The Cycle Slam continued to roll on into its second week with the riders travelling across Italy.
One of the cool things Cycle Slam have introduced into this year?s ride is a live rider tracker which maps where all the riders are with a GPS set up. We are pretty sure Laurence Dallaglio and Freddie Flintoff wanted to introduce this so they can keep track of the winning group ? who would have thought they were so competitive?
With post card views and perfect weather, Marcelo De Paula, PizzaExpress Training and Develpment Manager took time out to fill us in on some of his experiences from his ride.
?I must say I was quite relaxed before I jumped on the Slam as I was expecting we would be drinking wine for lunch rather than water. Boy, I was wrong.
Things started off with a lycra breakfast in the medieval city of Lucca in Italy. Let me tell you that Lycra isn?t the best thing to wear for breakfast.
With the picturesque surroundings for my star, it was the glimpse of mountains surrounding the city that reminded me that water would be my preferred drink for the next few days.
As we began our journey I realised I could some up my ride in one word: hills. So many hills. They never seemed to end.
After Lucca we made our way to Mantona in Lombardy. For all the romantics out there, that?s where Romeo from Shakespeare?s Romeo and Juliet was banished. I?m sure he didn?t ride his bicycle when he was banished because I couldn?t imagine he could handle those hills without gears!
It was a lot of hard work but I must admit it was so much fun because all the riders worked so hard together ? even though we were (kind of) competing for times we still managed to joke about and grab a well-earned drink at the local.?
As we rode through the Italian Alps we ended the third stage in Aprica, a ski resort. A relaxed resort was the perfect way to end the stage and my journey.”
25p from each American Hot sold at our restaurants will be donated to Cycle Slam.
You can make a donation by visiting Dallagliflintoff2012.com
Source: Pizza Express