Ronda 101km Bicycle Race

This weekend in Ronda was a biggie for anyone who cycles, runs, walks, or does some combination of the three. We were treated to the Legion 101km race from Ronda, around several of the local pueblos blancos, and returning to Ronda for the finish at the Alameda park which overlooks the gorge that makes Ronda one of Andalusia's top tourist destinations.

Now, 101km by bike doesn't sound like very much, and in any normal street race it might not be, even if you're running it's just a marathon until you see some of the hills around these parts.

The ordinance survey map of the race doesn't tell you very much, sure there are a few hills, but the severity of them over a short distance doesn't sink in until you ride some of those tracks. I've been crazy enough to try a few of those steep hills, yes, even on my non-motorized bike.

I watched the beginning of the race yesterday, and I was there when the first guy cycled across the winners line in 4 hours 22 minutes. An absolutely awesome race, and the first women to cross appeared only 25 minutes later. The photo below is the winner of the 2009 La Legion 101km bicycle race.