At the end of May 2024, I set off on my second ultracycling challenge organised by Bikeway to Hell. The aim ? To cross Belgium from Ostende to Virton. 360 km to be completed in 24 hours.
Did you say preparation?
In April 2024, I set off for 10 days on the roads with the aim of having a cycling holiday, but also to put some kilomètres in my legs. I hadn’t cycled a long distance since the summer of 2023 and my North Cape. So, the idea was to have longer days at the start of the trip and then more relaxed days. The weather thwarted all my plans, and in the end I covered just over 900km in 10 days. The longest stage was 123km. Far from the kilometres that I need to cover on the Diagonale. But never mind, I’ve still decided to go to Ostende on 31 May 2024.
Waiting for the start
For once, the SNCB was on time and there was more than enough room for all the bikes. I met up with about fifteen of my cyclists chaps on the train and the journey to Ostende went off without a hitch. There was a bit of a gag moment on arrival when everyone thought they were going to follow someone else, even though no-one knew where the start was. Real tourists! We all made our way to the sea front to introduce ourselves and then, once the stickers had been stuck on the bikes and the bags dropped off, we had to wait. The two hours we’ve spent in the wind mean that we’ll be delighted to have a tailwind. This feeling was confirmed by the long-distance riders who had just covered 195 kilometres in appalling weather conditions. I opted to wrap up completely, including my Kway trousers, to not catch a cold waiting. Finally, it was time for a short briefing and then to get ready for the start. There were groups of five. I join other cyclists I didn’t knew, knowing well that they’ll be going too fast for me.
Starting like a rocket !
We quickly left Ostende at 7.48pm and discovered some great cycle routes, as our friends in the north can do so well. The tailwind was pushing us along and, hidden among the others, I was making fast progress. My average speed even went up to 24km/h. Far from my usual 18-20km/h. I lasted 45 minutes and then a stitch in my side appeared. That’s was my call to stop that pace. I dropped the others and slow the pace. I’m gradually being caught up by the other participants, but it’s much slower than on the Horizontaal!
I quickly emptied my two water bottles and took advantage of a chip shop to refuel. The lady tried to sell me two bottles of water and I had to insist on tap water. A 50cl bottle of Cristalline for €4.50, that’s way to much!
It’s slowly getting dark. I had to turn my headlight on full power several times because it was really dark. I’m listening to L’Heure H but I come across a series of podcasts about serial killers. Hmm, that’s not very clever. In the middle of nowhere, in complete darkness and with this in my ears, my brain is thinking too much.
At 2.30am, I’m yawning. I find a spot sheltered from the wind in Lessines and sleep for 15 minutes. Just before the place were a couple of volunteers were waiting for the participants. They think I’ve got a problem but I reassure them. Sorry guys, I needed a power nap.
Two hours after I left, things got worse. My eyes were starting to blur. I took another 15-minute nap at 4.30am but nothing helped. I waited impatiently for daylight, telling myself that it would help. But it doesn’t
That’s all folk !
As I started downhill towards the dangerous part of the route (holes in the road, tram tracks and cobbles), I realised I’d fallen asleep on the bike. It was a hole in the road that jolted me into realising this. I’m 50m from a tractor doing something on the left-hand side of the road. It takes me another 200 metres to realise that there’s a man in the middle of the road waving at me. He’s an organiser and he was wondering why I didn’t slow down. I didn’t see you, mate… I can see he’s standing next to a car with a loaded bike on it, but I can’t see the cyclist. The organiser explains to me that there have been several falls on the next section and that someone has been taken to hospital. Ha. He asks me why I wasn’t slowing down. I explain. He’s not confident and thinks it’s safer if I stop. He also tells me that there are still two people behind me. So I’m not the last?
The light rain that’s been falling for the last hour helps me decide. OK, I give up. I really don’t want to finish in the rain, pitch my tent in Virton in the rain and sleep in the rain. Clearly, I’m taking the easy way out. I’ll have done 173km in 10h12 (1h04 break). Not bad.
We go to the CP together, load up two other cyclists and their bikes and then head for Ottignies to catch the train. I’ll sleep the whole way in the car. I’ll have a 4-hour nap on the way home.
