The ride out of Puente Genave was quite difficult this morning. I was on a gradual uphill climb for the first 14 miles and I was on the main road, the N122. I'll admit I was blowing a bit, but after 14 miles I picked up another Via Verde which would run a long way towards Albacete. Having now reviewed the maps. I see the Via Verde actually started at Arroyo del Ajanco which is six miles before Puente de Genave and I could have rode on it into town yesterday afternoon and leaving town this morning. Once on the Via verde it was great, very smooth with lots of viaducts and tunnels, quite long tunnels with lights in and a gentle uphill gradient. Still passing olive fields.
I went around Reolid after. 25 miles and at this point I had to come off the Via Verde as it deteriorated quite rapidly after a tunnel. There were also 5 Dutch cyclists in the field where the Via Verde just suddenly stopped. They were looking at me for answers. I managed to find a grassy track across a field to pick up the main road but couldn't persuade the Dutch to join me. It was only when I actually reached the road and looked back I could see they were debating, but after after a few minutes they decided to follow the same way and we all ended up on the road.
7 miles down the road I would once again pick up the Via Verde on a great sweeping bend which took me over the main road then over the puente de Ligado a Cortez viaduct. Sweeping round another bend into a tunnel.
At about 40 miles, the via Verde surface was less good and I developed my first puncture of the tour. A quick tube change and puncture fixed, I was back on the road and continued on the Via Verde most of the way to balazote.
However, after 54 miles. once again, the track became very poor so I diverted back onto the. N322. The Via Verde at this stage was no more than a pile of rubbly dolomite running parallel with the road.
After balazote I had I had 18 miles to ride to Albacete. and this was the straightest 18 miles of road I have ever ridden. Which made the countdown quite long. The road just continued straight as a die, slightly downhill and the cycling was easy, the speed was good, but the miles seemed to go down slowly so straight and featureless was the road.
I entered Albacete and quickly picked my way right into the middle of the city where my hotel was well placed in the Plaza de la Constitution.