Sunday Oct 30 2016

We leave Tel Aviv by bus from the Sheraton Hotel around  9ish for the start of our ride at Yoav Fortress near Ashkelon. There are 35 riders registered for the Extreme Challenge ride. Most have no idea how hard it will be for them. It is 31C and sunny and will be difficult going. There are basically 12 of us that can handle the big climbs and we stay together pretty well but Rick and I are always first up.  The remainder of the 35 riders as predicted fall well back.

We are riding up to Jerusalem and it is uphill all the way. I am quite familiar with this route and the very last climb which is long and steep .  Again our group handled it well and we finished at Beit Halochem.

I  rode surprisingly strong finishing the climbs just behind Rick who is going to be in the polka dot jersey as King of the mountain. I am also the oldest rider.



We stayed at the Neve Ilan hotel again just outside Jerusalem . Even though there is a great selection of food at breakfast I have learned from past trips to chose carefully with fruit, yoghurt, granola so I am good on our rides.
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