Cobbled Climbs

The Santini Lincoln Classic Sportive
The pace gets faster as we descend into the belly of this ancient city and crowds increase in anticipation of the final crescendo.
I hear a group of scouts cheering gleefully and informing us of the impending terror ahead!

400 meters of cobbled climb, at a gradient enough to lift your front wheel.
The climb greets you like a kick in the teeth and after yards you can taste the blood in your throat.

A cloudburst changes the surface into shimmering sliders and your wheels struggle for traction.
The crowd cheers and the announcers calls out my name and the name of the Mules 

Rule 5 is applied today
We all smile :)