While preparing for the race, I told myself that I wanted a stamp on my map for each checkpoint. It was out of question to stop by when they are closed. The problem is that on the North Cape, checkpoints are public places with opening hours. So you had to be precise on your timing. The first one is the Lausanne tourist office. When I arrive at the top of the Grand Saint Bernard pass, I am 2 hours behind schedule. So I know it’s going to be thight for the checkpoint. Once I got over the fear of the descent, I told myself that it would be really stupid to arrive just after closing time. So I push on the pedals. The roads becomes flatter and are in good condition so I am helped. Once in Villeneuve, I will do the 32 km that separate me from Lausanne with the pedals on fire. The small bumps along the route don’t slow me down that much. I’m still going to calm down when I arrive in Montreux and almost miss a crash with a car. These efforts will pay off because I validate the CP 1 hour before it closes! I am supercharged by the effort produced and over the moon when the lady gives me my stamp.
To Paris
Once this Swiss checkpoint has been validated, I have 600km left for Paris and the second checkpoint. Between the two, two more big climbs at an altitude of over 1000m before heading towards less hilly terrain. After a charming passage in the garden of Raphaël, dotwatcher and Twitter subscriber, I leave Switzerland telling myself that the hardest part is done and that my body is ok. This was without taking into account the weather which was gradually deteriorating. The rain appears in the form of short but intense showers. I manage to avoid most of them but I still end up wet. On the fourth day, a heavy downpour hit me while I was in the middle of nowhere with no shelter. First blow to morale which means that I stop very early, only after 130km. I find myself a tepee and a bed at the Tonnerre campsite and call Géraldine. The discussion makes me feel good but I’m still frustrated not to move forward as quickly as planned and to see that I’m falling behind schedule. The departure the next day takes place along a canal under the mist and allows me to enjoy a magical departure which erases worries. The rain will calm down and only showers of fine rain will fall, which are not disturbing. But the wind is picking up! He will accompany me to Paris and annoy me more or less depending on the moment. From day 5, I will hardly see many participants. I see on the tracker that I am in the bottom thirty. It’s not a problem, I knew it was going to be like that. But with the headwind, I tell myself that if I could suck a wheel, it would be nice. But htere is nome so I make my effort alone. As we approach Paris, I see that I will arrive too late for the CP. No question of rushing into the city like I did in Switzerland. I decide to take a hotel just before Paris and go to the CP in the morning. Charles will join me to finish this day. It’s strange to be with someone I know after so much time alone. Lionel will accompany me to the checkpoint the next day and other Parisian friends will already be there. Even Pauline finds time to come between two deliveries! There is no denying that the Parisian welcome is royal! Where I’m going to be disillusioned is that the organizer said that the Giant store opened at 10 a.m. but on the window I see 11 a.m…. Phew, the employees arrived before because I wasn’t going to wait for all that either. I take the opportunity to have the derailleur and brakes checked . It’s all good. I’m ready to leave.
Unexpected Parisian effect
After a final stop at Julie’s, here I am finally leaving Paris. I am along the Ourcq canal. Here, I know. I know it works by itself and it’s chill . But it’s not okay. It takes me a good half hour to realize that in fact, seeing all these people that I know more or less well, it was good for my morale but I have difficulty leaving. I’m not very motivated to continue. I have to concentrate on the music and the road to get through this big moment of loneliness. Finally, maybe seeing people you know during an ultra cycling race isn’t exactly a good idea. The lesson is hard to swallow. This is why I will decline my family’s offer to join me at the border. I know I won’t leave again. My boyfriend will tell me later that he was in Liège the day I went but that he didn’t tell me. He did well. I will never leave again.
On the way to Germany
The good surprise when leaving Paris is the wind at my back which will stay with me for a long time. It allows me to move forward at an average of 20km/h. This may not seem like much to some of you, but for me, it’s starting to come quickly. On July 28, on the 7th day of racing, I will even do 223km to already start the Belgian course. Big hiccup at the end of the day however, my knee hurts so much that I can no longer pedal with my right leg. Given the weather, I had put on overshoes. But, I wear MTB sneakers. Since classic overshoes are for narrow shoes, I wear ones that are four sizes too big. Unconsciously, my foot has moved on the pedal and is too far back. The pain will only appear after 1 hour of cycling on the 8th day and I tell myself that I have to do something. Too bad for the feet, I put the overshoes at the bottom of the bag. Waterproof socks will keep me warm. I massage my knee, but I don’t have any medicine with me. The problem with starting at 6 a.m. is that it still takes a while before businesses are open. I eventually found a pharmacy and bought some Voltaren and Nurofen . The passage from Liège will be in the company of Louise and will prevent me from stopping and taking a train home. I’m 1h15 from Brussels… It would be so easy to stop! I will finish that day in the Netherlands after seeing two friends who also did the RATN. The tailwind continues to help. However, I had to wait until the tenth day for me to find a pharmacy with a splint that would help support my knee, which was already doing better.
