Cantabria Training Camp 2015/16
On 25th March we departed on a 10 day trip to the Spanish Coast. After a 30 hour ferry journey and a 17 hour car journey for some of us, we were rewarded with 7 days of glorious weather and some stunning scenery. We spent a total of 25 hours in the saddle getting some quality training in, and some incredible climbs under our belts. The beginning of the camp, was spent rushing around bike shops trying to fix various mechanical issues (including a broken rear mech)
Day 160km - 1040m (Strava)
To start with, we did a really easy ride along the coast to get our legs warmed up after a couple of days cooped up in cramped vans and ferries. We stopped about a dozen times but it was a nice way of beginning the week Day 2Boys: 123km - 2100m (Strava) Girls: 106km - 1400m (Strava)
For our first ride further into the mountains of Spain. While the boys did some horrendous intervals up a Category 2 climb, the girls went off and did some TT practice. On the way back one of the boys decided to get very friendly with a bridge (and nearly the river the other side), but after an ambulance ride to a hospital, a muddled discussion about a “vacuna contra el tétanos” and a few cafés in a nearby taverna we all got back in one piece. Day 394km - 1065m (Strava)
We opted for a flatter route due to the threat of rain, and did some group efforts chasing each other down. The weather stayed hot and sunny the entire time and we flew all the way back. On the way back, some of the guys headed off to the infamous “Fisherman’s loop” for a bit of friendly competition. Day 4Boys: 160km - 2843m (Strava) Girls: 72km - 1195m (Strava)
An absolutely epic ride for the boys up the titanic climb of Lagos de Covadonga, reaching a massive 1134m high. With a beastly section known as “La Huesera” averaging 15% for 800m and gale-force winds after cresting the penultimate summit, we all got to the top feeling absolutely broken. The girls went out and tackled a series of cat 3 climbs. Day 527km - 515m (Strava)
Recovery day started with the majority spending the day in Santander (not the bank) while also revisiting Covadonga (the pastry shop, not the mountainous HC climb), and then opting for a late evening ride once the rain had settled, ending with a rush to shower and change before enjoying some gorgeous Asturian food and drink at a restaurant until the earlier hours of the morning. Day 6Boys: 117km - 1764m (Strava) Girls: 88km - 1534km (Strava)
April Fool’s day was spent with the boys doing some more brutal intervals up what was initially thought to be a cat 1 climb (turned out to be HC), reaching some more snowy peaks. This was followed by a lengthy, epic descent all the way back down the gorge. The girls tackled their first category 2 of the camp. Day 7Boys: 119km - 2393m (Strava) Girls: 87km - 1154m (Strava)
For the last day, the girls opted for a flatter route along the coast, using the very last dregs of what was left in their heavy legs. In the meantime, the boys decided to tackle another HC climb of the camp, going to what is considered the most remote village in all of Europe, passing by six-foot snow banks. After dropping down into the town everyone tucked into what would be the oddest serving of chips and cheese any of us had ever had. We got back running on fumes and ready to head back home. Videos to be added later on! |
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