BikingMan Euskadi 2023 – day 2: an intense race under scorching heat, Laurianne Plaçais and Sébastien Pailly in a duel

The second day of the BikingMan Euskadi 2023 race started at dawn, bathing the Basque landscape in golden light after a challenging first night for many participants. The rugged terrain and daunting climbs showed no mercy to the riders, and by the early hours, it was clear that the battle for victory would be fought in demanding conditions.

Rémi Borrion and Ronan Lesueur struggle with insomnia

After a restless night, some riders, like Rémi Borrion and Ronan, found themselves desperate for sleep, struggling to find the rest needed to face the second day. Rémi, visibly exhausted, explained:

“I stopped often, took short breaks, but it didn’t really work. It’s strange; it’s not even adrenaline keeping me awake, I don’t know what it is.”

This lack of sleep weighed heavily on his physical form, but he remained optimistic, planning “microsleeps” to help him through the remainder of the race. The two friends found themselves within 10 kilometers of the Spandelles pass, an ascent with an average slope of 8%, which Laurianne Plaçais and Sébastien Pailly had already conquered earlier. These obstacles added to the race’s overall challenge, as exhaustion continued to take hold.

Sébastien Pailly temporarily relinquishes his lead

Overnight, Sébastien Pailly, who led the race on the first day, was overtaken by Laurianne Plaçais after he fell asleep briefly. Laurianne recounted the surprising scene:

“I lay down for 40 minutes, and when I set off again, I found Sébastien asleep. We rode together for a bit, but not for long, side by side.”

She then took the lead, managing her pace carefully despite the increasing difficulties. This shift in leadership added a new twist to the competition, as Laurianne showed impressive resilience in the face of the race’s intensity.

The Basque terrain continued to test the cyclists, especially on the Port de Balès pass, one of Euskadi’s natural beauties. The spectacular scenery contrasted with the physical effort required to reach the summits, as Laurianne described:

“It’s tough, but it’s worth the pain.”

As the day progressed, the riders faced three consecutive passes: the Port de Balès, the Peyresourde, and finally, the legendary Aspin.

The Pyrenees and history intertwine

Upon reaching the Aspin pass, which rises to 1,489 meters, the participants of BikingMan Euskadi faced one of the race’s iconic stages. This pass, traversed 76 times by the Tour de France, represents more than just a physical challenge; it’s a symbol of endurance and pushing one’s limits. As history tells it, this thermal road was built in the 18th century to link Pyrenean spa towns, driven by Napoleon III’s initiatives.

For the BikingMan cyclists, however, the Aspin pass was a key stage before reaching checkpoint 2 in Campan. Only after conquering this pass could they rest and prepare for the final phase toward the finish line.

Laurianne Plaçais leads at checkpoint 2

At 4:05 p.m., Laurianne Plaçais arrived at checkpoint 2, having covered 621 km in 35 hours and 2 minutes. Despite her dominant position, she began to feel the first signs of exhaustion:

“I still have another 24 hours on the bike, and my legs are really starting to hurt. I’ve barely eaten all day, and the burns around my seat area are hard to manage.”

Despite the pain, Laurianne remained focused on her goal, knowing that victory was now just a few hundred kilometers away.

Less than an hour later, Sébastien Pailly arrived, clearly eager to set off again:

“Yesterday’s race wiped me out, but now I’m good to go again!”

After just a three-minute stop, he was back on the road, determined to make up lost time. For Sébastien, every minute mattered, and he knew that nighttime strategy could be decisive.

Laurianne, on the other hand, opted for a 30-minute nap before resuming, preferring to rest and face the remaining kilometers in better condition.

“I’d rather leave refreshed than collapse later. This way, I won’t be sleeping on the cold ground,” she said before getting back on her bike.

A duel for victory

With less than 360 km to go, the race for victory between Laurianne and Sébastien promised to be intense. Behind them, other competitors also battled fatigue and heat. Several riders within the top 10 to top 20 range, like Laurent Garbolino, approached the Spandelles pass under scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Laurent, part of the lead pack, shared:

“Yesterday, I put my foot down for the first time in my life. Today is a bit better, but it’s tough to keep going with so little sleep.”

Others, like Arnaud and Aymeric, continued their progress with lighthearted jokes to lift the mood.

“The others wouldn’t stop drafting behind me,” joked Arnaud Hendrix, while Aymeric, wearing a polka-dot jersey, pretended to lead the race before being overtaken.

The battle for third place

At checkpoint 2, Laurent Garbolino arrived four hours after the top two.

“I’ll take a quick nap and tackle the Tourmalet at night. It’ll be a treat without cars or motorcycles,” he said, visibly calm in the face of the massive challenge ahead.

He kept his eyes on the goal of securing third place and looked forward to having a celebratory drink in Anglet the following evening.

As night fell, delayed riders continued to trickle into checkpoint 2, tired but determined to finish the race. They now faced one of the course’s biggest challenges: the Tourmalet pass, rising to 2,115 meters.

Nighttime strategy

With Sébastien Pailly back in the lead, closely followed by Laurianne Plaçais, nighttime strategy would be crucial in determining the winner of this 2023 BikingMan Euskadi edition. Behind them, the battle for third place was also wide open, with Laurent Garbolino in position, though many contenders were still vying for a spot.

Tension mounted as the riders prepared to tackle the final stages of this grueling event, where every kilometer counted.

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