CP10 Portillo de Lunada 24.08 @ 0.05AM Finish 24.08 @ 6.23AM I am shaking in & out of the sleeping bag. Once I packed my things, I walk a little further into the village and there is already a warmer spot. Oh well. I sit to eat my breakfast, tortilla & banana. Someone gets out of the house right in front of me, takes a bucket & walks away. Not 3 min later, another man with a bucket walks through. Are they on their way to get milk ? I leave my spot & ride, I don't catch them. I walk part of the way, the steep climbs I rode down the night before. I know I am going to do this for about 15k. Then to the last CP, it should be rolling enough, then a last climb and finally 90k down to Bilbao. Julien is far away. There is no one behind me. Once I am done with these 15k, & down, I stop for breakfast, a real one with coffee, butter, bread & jam, sitting outside in a garden. I am going to take my time and enjoy this last day. I know I will be in Bilbao the next morning. I ride the way I feel like riding. Which is, strangely enough, without stopping too much. I find cheap sunglasses in a store, I had left mine at the beach bar 2 nights before. I have stupidly blocked my phone in the morning so there is no way I can check the social medias. I just enjoy. At some point I feel like I should race though, or I will never be a finisher. The last CP is very slow and the night is warm. I reach the top, the CP is 3k down after that. It is still slow going because of the wind. I stop at the CP, and rest for 15 min. I feel good. Turning back, the tail wind helps me climb the 3k again, then it is the long descent. I stop a lot, I am tired. I got 70k left to Bilbao, on an easy road, gently going down. I am not fast but approching a big city by night is better than in the traffic, I got lost in the suburbs without losing too much time. I am starting to recognize the areas, I am there. It is 6am, only Carlos & Goshia to witness my happiness. I always feel like I should be overjoyed, dancing, or crying, but I just have the nice feeling of accomplishment. I wash myself & get rid as much as possible of my cycling kit. It is too early for coffee in the city. I would have spend the whole morning enjoying one cup.