Reinosa, end of the day. Your boots come off and you look back on a stage that was all about your legs. Climbing was the main job, descending almost an afterthought.
The toughest part is the climb: almost 470 metres up in just over four kilometres. It’s steep, so there’s no point rushing. Take small steps, pause now and then, look back. You walk higher all day, and the green coastal land keeps falling further behind you. If you pace yourself, you’ll arrive in Reinosa with something left in the tank. When you look back, the mountain peaks lie behind you and the clouds drift slowly across the slopes.