Day 4 starts on the Danube, but the river soon slips behind. From Kozloduy, the route heads into the wide Danubian Plain: long roads, open fields, warm air and villages where the day moves slowly. After the historic riverbank and the Radetzky, the riding becomes almost meditative. The hills are gentle, yet the distance quietly adds up in the legs. Near Pleven, the mood turns more urban; parks, monuments and the memory of 1877 wait at the finish. A day for rhythm, space and good shade stops.
