May 8: I must move forward!
It’s decided, I’ll go all the way to Amerogen ! I want to end it but time does not pass. I find that getting to KM150 becomes complicated. Once this mark has passed, things are better but arg, I have to get there! The day is punctuated by small naps because I begin to get tired more quickly.
I will still meet several dotwatchers on the road. One of them will tell me that this is the worst weather there has ever been on a RATN. Ha bah nice but it should not be done just for me! Another will ride a good half hour with me and it will boost me well. It’s always so surprising to see a stranger waiting for you on the side of the road, but it’s good for morale.
The weather is again a little worse but not as horrible as before so I don’t even pay attention to the rain and the wind anymore.
Like the day before, in the morning I am full of motivation but after 2 p.m., it becomes complicated. I don’t know how some people still manage to revive themselves after 8 p.m. and a good meal in their stomachs.
I end the day at the Borkel’s campsite with 195km in my legs. I can’t go wild camping, I’m too scared. I need the reassuring setting of the campsite. I decide to get up early the next day and ride everything I can. Every kilometer brings me closer to the finish! And Armin said he’ll come ride with me so I’ll have company.
Despite the average day, I still managed to do something crazy without realizing it: put myself in a bubble and just ride. I know I launched theU2 playlist and listened to the music. My legs pedaled and then all of a sudden, 3 hours had passed!!!! I think my mind was so tired that just listening to the lyrics disconnected it from the rest. An eye on the GPS and ears in U2. I think it would be cool to get to do that again.
May 9: the alarm clock that stings.
To be able to move faster, I shorten my night. I put my first pedal strokes at 4:30. Needless to say, I yawn while riding. On the other hand, it was not quite wise to do so on this day. I am in the detour planned by the RATN which passes through dirt roads. At the time, border crossings were regulated and to avoid any worries, the organizer changed the route to stay in the Netherlands. But suddenly, we pass through a forest with paths of average quality. And me, I took that day to start in the dark… I’ll manage to get by at the sound of toads and other animals but it was still a little bit worring. On the other hand, I will be entitled to a magnificent sunrise! I enjoy it quite well and made me think of my friends.
But after 22km, my eyes are closing. I find a bench for a first nap of 15 min. I find it hard to get back in motion, but I have to. The sun comes and warms me, it helps.
At 7:42 in the morning, I have already traveled 39km. But it seems complicated for me to do 200km in the day knowing that there is all the elevation that is coming. Alright, I have to make up my mind. I want to finish but not to the point of falling asleep on the bike and risking an accident. I contact the organizer to find out if the online tracking page remains visible even if I finish a day later. The answer is yes. Ok, no worries reassuring family and friends. Well, I made peace with myself. I won’t be in Amerongen this Sunday evening but I will finish. I have sun and less wind, so it’s better.
Moreover, I will be joined by Armin shortly after Valkenburg and together we will do the most strenuous 45-50 kilometers of the whole trip. The 22% will sting your legs, even when pushing the bike! We will still come across a random dotwatcher on a climb, which is also motivating. This dotwatcher is even registered for RATN 2022!
Armin is leaving me in Heerlen. I will still have three boring climbs and a rather bizarre passage on the side of the NATO base before stopping. I see a sign indicating a hotel so I go that way. Luckily, there are a lot of free rooms and the nice lady at the reception even puts me up next to the one near the big room so that I have access to my bike and can leave early the next morning without disturbing anyone.
I notice that evening that I managed to get sunburned on my wrist… And to think that 4 days before I was in a storm…
I call on my brother to pick me up by car in Amerongen the next evening so I don’t have to return by train. It’s my last night at the hotel, I still can’t wait to get back to my bed.
I was aiming for 200km that day, I did 178. Not bad.
May 10: it’s finally the last day!
Waking up is less difficult. I feel light. But I still have 195km to go. It’s not nothing. I start the day with a long climb which turns out to be the last. Ha, if I had known, I might have pushed a little the day before. What’s done is done, don’t regret it. From now on it’s a gentle slope down to Amerongen. The first 40 kilometers are even on a fairly steep gentle slope because I’m driving fast. I have an average of almost 20 km/h. I’m going to discover a Plus supermarket on my way so it’s a big feast at breakfast! It is already warmer than the other days at the same time and the wind is very light. I am well boosted!
But I will soon feel the fact of rolling faster. The thighs will start to pull. I will try to slow down the pace but I will not really succeed as the gentle slope carries me away. I tell myself too bad, let yourself go, you will arrive faster.
At noon, I come across a McDonald. Cool, a hot meal quickly prepared and toilets! The rest of the day goes by quietly and I don’t have many memories except that I saw two Bullitts in Nimengen and 35km from the end, I took a break to put the bike away and make it presentable.
On the other hand, I will have the chance not to end up alone. I’m about 10km from the end and I’m waiting at a red light when I hear someone talking to me in Dutch. I don’t understand anything except the “Race Around the Netherlands”. I turn around and the guy sees that I’m freezing so he repeats himself in English. He asks me if I am doing the RATN. “I’m the proud last one” will be my answer. And there, the guy turns into a groupie! He knows who I am. He asks me if he can ride with me because he lives in the street of the Proloog. No problem ! We will therefore spend the last ten kilometers chatting. He’s going to be stunned to see that I’m riding with an old bike, in basketball and with all my stuff ^^ He’s even going to ask me to take a selfie with me while we’re riding. The, I realize that there are obviously a lot of people who are still following me even if the race is over. He will step back to let me pass the entrance to the Proloog and applaud.
My heart overflows with joy. I DID IT !
The Proloog boss is there and gives me the finisher’s gift: a beautiful map. He takes a picture of me and tells the organizer that I’m done. I DID IT!!!! I talk a little more with the two guys then they leave me. My brother will be there soon. I take this opportunity to make a last video and cut the tracker. I am entitled to a magnificent sunset.
I almost cried when I saw my brother. It’s so surreal to see him after all that time on the bike. He brought me things to eat but I’m not hungry. We load the bike and then we set off for Brussels. He asks me lots of questions and I talk, I talk, I talk. I talk so much that suddenly we are on the Antwerp ring. He drops me off at home around 12:15 a.m. I’m not tired but I want to lie down. My brain shuts off and I fall asleep without realizing it.
I am a RATN 2021 finisher in 10 days 13 hours and 23 minutes !