Possibly the most pleasant 200km cycle you could ever wish for, excluding the semi-arctic conditions at the French/Italian border. The day didn't exactly start well, with my petit dejeuner consisting of half a breadstick and a glass of jus d'orange, however from that point on (particularly after my croque monsieur at 25 miles) things couldn't have been much better. More long gradual descents on perfectly smooth roads and beatiful climbs alongside lakes and rivers, all watched over by a not too overpowering sun. Having lunch in Barcelonette, only 21 miles (granted 11 of them uphill) separated me from Italy. The sun was out and things were looking rosy, my recent run of bad luck with Italian weather looked to be at an end. Over the next 90 minutes however, a familiar story began to form overhead.
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