I had a relatively relaxed start today with a lazy breakfast and by the time I was packed and sorted with every layer of clothing I had, it was 10am before I set off. I was riding pretty much North and as I left the City I could already feel a strong wind from my right (Easy again).
For this reason it would be impossible to get to Pamplona today without an awful lot of pain so I stuck to my original plan to go to Vitoria-Gasteiz (VG). The cunning plan was to head north and east taking advantage of a downhill section to get further east, then I would have a straight werterly, downwind ride into VG.
Did I forget to mention two massive climbs ? After 5 miles I was on the first climb and the next 7 miles would take me from 1300ft up to 3100ft and I started well with pleasant 3-5% gradients getting me up to about 1600ft without an issue, then I saw a little village a long way above me and realised instantly it would be on this road. The gradient went up to 8% and I dug in eventually reaching the Village of Yekora or Iekora (There would be alternative place names almost everywhere now as I had left La Rioja into Navarre and I was in Basque country.
As I left the village a huge white wagon went past me and it was labouring. I got a brief break as the gradient eased and the road was slightly west of north meaning the wind was almost helping. After about half a mile I saw the wagon above but heading back this way, next the road turned a bit and a series of hairpin bends appeared. Each switch was torture as it went from west to east and the long stretches were the east ones. This was really hard work, climbing a 5-9% gradient into a 20-30 mph wind.
The third hairpin took me into the next village of Meano which looked to be in the clouds but it did briefly shelter me, I was half a mile off the top and had 300feet to go, but the road turned back east and at the top it was howling, this was becoming Iron man stuff, after another 200yards I had to stop and put my three back lights on and my front light as I could only see about 20 yards in any direction. After 5 minutes of battling I reached the top and stopped very briefy to take a video and a picture.
This was were I had a 10 mile descent eastwards (the cunning plan) and as I started the descent it started to rain, it was cold rain, almost sleet, the sort of rain that hurts when it hits your face. I looked at the temperature on my Garmin and it was 1 C.
The next 10 miles to Campezo (Kanpezu) it was freezing and lashing down but Iron man endured and reaching the turn had a huge smile as the rain eased and the remainder of the ride was down wind, with the little matter of another climb up to 2900ft
I planned to go on a cycle route but when I found it, it was lumpy dolomite so I stuck to what was a pretty busy road, but it did have wide verges. As I approached the climb the rain had gone and better weather threatened. I saw a lovely looking café at Maestu a proper Izki Basque one and I so wanted a nice hot coffee. Problem was I was dripping and the weather was good so I more wanted to get over the next climb.
And with that away I went up the mighty Azazela pass, I struggled at one section where the gradient was over 10% then I realised I was still in 3rd gear ! I flew up the climb, literally blown up and stopped again for a picture at the top where I could hardly stand up, I doubt I would have made it going the other way.
Nexta thrilling descent and I could see glimpses through the roadside trees of sunlit green fields way below, I thought surely not. But as I got lower I could see the whole valley was in sunshine, I was flying down at 30-35mph and in no time I stopped to put my sunglasses on !
I turned off this mega fast road to pick up a bike route with 6 miles to go, but this deteriorated to dolomite again so I hit the road again and was in VG by 2pm.
44 miles through wind, rain, over two passes and in just 4 hours !