Journey to Elba (aka "the smile")

My trip to Italy went well and I was able to fly in some good company. What made the fly all the better was the fact that I didn’t get charged for my bike. I think my beautiful smile at the check-in was working (too bad the check-in person was a guy!) Mom picked me up from the Malpensa airport in Milan and we drew to my parents hotel in Mozzate. After a good dinner at a local restaurant it was off to bed.

On Thursday morning I went for a nice ride around Lombardia routes and then Mom and I went shopping in to Tradate. I went for another ride in the afternoon as I still had some adjustments to make to my position. After yet some more shopping the evening was spent relaxing and eating pizza in our hotel room.

Friday morning it was time to start our journey to the Elba island. Some 500km in the car plus an hour ferry trip later we arrived in our hotel in La Pila near Marina di Campo. Our scenic route alongside the Mediterranean coast took us on the same route that was used in this years Giro d’Italia individual time-trial on 12^th stage. I gotta say that this Cinque terre TT route was epic and hard, no wonder the riders hated it (I guess they aren’t so much into the sightseeing when you have the team director shouting at you behind :)

Anyways after checking in to our hotel I went to the beach for a little swim and got in my third outing in a wetsuit this year. Gotta love buoyant salty ocean water and some good rubber! It’s like no swimming is even needed! In the evening we ate at a nearby restaurant that had excellent swordfish!

On Saturday morning mom and I drove the beautiful bike course of the Elbaman 70.3 and it really appeared even harder and more technical that I remembered. After the course recon I got in a bit of riding and running done and then it was pretty much just time to rest and eat. My dad along with our friends from Rome Emma & Claudio also came to watch the race so it was going to be nice having a big posse as a Jaakko fan clubJ I went to bed feeling very calm, confident and for the very first time before a half I wasn’t feeling any injuries…

Race report and pics to come very soon!

P.S. Didn’t have to pay for the bike on the return trip either! My smile is so sweet and is good enough for Italian women and finnish men :)