September, 2014. A year after I started road cycling. I just came home after riding the GO-Classic. A tour in the region where I live. I did a total of 178km that day. “Never again”, I promised myself staring at the ceiling laying on my back on the floor. August 30th, 2015. I set myself a goal: riding the Transcontinental Race in 2017. A few weeks later I complete my first 200km brevet. July, 2017. I am in Geraardsbergen at the start of the race I dreamed of riding for 2 years. This is “The Story of Cap 225”.
If you missed previous parts, you can find them here:
The Story of Cap 225 (part 1)
The Story of Cap 225 (part 2)
The Story of Cap 225 (part 3)
Early in the morning. The sky slowly turned blue again. I get out of my sleeping bag and start to pack my stuff. It was cold night. I was in need of coffee. I noticed a building wat looked like a hotel or a restaurant and walked towards it. It was closed. A woman was also wandering around it. I told her I was looking for coffee and a place where I could charge my iPhone. “Are you riding the Transcontinental Race?“, she asked. “Yes I am“, I replied with a smile on my face. It appeared she and her partner were cyclists too and she tried to follow the race. She offered me her power bank and I charged my iPhone for a few percent. Enough to take a photo on top of Transfăgărășan as proof I have been there (I totally forgot my ride was tracked by a spot tracker), I took a selfie together with her. Moments later I got back to my bike and start riding again. I didn’t get much of the climb up there, but as soon as I came out of the tunnel a beautiful scenery was unfolded in front of me.