Girona camp part uno

Rest day today here in Girona on the Scottish Cycling camp so thought I'd take the chance (in between snoozes) to write a wee blog on the last 4 days. 

We arrived late on Thursday night and after building our bikes it was lights out before the hard work started on Friday morning. Day 1 was five and a half hours of steady riding, even venturing over the border into France. It was most definitely a welcome change to shed the thermal layers needed back home, with temperatures in the high teens degrees C. Not quite brave enough to bare my peely wally legs yet, but a few of the tougher girls have! Respect! The roads are so smooth too, no pothole dodging here! 

Day 2 and despite our best efforts to leave it behind, the wind had found us. The plan was to do three through and off efforts at increasing speeds. A touch of wheels on the last of the three efforts brought down several of the group. Unfortunately two of the girls had to be taken to hospital by ambulance with Charline fracturing three of the transverse processes in her back and Kerry suffering mild concussion and road rash. Those girls are nails and we all wish them a super speedy recovery!!

Day 3 worked a treat in lifting everyone's spirits after a pretty hard hitting emotional end to day 2. We stayed more local and mixed it up with a bit of everything. Out of the saddle hill climb, crit racing, derny racing, a TT and hill race. These were hard efforts but had everyone smiling and the fact that we could train in the sunshine was an added bonus!

So on to Day 4 and the promise of a longer climb up Rocacorba. This was a 13km climb up to 970m and I'm not going to lie, it was tough! But being one of those "weirdos" who quite enjoys climbing, I loved it!! Ok maybe not so much at the time when it seemed like the top was never going to be "just around the next corner", but once I could breathe again and take in the view all was  good! Then it was just a short peddle home, day 4 complete and to top it all off there was the most amazing sunset that had us all smiling!

All smiles at the top of Rocacorba. 

Amazing sunset on day 4. 

Tomorrow brings the next four day training block so I'll be back with part dos soon.

Hasta luego,

Jools.