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The weeklong Transcordilleras Rally Colombia, which runs from February 12-19, is underway and former street professional Laurens ten Dam rests after the third stage with the race lead, re-seated tyres and recent groceries in hand. Up to now, so good for the Dutch street racer turned journey bicycle owner in his return to the ‘sufferfest’ throughout the Andes mountains.
The mixed-terrain, self-supported journey crosses the three imposing mountain ranges in Colombia, with a complete of eight phases that add as much as 852 kilometres and 21,000 metres of elevation acquire. Up to now, 28% of the route is accomplished and far of the hillier terrain follows.
“To be sincere, it’s good to be right here. “It’s all cool and mellow. It’s a little bit bit much less arduous than final yr,” Ten Dam advised Cyclingnews on Tuesday afternoon.
“We begin at 7 a.m. [local time] day-after-day. Three days in a row, I’m already on the end by 1 p.m. The resorts should not dangerous. We’re our personal mechanic, our personal soigneur, every part we do ourselves, so I simply obtained groceries. We’re at rather less altitude additionally so we sleep higher, however I feel that’s as a result of the arduous half remains to be coming within the final weekend.”
The opening day of the Transcordilleras was presupposed to be a quick and rolling day from Calí to Calima, a complete of 103km by means of the Vallecaucana mountains. with 2,900 metres of elevation acquire. Nothing too drastic in the way in which of terrain, with 50% gravel, or harsh associated to the temperate local weather on the norther fringe of the equator. Nevertheless, there was no time to benefit from the surroundings amid the espresso and cane sugar rising space. As a substitute, Ten Dam turned his consideration to repairing punctures and the precious time he was shedding due to them.
“This present day was truly method much less arduous than final yr’s first stage. Now we’re sitting within the solar on the grass collectively so it’s fairly good. On the finish I completed fourth, perhaps eight minutes again. For the race, every part remains to be open,” he mentioned in Calima, recounting his day for Cyclingnews. “After a couple of climbs, I punctured and had some troubles fixing it. I ended a couple of instances to [work on the tyre].
“Seeding your tubeless tire once more on a Sunday afternoon in the midst of nowhere? This man on the motorcycle store had the French valve adapter prepared and did the job inside 5 minutes. Nothing is unimaginable over right here!”
Brayan Chaves led after stage 1, finishing the route in a time of 4:57:37. Antonio Donado was in second, 2:26 again, and Óscar Tovar third, one other three minutes. Ten Dam was eight minutes off the lead. The heads of state have been in place, as Ten Dam was second general final yr, Chaves third and Donado fourth.
Thomas Dekker returned to Colombia to get inside the highest 10 this yr, however he took a improper activate the opening day and instantly fell out of competition for the general, one hour and 54 minutes off the lead. However he’s alongside Dutch pal Frank Epskamp in the midst of the 60-rider area, so has focused a flat fifth day to salvage a stage victory. The fourth Dutch rider that’s a part of the Ten Dam journey is Willem Schellens, and he completed stage 1 in twelfth place, 44 minutes again.
Stage 2
“Yesterday (Monday) I did mainly 50 kilometres solo to achieve some minutes again and win the stage. It was a tough one,” was the report from Ten Dam, working to achieve the time he had misplaced on Sunday.
The second day coated 143km between Calima to Sevilla within the Valle del Cauca, with a neighborhood water taxi to make the crossing of the Cauca River, the second most necessary river in Colombia which separates the western and central mountain ranges. The waters are used to provide life to the ample sugar cane crops within the area. The time to cross the river was additionally a reminder that this occasion was extra concerning the journey than the race with a clock.
“Once I began my solo, after the ferry experience, there was 45k to go and there have been simply three guys left with me,” Ten Dam recounted. “I wanted water, so I needed to nurse myself residence throughout the final climb on one bottle. I discovered a store with 10k to go and stuffed two water bottles. It was six hours and 32 levels [Celsius]. Whew.”
Ten Dam erased his deficit and over took the race lead, with Donado and Tovar on the stage podium, second and third, respectively.
Stage 3
The third day was shorter, simply 100km, however stuffed with relentless ups and downs on tough roads passing wax palm bushes with 3,500 metres of elevation change.
“As we speak, within the race lead, I actually needed to race for it. I ditched the final man with 2k to go. It was a German man, Janosch, who had dangerous luck yesterday [Monday] with some punctures, and immediately he turned out to be a great opponent, he was robust,” Ten Dam mentioned about Janosch Wintermantel, who took half within the UCI Gravel World Championships final yr by ending on the rostrum at Octopus Gravel.
“Antonio Donado, my pal from final yr, was additionally robust. He took about 4 extra minutes, and is kind of again in it.”
Wintermantel was second on the stage and Donado third. Ten Dam took management of the general, however mentioned the race was nonetheless for anybody.
“I used to be making up time from the primary day from of all these flat tyres. You realize, just like the Tour de France within the 1910s and Twenties, sooner or later you’re 20 minutes forward after which you’ve got a foul day after, like a puncture, and also you lose 40 minutes.”
On the end metropolis of Salento, Ten Dam was completely happy to get some relaxation and munch on his recent provide of meals – Haribo sweet, chips, muffins, strawberry jam for sandwiches and native ‘bocadillo’, guava jelly snacks well-known all through Colombia. He’ll want all of the energy, as stage 4 is 109km throughout the highest of the central Cordilleras with 3,200 metres of elevation acquire.
