a Tribute to il Pirata

After driving to Cesenatico, I set out for a loop to add a new country to my list—San Marino. Although I had visited years ago, I hadn't tracked the ride at the time.
The day began with a beautiful sunrise, and I started my ride next to the famous channels in town. Following a Komoot route on smaller, traffic-free roads, I took it easy, enjoying the flat terrain to give my legs a break after tackling Monte Zoncolan the day before. As I entered the Rimini area, the route started to climb a bit, and I enjoyed the views of fields stretching down to the Adriatic Sea, with hilly landscapes rising on the other side.
Reaching San Marino, I chose a smaller road that passed through the Italian towns of Sant'Andrea and Santo Marino before finally entering the tiny country of San Marino at Gualdicciolo. The climb was not too long, but with gradients of 7-11%, it still made me feel the effects of the previous day's ride. The effort was worth it for the stunning view down to the sea. After some sightseeing, I took a well-deserved coffee and croissant in front of the castle.
The descent was bumpy, with poorly maintained roads, and by midday, temperatures were soaring into the 40s. I took a different route down through Santarcangelo di Romagna, which brought me closer to the coastline before heading back to Cesenatico.
As a final stop, I visited the Monumento a Marco Pantani near the beach and the Pantani museum at the train station. Riding the same hills that Pantani trained on and reflecting on his impact on professional cycling was a special way to wrap up the ride.

bike: Pretty Betty Specialized Tarmac S-Works
starring: Gerry Samer