Loaded up and Headed for Milan

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Packed and ready to go.

Jesolo Mediteranean Beach

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Just east of Venice. Pete and I did the honors. This is the first Transalp to make it all the way from Germany to the sea.

Race End in Jesolo Italy

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

740 km -- the longest Transalp in history

Greg's Bike at the End of the Transalp

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Pete's Bike at the Finish of the Transalp

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Last Pass

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

One big climb on day 8 and then we look down on the flat plains of Italy between the Dolomites and the sea. Its an 80 km romp down (45km already down) on this speedy last day. One of the pro teams with an injured rider paced us in most of the way.

Day 8 Lineup

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Not only did we get to the line last, but I remembered that I had our hotel key in my pocket, so we had to ride in reverse to drop it off and then chase to catch on.

Practically Civilized

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Our last evening of the race. We had two dinners as per usual.

Italian Love

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Day 7 Deserts

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Who's even thinking about the riding at this time. Just one day, of mostly downhill, riding to go.

Pasta Party

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Every night, a complimentary meal for the masses.

The Dolomites

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Were even steeper than the main Alps. Nothing level around here.

Feeling Fresh

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Day 6 was a further break through in terms of feeling good at the end of the day rather than beaten to a pulp.

Day 6 Post Race Drinks

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

We had a cool 5 Euro between us.

Brett -- the Whole 740KM on One Leg

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

This guy, man, what an inspiration. He didn't just barely make it -- but was often in the thick of the main groups.

Good Meats

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

The food improved dramatically when we crossed into Italy.

Carrie On the Ball

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Finding us good digs as we zoom into Italy from Austria.

Day 6

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Feeling Better Still

Finally Feeling Fresh -- Day 5

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Going easy on Day 4 meant a fresh (chilly) start to Day 5.

Day 4 -- The Most Tired of All

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Another eight hour day -- all at below our heart rate range. This was our worst day, but we rode conservatively with hopes for a fresher day 5.

Even More Wasted After Day 3

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Pete says it all

Day 3 Snow Fields

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Heavy duty rock and snow on our highest pass. Pete glisaded down one of the hills, but forgot to hold onto his bike....

Day 3 5km Carry

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Up to the snow on what would be an eight and a half hour day.

At the Start of the Big Walk on Day 3

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

We were told that there was only one big climb, but....

Day 3 Still Harder

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

But our German friends on the tandem showed us how its done.

Pete After Day 2 Blowout

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

I felt like he looked.

Day 2 Climbs

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Much, MUCH higher and rougher than day 1.

Heavy Rains

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Day 1 turned wet -- and muddy. Was a slick fast ride into town at the end of a 112km day.

Pete Day 1 Easy Climb

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Oh how mistaken we were....

Woodpiles German Style

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Impressing the Teenagers

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

This race rider was too cool for school, complete with yellow shoes and smoking a butt on the race eve.

8 Days; 740K; 19 Passes; 22,400 Meters of Climbing

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

The Route

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Starting in southern Germany, crossing through Austria to the Italian Dolomites, and then all the way down to the sea at Josolo.

How's About Those Bavarian Pants

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Glad I wasn't riding in these.

Mittenwald Mayor

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Drunk as a Skunk and barely able to stand.

Uli the Transalp Organizer

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

All instructions are given in both German and English

Registration Packets

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Maps, Transponders, Bags, Et. All

The Night Before

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Start of the Transalp Challenge

Mittenwald Music

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Mittenwald Mountains

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Carrie Arrives

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

And the team makes its way to our first inn at the nearly sold out Transalp start town of Mittenwald.

En Route to the Transalp

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Stopping off at the lake from last years terminus point in the Italian Alps.

Lance on the Galibier

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Following his team, flanked by Floyd Landis and Rasmussen. No panic here.

Discovery Riding Tempo on the Galibier

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Vino is up the road but Discovery does not panic -- giving Vino just enough rope to win the stage but not recover his GC position lost the day before.

Asleep on the Galibier

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Taking a jet lag snooze on the Galibier, the highest point on the Tour de France.

Col de Telegraph Lunch Disaster

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

En route to the Galibier, we traversed the lower Col de Telegraph. Pete was searching for his lunch and unfortunately found it on the bottom of his shoe.

Art of the Devil

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Little did I know that the Devil has his own van and a cool bike sculpture to accompany him on his mission.

The Devil

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

A fixture at every Tour is the arrival of the Devil -- who puts appropriate curses on those he decides worthy. Here he is doing his magic on the post Tourmalet traffic jam.

The "Hurt" on Jan

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Jan struggles to minimize his losses on the Tourmalet after Lance puts the hurt on. Here, Jan with teammate Kloden are trying to do damage control.

The "Selection"

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Lance forces "the selection" on the first big climb. Only Rasmussen, Valverde and Mancebo survive. Dropped are all of Lance's key rivals, inlcuding Basso, Jan, Levi, and Floyd. Lance will go on to take second in the stage in a heads up sprint with Valverde.