cycling with passion

Three alp passes today - two little ones and one big one. Lovely descent after Umbrail - later on fantastic cycle paths along rivers. Puncture in Meran. Ended up cought in a thunderstorm and sheltered at an abandoned train station just some km before Bruneck. Cold and short bivi night. IT -> CH -> IT 🎷🐛 228.97 new kilometers -- From Wandrer.earth

Today was brutal. Three and a half Alp passes - but especially the long ascent to the St. Moritz plateau was super hard for me. But it was also incredibly beautiful. Suffer and joy, so close to each other… Got that first stamp at CP 1 - next deadline for CP 2 is on Saturday already 😅. Found a last minute hotel room. CH -> IT -> CH -> IT 🎷🐛 155.1 new kilometers -- From Wandrer.earth

Started early - first challenge: Rütli. Quite steep ascent before - fortunately only to ~800m. And then carry the bike all the way down - took quite some time. Then the Gotthard. My very first alp pass btw. 🙈 Luckily on the south side the weather turned great - made the descent a little less stressful (but I am still not used to these high speeds - feels quite unfamiliarly dangerous). Last minute decision to continue till San Bernardino, despite getting cold up there. But it will be good for the next day to have half of the climbing already done… Luckily got the last hotel room for a discount. CH 🎷🐛 200.51 new kilometers 🏘 Completed 25% of Bauen -- From Wandrer.earth

Started a bit late, but had a fantastic time following the Moselle up to its source. Got right into a thunderstorm around Mulhouse. Bought a new spare tyre in Basel. Already some climbing - need to get a better rhyrhm. Partly cold and wet… Were actually 10km more (forgot to continue tracking on the AW…) Most expensive hotel night of the trip… FR -> CH 🎷🐛 232.51 new kilometers -- From Wandrer.earth

Stunning atmosphere at the start! Night was tough though - rain, puncture. But nice to have a chat every now and then. Still rain (and headwinds) in the morning - only in the afternoon the sun came out and it became a little nice. Did not sleep (only two 25m powernaps) - took till the evening until found some rhythm… Did not reach my goal for the day - next days will be demanding. BE -> FR 🎷🐛 437.78 new kilometers -- From Wandrer.earth

Visited the photo exhibition of James Robertson about past TCRs at the Flandrien Hotel. As photography is another passion of me since my childhood - what could I do better with no other obligations? Also a gorgeous location for cyclists - have to stay there once I‘ll be in the area again and cycling…

After a relaxed train journey (everything just worked out nicely), I decided to ride the last bit to Geraardsbergen (although I had a ticket also for that). But I liked the idea of not just falling out of a train, but instead realizing where I actually am, and get a feeling for the countryside. Never been to Flanders before (except Brussels, but I guess that does not count), and it appears very beautiful to me! Enjoyed a very relaxed ride against some headwind (that hopefully becomes tailwind tomorrow), and am looking forward to the start tomorrow night! 🎷🐛 38.28 new Kilometers -- From Wandrer.earth