REPORTAGES
hired for us during those days. Carmel, the girl in charge, took care of all the logistics, drove us to the start and back from the finish on each stage. She also took us to the pasta party and to fantastic 4* hotels near the start, taking care of even the smallest detail. We always had food and drink in the room, information, schedules, massages, etc. Great! Thanks a million! After the middle of the race, the Swedes (who were then in lead position in the rankings) were forced to abandon because one of them got injured. Their stage pace was frenzy and we knew that could take its toll on them. We only had the Germans
85 / SPORTVICIOUS
ahead of us and, whom we managed to beat on the VK in the 5th stage, demoralizing them by placing ourselves only 20’ behind. The strategy seemed to be working. When we reached the supposedly more alpine stages we tried everything. But they were superior and we could not steal from them any minute on any stage. God knows we tried it, both on ascents and descents! But there was no way we could make it, even though we were, supposedly,in better physical shape and stages would become more mountaineering. These stages were also on kilometres and kilometres of track and road, where we could not gain advantage, just the