On the first day of the Tour d’Afrique we rode in convoy from the hotel to the pyramids. There were some speeches there, and an incredible number of pictures was taken. From there we went in convoy again, to the Perpendicular road of Cairo where they “released” us and the race could start. Now I had the intention of not racing and taking it easy in the first week, but that intention lasted for only one minute: I started riding and before I knew it I was part of a group with three other riders and two Egyptian guest riders. I could easily keep up with this group, my legs were in great form. The others asked me why I did not enlist as a racer. The answer came after lunch: my energy-supply was empty and I had to let them go. I came in as 5-th, the next finisher was at least one hour after me.
Upon till now (we are in Safaga on the Red Sea) it has been great: apart from the first day we have had a strong tailwind, resulting yesterday in an average of 36. km/h, a personal best for me.
Tomorrow we’re heading inland towards the Nile-river, the day afterwards we’ll go to Luxor for our first rest day.
