Day 3: The sun also rises

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Words by Stuart Downie

Photos by Tomás Montes and Liz Seabrook

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Keeping with the theme of deploying tired idioms to mirror the actions of even more tired riders, how about we say Robert Müller (060) has made his bed, and is now lying in it. When he finally emerges (with new hotel slippers?) it’s clear that the previous day’s misstep with regards to his choice of footwear has cost him the ability to continue in the Race, and he scratches at CP3. We’re sad to see a force both on the bike and off succumb at this stage, but regardless of your experience, choices made on the way do take their toll.

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In the morning, Fiona Kolbinger (004) hits the road after another solid night’s sleep. At the CP the evening before, she told us she is six hours ahead of schedule, which leaves us to wonder if her plans have been a little conservative. That would be understandable given she came into the Race not knowing herself just how her legs would hold up in the mountains, but Fiona seems to be going very well and seems pleased to admit it. Today she’s taking a more southerly, flatter route to Parcours 4 skirting Pamplona and at the time of writing has finished the Parcours and is en route to CP4. Fiona should make it later tonight, all being well, and then the Raid Parcours will be in her sights, putting her firmly in the top ten.

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Molly Weaver (009) took a less southerly route through Basque country, meaning rolling roads which would have posed more of a challenge for the legs. She was in a buoyant mood when we saw her last, still unsure if she was undertrained or overcooked. We’re looking forward to finding out as she’s en route to Parcours 4, and more excited still to see her tackling the ‘home straight’ of the Raid Parcours after she inevitably clinches CP4.

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Anatole Naimi (044) was second rider into CP4, his trademark wry smile intact. Anatole eyed a bag of crisps keenly which the volunteers were not permitted to share, so he settled for filling his bottles before hitting the road. Anatole scores bonus points for putting in the effort to pedal up the CP driveway, an hors categorie climb of its own kind.

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A couple of hours later Manuel Rudaz (031) follows, rounding out the top three and admits that he nearly messed up his route. He tells us he’s been watching the dots which made him realise that he had to ride the Parcours before heading to the CP – which is just as well. As he leaves he tells CP volunteer Julien Gravaud – de facto mayor of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and veteran of TPRNo1, 2 and 3 – that he’s glad to be speaking French again. Incidentally, Julien (formerly cap 066, le petit bête) is happy to be back at Trans Pyrenees and holding no grudges that this edition didn’t start in his beloved hometown. He’s glad to be chilling at a Control Point, rather than constantly chasing the sweeping hand of the ticking clock. 

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Seun Alaba (072), resplendent in his baselayer, takes a moment by the side of the road with some tunes. He admits to feeling a little cooked and suffering with some saddle sores, but he’s also the happiest he’s been on an ultra which we’re delighted to hear. With one roll of film left in his camera and the pain in his feet subsided there are memories yet to be made.

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After a fast start and an early entry into the top five, Juan Miri (093) has come off the gas and turned his Trans Pyrenees Race into something of a gastronomic tour. So far, he’s gone head to head with two tête de bœuf for lunch on day two, before sailing into some côtelettes for dinner at the festival in Luz-Saint-Saveur. To finish? Plans to divert 35km to Pamplona for pintxos. Buen provecho!

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In the Pairs Category, Toon De Keyser (101a) and Jorne Bluekens (101b) tell us they’ve seen the other pair a lot, crossing paths and trading places in the competition, enjoying having their own leaderboard of ‘outcasts’. They report a friendly rivalry and have been enjoying checking the tracker at the end of each day to see which pair is on top. At this point, rival pair Dominik Engelke (102a) and Florian Imgrund (102b) seem to be riding quite far apart, perhaps the rivalries have switched from inter to intra Pair… let’s see how things pan out.

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Last but most certainly not least, Robin Gemperle (001) is storming his way through the Raid Parcours. After sleeping by the road in Saint-Jean-de-Luz he’s already ticked off several cols, and we leave him after a screaming descent of Labays.

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This evening, Control Point 3 closed at 20:00 CEST, which means some riders will be unable to finish in GC. Caroline Buckland (034) makes it just in time, thinking she had until midnight but ending up with only minutes to spare. Lucky break given she spent the best part of day one dealing with a mechanical issue. We hope the bike harness she brought came in handy for the hike-a-bike descent from Puerto de Bujaruelo and there’s plain sailing ahead. 

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A true test of perseverance begins for those outside of the time cut who choose to push on in hopes of a coveted Race Finish.

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SCRATCH REPORT

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A real race of attrition is happening at TPRNo4 – today we lose some big names.

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Ayoub Sahli (043)

Rob Gardiner (025)

Robert Müller (060)

Omar Di Felice (098)

Thomas Fitton (053)

Ali Macleod (007)

Alex Creak (081)

Laurent Pietrasik (026)

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