2009 Roma - Venezia

Cycling Tour 2009 May Rome - Venice

Together with Mildrid, Kjell Sponås and Oddvar Leirdal

20.05 Arrived at the airport in Rome without Oddvar's sidecar. He took a taxi to the hotel and went into town to buy clothes. Mildrid, Kjell and I rode through the city to the hotel, arriving at 10:30 p.m. Longer than far to ride and hard to find. Heavy traffic through the center - around the Colosseum. Had lunch at the Ponte Sant Angelo bridge.

Fiumicino - Rome (East) 70 km 21.05 Started from the hotel at 9:30 a.m. Flat tires for Mildrid. Found the road to Rieti right away. Some traffic in the beginning, but after about 1 hour the traffic declined. Great nature. Took lunch about 3 miles before Rieti up on the "mountain". Arrived at Rieti at 4:30 p.m. (followed SS4). Stayed at Hotel Europe.

Rome - Rieti 71 km 22.05 Mildrid forgot the bike bags at the hotel. Was guided out of town and onto the road to Terni. Little traffic and great scenery. Had lunch at Piediluco by the lake of the same name. 30 degrees Celsius. Steep downhill to Terni. The surroundings are more beautiful than the city. Was hit by a cyclist in the pedestrian zone in the evening, and got a blow on the neck from the waiter at the restaurant in the evening. Stayed at Hotel Valentino.

Rieti - Terni 56 km 23.05 Started the day cycling for 2 hours before we left the hotel! 17 km wrong in "all directions". Strayed onto SS3 to Foligno. Had lunch in Spoleto, and we had an ice break in the city of Trevi, which was great on top of a hill. Arrived at Foligno at 7:30 p.m. Full party in town - Notte Rosa. Stayed at Hotel Valentini at the train station.

Terni - Foligno 82 km (incl. cycling)

24.05 Arrived at Gubbio at 4:30 p.m. Easy way from Foligno. Went with us to this year’s popular festival in the city - Corsa dei Ceri. (Check YouTube) Greatest city so far. Stayed at the Pinolo hotel.

Foligno - Gubbio 67 km 25.05 Arrived at Urbino at 9 p.m., and darkness fell. Had a wonderful day, with the Giro finish on Monte Petrano as a highlight. Biked to Cagli before we started the heavy ride up the mountain in 40 degrees. Long to wait, but a lot of fun. Sastre won a leg, Lance Armstrong a little further behind, and Boasson-Hagen put the "bus" even further behind. Thousands of people and lots of cyclists in the mountains. Mildrid punctured at the arrival of Cagli - hot rims. Shared dinner at the hotel in the evening. Stayed at Hotel Mamiani as we had booked before leaving home.

Gubbio - Cagli - Monte Petrano - Cagli - Urbino 86 km.

26.05 Biked to San Marino (50 km) where we had lunch. Three heavy, steep climbs in 40 to 45 degrees. But a great stretch! San Marino reminded of a large shopping mall for historical reasons. Was met by a big sign with "Systembolaget". Down and flat to Rimini where we arrived on the 17th. Arrived at Cervia at 9 p.m. where we checked in at Hotel Trieste.

26. Urbino - San Marino - Rimini - Cervia 109 km

27.05 Started early from Cervia, and had great speed in the first two hours. Then we got a horrible sidewind for the next two hours until we passed Chioggia. Low transport, high traffic and "little" nature. Arrived at Hotel Gaudi in Mestre at 9 p.m. - pre-booked hotel. (CL final between Man U and Barcelona on TV)

Cervia - Mestre 177 km

28.05 Kjell and Oddvar went home - Mildrid and I stayed until 30.05. Venice day (bus), dinner in the evening in Mestre.

29.05 Mestre by day - market - strong wind! Dinner in Venice despite discomfort.

30.05 Biked to the airport - return journey.