This day asks a lot of your legs and even more of your patience. It’s almost constantly up and down, and the hills don’t give you a moment to settle in. You climb well over 1000 metres and then descend almost as much again.
So break the day up. Take the climbs at your own pace, eat a little something along the way and go easy on your knees on the descents. At more than 9 hours on the clock, this is not a day to win. Tired, but with a satisfied feeling, you walk into Castro Daire. One hill at a time, and you’ll get there before you know it.