Photo: It was a cold start and remained that way all day.

At 6 am on the fifth day of the year I was listening to Geoff Norcott on Times Radio explaining how he’d already blown his New Year’s resolution and fallen off the wagon. By the end of the day I was to do the opposite. Adding another objective to my 2025 cycling plans.

In celebration of Befana “La Rando Be-Fun” was the first audax of the year. It was a re-union of my Italian audax friends. Greetings of “Buon anno” to so many that I’d not seen for a while.

I was a little apprehensive at the start. I’d been off the bike for three weeks whilst completing a crazy European Christmas tour seeing friends and family. A 4,925 km drive through 🇮🇹 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇧🇪 🇳🇱 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇮🇹 seeing Gino, Jenny, Oscar, Max, Judith, Rob, Helen, Meggan, Tom, Henry, Siân, Rob, Harry, Millie, Angela, Neil, Gabrielle, Jac, Archi and Saar.

Maybe it was too soon for a 200km audax in the cold? Perhaps easing myself back in might have been a better idea?

I needn’t have worried. We zipped along the flat sections before the welcome climbs that warmed us up, including the first control at Coriano (60km) where ‘Befana’ made an appearance.

The roads after Coriano became increasingly familiar as we ended up only 25km from where we live. The closest point was Pesaro (99km) where a selfie was required for the control.

It was all good until it wasn’t.

Off the bike to take the photo, my thighs completley seized. Getting back on was painful. I was about to start my 86th ascent of the Panoramica from Pesaro. It was the most painful of them all. I was soon dropped by the group as I endured a cycle of pain with each turn of the pedals. We were beyond the point of no return. We had crossed the Rubicon. Not just metaphorically but literally. We’d crossed the Rubicon river on the way and we’d cross it again on the way back.

My options were:

1. Carry on
2. Get a train to Cervia

I was in no mood to admit I’d made a mistake and get the train. Alone and suffering I completed the Panoramica in “solitary conpainment”.

Relief was at hand at the final control (130 km). Food, warmth and a chat with Guiseppe Boffi. He suggested that later in the year we do a Super Randonnée (600km with a minimum of 10,000 m climbing). He’s done one for the last 20 consecutive years. This would be my first. I’ll now have to add it to my list of objectives for 2025.

The final 60km were flat.

My options were:

1. Ride alone at my own pace
2. Try and keep up with the group

I contemplated the time vs pain formula and reckoned it was best to try and get it over as soon as possible. I unashamedly joined the back of the group in the hope of hanging on and getting back in the daylight. About every 10km or so the pain would intensify so I massaged my right knee/thigh whilst trying to keep up. Then the pain would subside and I felt just plain knackered.

My thanks to the group for pulling me along. I’m sorry I didn’t take my turn at the front as I usually do. I was in no state to help. Thanks to them it was still daylight when we finished. I’d never been so relieved to see the ‘distance to go’ on my computer change from being measured in kilometres to metres. The final 999 metres were the least painful of the last 90 km just because I knew it was coming to an end.

The good news was that at the pasta party Graziano had organised some muscle relaxants for everyone:

Was it too soon after such a break? Absolutely. Lesson learnt.

A big thank you to Graziano and all the volunteers at San Zaccaria Bike. As usual I made a point of thanking them individually before I left. Grazie mille ragazzi.

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