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Day: Friday 15 May 2026
From: Sorgorbe
To: Benicàssim
#Kilometers: 121km
#Altimeters: 1800m
#Maximum slope: 19%
#Wind: Tail wind and side wind
#Weather: Cold and rainy
#Crashes: 0
Jilke Michielsen
Apparently, it only counts as real rain when Christophe DW puts on his transparent raincoat and Solaria gives the official check.
Last night we had dinner in the hotel in Segobre. The dinner started in ‘Mineur’. What happened? Our private sommelier Tom BB was having constructive discussions with the hotel staff to obtain the best choice of wine for his fellow partners. The is really an excellent example of the sense of partnership. I want to thank Tom for the splendid choices he made during this week.
On the other hand, one of the female partners, who’s name I won’t disclose, out of fear of retaliation, ordered cava but only for the female partners. Talking about sense of partnership, ….
The more senior partners rested their case but a new joiner, Thomas C. didn’t accept this unfair treatment of the male partners and requested the waiter to fill his glass. Thank you Thomas to breach this new attempt of apartheid
I also want to thank Thomas C. for another innovative contribution to this event, the usage of the life on board camera and subsequently the video report of the day. Thanks a lot.
A few days ago, the group regularly split up in two parts, it started with one rider, Phil DS who was joined by Patrick or Jan and myself. The intention of this split was easy to explain. Leave a bit early in comparison to the peloton. The first day the small team departed 25 minutes before the main group, but the small team arrived 45’ before the main group. Let me baptize the two groups as:
This success inspired other people to join the smart group. Marc M., Pierre P., Christian C. and Ine N.. The second day the smart group departed 20’ before the performance group and arrived one hour before the performance group at the destination. Success breeds success…today three new joiners of the smart team David R., Philippe DC and Bert T. Wesley B. noticed the danger of this evolution and refused others to join.
By the way, I know that Strava data in constantly reviewed in the performance group, they are obviously the first in class, if another rider appears to have better results, just mute him and you remain number 1.
After the first long descend we found a great local coffee bar, and we changed the name of the team in the fun team.
Luckily at the last climb of today the two teams were united on the top of the last climb. We decided to descend together to Benicàssim as one team. Ine N. firmly declared that, if we could stay together, it would be a great example of sense of partnership.
The descend was executed in a very disciplined way, thanks Ine for the great leadership.
On our way to the lunchbreak, we were confronted with heavy rainfall. We were very happy that a tent was installed next to the Golazo van. By accident I overheard a conversation between Caroline C. and Christophe DW. Christophe wore a little transparent raincoat, and Caroline asked him why he didn’t wear his fluo orange raincoat. Christophe replied, I only wear that one when real rain falls down. This statement requires a Solaria check, what is real rain? Real rain is a natural form of precipitation where water droplets, formed by condensation in the atmosphere, become too heavy to remain suspended in clouds and fall to earth due to gravity. Christophe, this definition was proved by example.
It is clear that the Deloitte partners are very welcome in this growing marketplace, in every village we passed through, people started ringing the church bells.
Arriving at Benicassim Marc M. told me that this week was a great week due to the fact that we had no crashes at all, thanks Marc for this information.
I want to thank Sofie and Wesley for organizing this event, what an example of determination, passion and professionalism!!
I still have two medals to give, the trivia and the hero.
Some of the fellow partners are positively joining this event but stay a bit under the radar so they aren’t mentioned in the blog before, I am talking about Bert T, Philippe DC, Rolf D :-), Christophe M, Marc M., Cliff V., Pierre P., Glenn V. Thank you guys!
A few years ago, Wesley informed me about a promising young female cyclist they know who was diagnosed with bone cancer. She had a heroic fight against the terrible decease supported by Wesley and his wife Lindsay. Unfortunately, at the age of 19 Jilke Michielsen passed away today. So, from our partner group, I pass on all condolences to Wesley and Lindsay and of course I nominate Jilke as our hero for the heroic fight she has fought.
