Damian's DCS Blog Day 3: Love is all around us

Some very weary limbs and spirits this morning are lifted by the sight of Valentine’s cards that have been slipped under our doors in the still of the night. As I tear open the envelope in anticipation, I glance nervously at Harvey and wonder whether I might actually get to try that spooning manoeuvre before the day is out.. The day is at leisure, so imagine my surprise at breakfast to find a number of the party in full cycling gear ready to embark on a 40km Sunday Social ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding San Gimignano. I take on board the ‘Active Rest’ mantra from the medical team and decide that a quick 5 minute dip in the 34 degree outdoor pool would be far more beneficial. And how.

We then congregate for a very social DCS lunch in our excellent Hotel Villa San Paola where they screen the Italy vs. England International live from Stadio Flaminio. It seems like weeks ago that we were there soaking wet and riding out of Rome, and the biggest cheer of the day is reserved for Diego Dominguez who has recovered in time to work as a pundit for SKY Italia. To be fair to Diego, he looks a great deal better than the last time we saw him freezing to death in Sutri, and this may well be something to do with the beautiful Sky presenter he is working with. As much as we all think John Inverdale is an outstanding broadcaster, there is a ground swell in the room to see if there could be an exchange programme with the BBC and SKY for the foreseeable future – must be the Valentine’s Day effect. The second biggest cheer of the day is when the Italian Satellite station shows footage of our epic day 1 in the snow coming out of Rome. Even though we can’t understand a word he is saying, the smile on Diego’s face is enough to let us all know that this was a day that none of us will forget in a very long time.

There are a few sharp intakes of breath throughout the ensuing 80 minutes –the Welsh and Scottish contingent are getting quite excited with visions of an Italian upset, but England do just enough to come away with a victory and keep the unbeaten start to the RBS 6 Nations intact. It’s not pretty, but it’s a win and the campaign moves back to England in a fortnight’s time, by which stage the DCS will have cycled from Nice to Paris to London, and Lawrence and his core team of 8 riders will be in a whole world of pain.

The post match debate spills on into the night, and as the night and the bonhomie draws on, my thoughts turn to loved ones – family and friends - wherever they may be, and hoping that they are having an equally enjoyable day. Perhaps also a chance to think about all the people we are all helping in making this amazing adventure happen. The target is to raise over £1m, and by doing so we all hope, for whatever personal reasons we may have, to help those less fortunate than ourselves and provide their families with necessary support in difficult times. Any support we get through www.dallagliocycleslam.com makes a tremendous difference, enough said.

Tomorrow is another 170 km day, so a relatively early night in anticipation of getting back on the bikes and continuing up the coast line to La Spezia.

www.justgiving.com/dhopley

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