quicker....if he does and can ride my pace we will enter the 20 - 25 range .....enjoying the food and all the sight too...
.....ciao for now!
Wednesday July 18t 10:10 AM
We placed 66th today after Walter broke his chain and is still trying to get used to stage racing... We are now in Arabba, Italy (the Dolomites) and it was a very scenic day of riding. Will send pics soon.
Take care,
Kelly
Check the progress @ www.bike-transalp.de
Caio dudes
Kelly & Bryant
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