Sunday 21st of August

I'd been meaning to give the bike a clean over and fettle since France but not got around to doing it yet so out came the bike holder and a bucket and work commenced.  It's much easier on the holder with the wheels off so the task was completed fairly quickly.  Now running very smooth again, I'd forgotten just how smooth it runs.

Lunch I thought from looking at it in the pan was chicken but something seemed a miss.  Turned out it was rabbit.  Perhaps a little fussy for me but the meat was tasty + went well with the mashed potato (homegrown).  It was all started though with an invite from the neighbours for a glass of presecco, don't mind if I do.

The village was putting on a bike race and in the morning it was for the younger ones but in the afternoon the oldies came out - well over 16's I'd say.  Lots of team cars, course cars, course motorbikes, 2 ambulances, all serious stuff.  It was still very hot.

Lining up to start the race 

Lots of nice bikes, a lot of carbon and a lot of Sram/Shimano

Race referee's car 

The neighbour handing out water to the course cars/bikes

 They were doing a loop of about 33km up one side of the valley and then back down the other side followed by about 10km which brought them back up the hill to the start/finish line.

Reaching out for water

The chasing group after lap two (I think)

In the end the winner crossed the line about 15 seconds infront.

On the winner's rostrum

I have a map of the route they used for the race so I'll map it and maybe give it a try in the next few days.

We had pizza from the local pizzeria for supper.  Diavalo extra hot with mushrooms - was mildly hot but tasty.  While waiting for them to be made we took the dog for a little walk up the hill.  It had cooled off to 28C so was a little more pleasant.