Stage 1 - 110km Around Arabella Wines

What a magical day! 

After a quick rear wheel flat issue this morning on the way to the start shoot, we rolled into the back of the batch and were ready to rumble! The bunch rolled along at a great pace for the first hour, when we looked down, it was a surprise to see a 30km/h average speed for the first hour.

Then the fun started, the bunch split up over the first climb and then it was virtually every team for themselves. Takkap climb was a brutal 18% in which we checked that our centre of gravity was spot on and our tyre choice was correct. Crusing down the "skid and bones" technical terrain had us very cautiously nursing our tyres over the sharp rocks. From there on, we hit the skuilkrans climb, which kept us busy for the next 40min or so and offered an incredible chance to test our team dynamic and set a safe pace to climb at for the rest of the week. 

Incredible views and a wonderful trail to pedal up was the name of the game here as we circled the mountains around McGregor.

Once we crested the major climb of the day, it was far from easy on the way back in, rolling hills and sharp kickers definitely tested what was left in the legs and we happily saw the km tick past as we cruised into the finish.