Dallaglio Cycle Slam – Rest Day

 
By Andrew Croker

No HGVs allowed on the road on Sundays so stuck to planned rest day.

Yesterday had proved harder for some. One group took a wrong turn and climbed 900m to the ski resort of San Daniele yet took it all in good humour. 

The guys from Causeway were just out forever, but determined to finish, rolling in at 8.20pm in the dark.

Sensational massage from 'Rooster', who keeps Ian Botham going on his epic marches. What Both has done in the fight against leukaemia is beyond belief.

We are still sorting out our teething problems. Garmins are sensational but you still need to navigate. One small mistake…..

Jo and Nicola run our food stops brilliantly, with good humour. Now Jo's Caf. Inevitably.

Lawrence shared the view that going through the tunnel midway yesterday was like the wardrobe leading to the land of Narnia. Flat roads and blue skies (as we cruised through the classic vineyards of Orvieto, Montepulciano and Chianti) gave way to snow, fog and the strength sapping 'col russes' that take away any chance of a rhythm and hammer your legs.

They say the deep frost leads to bumper crops, killing all the bugs.

But tomorrow is billed as Pancake Day. North west to Pisa, then west along the canal until we hit the beach, then up the coast, flat all the way, through the wonderfully retro resort of Forte di Marmi – with its huge cycle paths, where everybody rides – and on to La Spezia. Still 150km though, stretched to avoid the centre of Pisa.

Thank goodness we abandoned driving back to Rome for the match. Turgid England wins. And there was Diego Dominguez – looking happy – so they found him. And he's still got my gloves.

Lawrence Dallaglio’s Cycle Slam is a quest to pedal over 2,800 kilometres to all Six Nations stadia in support of the Dallaglio Foundation and Sport Relief. A 250-strong squad of challengers is cycling to Rome, Paris, Twickenham, Cardiff, Dublin and Edinburgh to raise over £1million for these worthy causes. Garmin has donated Edge cycle computers to the many celebrities taking to two wheels along the way.