Eteläkärjen Ajot 2013

As I wrote last Sunday I'll try to recap the race that was probably the toughest race this season. It was not because it would have been the fastest, but the route was challenging. Eteläkärjen ajot ( Sydspets rundan)  is a 120km race in Tammisaari with only a few flat sections, mainly up and down more or less all the time. 

Eteläkärjen ajot 120km in Southeastern Finland

Eteläkärjen ajot elevation 

Again I had stomach issues the day before and I didn't feel comfortable at all starting in the morning. But off we went, early morning start once again. 

Pre race good mood

Cyclists preparing

At 10 am the race started. First 10km we cycled behind the pace car, and then the free speed begun. Later I heard there was one cycling team practicing for the Finnish national championships, and they kept the pace really high in the beginning, the first peak went up to 56 km/h. It was really hard to hang in as the roads were narrow and partly in bad shape and cyclists were dropping all the time. It took me approximately 10 km and I had to give up.

I waited for a group to catch me so we could work together, and after a couple of minutes a group catches me and I immediately started keeping the pace as I had a chance to recover for a couple of minutes. As I left the pace-keeping and changed gear the chain jumped off and I was not able to get it back without a stop. It was a quick stop but once again it took me loads of effort to get back to that group.  

The group did a good job keeping up the speed, and the landscapes were really beautiful but at 80 km I started feeling that my stomach issues the day before and in the morning kicked in. I had lost more energy than I had and couldn't fuel properly during the ride. At 100 km my legs were empty, but it seemed I was not the only one. with 15 km to go one cyclist asked if we could work together in a pace just to get everyone to the finish together. I agreed and so did the others. 

And so we rolled to the finish. Great feeling after a really rough day in the saddle. My stomach was upside down and my legs were empty, still I could bring a smile on my face. Sebu had hanged on with the main group almost to the finish and waited at the cars. Klaus arrived some time after me. We all agreed it was really one of the toughest races ever, even if Sebu had a superb day in the saddle, and it was more of a survival for Klaus and me.

One of the best feelings getting home, taking a shower and having pizza and a weissbeer. 

Well earned post race pizza and beer

Now a couple of months later I might pick up this race once again to my calendar next year. It is hard, beautiful and a leg killer, just the way we like it!

I hope you all had a great weekend!