Stage 6 Pergusa - Nicolsi

Gentlemen start your engines......Faster than a bullet from a gun...

Agira

The Hotel in Pergusa is alongside a lake and around the lake is the most important racing track in Southern Italy, the Autodromo di Pergusa that hosts events such as Formula 1, Ferrari events etc.

We head out of town, Peter improving but still not a 100%. We make good progress towards Enna in the centre of Sicily with wonderful panoramic views. It is also the highest provincial capital in Italy, with many important monuments in this region.

Next town on route is Agira, as always perched high on a rocky hilltop. As you may expect churches have many prominent locations and rise above local shops and homes, The bells ring out across the towns, it must be on the hour. A photo opportunity beckons as we reach the high point of Agira, from this vantage point we should be able to see what awaits us over the next 20-30 klm.

The view from the top...Etna awaits

Ooh there is some police operation taking place vehicles parked at irregular angles doors open, passengers up against car bonnets. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both the military and civilian populations.

Lunch is very close now, very steep, winding dangerous descent with acute switchbacks, that dip away sharply into culverts, gravel edges and trucks motorhomes etc have gouged out the tarmac when they bottom out around corners. This requires concentration, and courage, only the most accomplished of riders could manage these descents.

Cathy & Jim on their fold-up tandem..Oregon USA

Distinct wounds from falling off a bike 

Yes I was embellishing the story a little but it was a dangerous road and on one of the hairpins, the wheel slipped from under Ross in a section that was smooth & slippery conditions

Ross had a nasty fall. Enlarge the picture if you can as the gravel has made deep wounds into his forearm. We were only a short distance from lunch and this would require serious assessment. Also the hip had lacerations.

Ype, Dion attend, Dave also assists, I provide a couple of Nurofen which Sarah had provided for the trip, good choice Sarah. This wound will require stitching, no more riding today Ross.

With Peter below par and Ross off the bike its upto the Domestiques
to carry the team, and what a fantastic job Garry & Paul Coghlan did all day.    

Majestic Etna 3340 mtrs

As we reach the lowest point of 200 mtr below Adriano sitting at 500 mtrs above us on a plateau on the Simeto and Salso rivers. There has been settlement in Adriano since 400 BC. Today we are heading up the side of Etna to a height of 1355 mtrs before we descend into Nicolosi to camp for the night.

Garry, Paul, Peter

We have lost a lot of time today with Ross's injury 

End of the day charging on fire truck

and Peter being unwell. We are last to leave after lunch and way behind the main group, but the four musketeers make good progress

and catch up to the other riders on Mt Etna.

With time lost we arrive in camp around 4.00pm hoping to see the Giro de Italia race pass through Nicolosi, but as we arrive the helicopters are buzzing around, our window of opportunity has passed.

Good camp site a big day and Ross is not released from the hospital until 9.00pm Sore but positive. We all rally around and gather Ross's bags set up his tent etc. to ease the pain

A tuff day in the saddle with climbing on the south side of Etna at about 8-9% most of the way.

Great riding team.

Campsite 800 mts

Distance 105 klm

Vertical Mtrs 2001