



We didn't do this ride specifically to prove anyone wrong, but certainly those doubting voices were in the back of our minds during hard stages and dark moments. Often the doubting voices were my own. There was no way to know if this was possible other than to give it a try. By the time we hit Stage Four all of us were in uncharted territory: we'd never done 4 back-to-back rides so long and hard… and we still had to do four more before the rest day. Would the legs keep going? Would the mind stay in it?





Now we can say, "Of course." but we never really felt that way. In some sense I think that all of us were waiting for that moment when something gave out: a knee or a major muscle. Maria hit the deck and reminded us how fast it can happen. Then she bounced back and reminded us how fast that can happen too.

Tomorrow, barring unforeseen incidents (and we've learned well that these can happen at any time), they'll all be wrong.