95km – 1825m up – 2565m down
This stage was just right to start into such a tour 
, for several reasons. Those who have done the Cairo to Cape Town tour know, what it means to warm up for 5 weeks before for the challenging climbs into the Ethiopian highlands start and enjoy 99% dry days. Doomsday started as a contrary:
On the first day: already 1825m climb right after breakfast, and a stunning 2565m of accumulated downhill.
This was only topped by having had more rain in a single day than in 4 month through Africa. We were totally soaked wet.
After a 17km convoy out of San Jose we were left alone to climb around Poas Volcano. It was 25km steady climb with rain pouring on us to keep the legs from overheating. Lunch was at the most windiest place on earth. Imagine being wet to the bones and having to take lunch in a Hurricane. You freeze to death within no time thus it is best to simply cut the lunch time to a minimum.I don’t know how TdA manages to always find these unreal places, when there are less exposed just around the corner. 
However after lunch the climb came to an end and we were gifted with a 1600m drop on 35km through an amazing rain forest at the slopes of the volcano (which we couldn’t see in the rain). Numberless waterfalls, which were carrying flood water seamed or road.
A hot shower and a laundry service to clean and dry ourselves and the wet cloth was waiting for us in the Hotel ‘Sueno de Luna’.
It was said that already 50% of the riders lost their EFI on this very first day …