BikingMan France 2023 – day 2: Laurianne Plaçais takes the lead, managing the elements and a nocturnal battle

After a first day marked by intense heat, BikingMan France 2023 continues with a focus on determination and recovery strategies. The 128 participants are now spread across the roads of Provence, with Laurianne Plaçais maintaining her lead and reaching the first checkpoint in Venasque with a significant advantage. The course, dotted with steep climbs and technical descents, is beginning to reveal its full rigor.

First checkpoint: Laurianne Plaçais in the lead

At 11:20 p.m. on Monday night, Laurianne Plaçais is the first to reach checkpoint 1 at kilometer 438, a position she intends to solidify. Tired but determined, she explains:

“The last few kilometers were tough. I’m going to take a break, sleep a little before moving on.”

Her strategy is to maintain a steady pace without sacrificing rest, a wise decision given the race’s challenges.

Noël Barreca in second position adjusts his strategy

Less than 30 minutes after Laurianne, Noël Barreca arrives in second place, visibly affected by the day’s heat. He chooses a different approach, opting for extended sleep to recover before tackling Mont Ventoux.

“We went out too hard; the heat was tough for everyone,” he admits. “I’m going to sleep for a few hours and get a fresh start for the next kilometers.”

Valentin Van Overloop, arriving shortly after Noël, also decides to take a well-deserved break. For him, climbing Ventoux in the middle of the night is out of the question.

“I’ll sleep for a few hours and recover well. I still have two days of racing left, so I might as well manage my energy,” he says with resolve.

Maximilien Couvreur: ready to take risks to catch Laurianne

Minutes later, Maximilien Couvreur reaches checkpoint 1. Aware of Laurianne’s lead, he decides not to wait until morning to continue.

“I’ll push on to Bédoin and rest a bit before Ventoux,” he declares, hoping to narrow the gap with Laurianne.

Maximilien knows that every minute counts and that victory could depend on his ability to close in on the lead.

The heat of the night: steady arrivals and rest strategies

The night proves challenging for the ultra-cyclists, with arrivals trickling in at the checkpoint. By 4:30 a.m., nearly 24 hours into the race, around fifteen participants have reached the checkpoint, exhausted but determined. One rider shares his thoughts:

“The heat was really overwhelming yesterday. Now I’ll rest a bit, take time to recover before tackling Mont Ventoux.”

Day two begins: the final kilometers to CP1 for some

In the middle of the morning, Thierry Caillault is still on his way to checkpoint 1, battling fatigue and heat. He explains:

“Yesterday, I didn’t manage well. I couldn’t find a place to cool down, and I don’t think I’ll last if I make the same mistake today.”

Like many others, he realizes that hydration and heat management are essential to continue.

Laurianne Plaçais scales Mont Ventoux and widens the gap

Meanwhile, Laurianne continues her progress and summits Mont Ventoux, completing the grueling 21 km climb to 1900 meters. She quickly reaches the 520 km mark, strengthening her lead over her competitors.

“I’ll keep an eye on the gap with Maximilien and plan my rest accordingly. Experience has taught me not to stop for too long,” Laurianne says, already considering strategies to hold her position.

Ventoux and handling strong winds

For the other top 20 riders, Mont Ventoux becomes a formidable challenge. With gusts reaching 70 km/h, cyclists struggle to maintain their balance.

“The wind is so strong my helmet almost flew off,” one cyclist shares, exhausted but determined to overcome this first major hurdle.

As the morning progresses, the heat becomes oppressive once again, especially at the Col de l’Homme Mort. Despite the fatigue, one participant jokes:

“I’m a dead man! But I’m moving on, slowly but surely,” laughs Jean-Christophe Durand.

The cyclists feel the weight of the race, but everyone pushes forward with a smile, determined to conquer this significant challenge.

Behind Laurianne: the battle for the podium intensifies

With Laurianne still leading, the fight for the podium heats up. Pieter Aarnoutse, who led on day one before succumbing to the heat, is back in the race and positioned in third place.

“The pain is there, especially in my legs, but I won’t give up,” he declares, determined not to let the leaders get away.

Meanwhile, Maximilien Couvreur holds steady despite the fatigue. At kilometer 680, he maintains a fast pace while trying to catch Laurianne.

“I’m taking my time to secure second place. If there’s an opportunity to catch up to her, I’ll take it, but it will be tough,” he admits, acknowledging his rival’s strength.

Checkpoint 2 in Vars: Laurianne maintains her lead

Laurianne Plaçais, the runner-up from the 2022 edition, reaches the second checkpoint in Vars early in the evening after 35 hours and 25 minutes of racing. She appears slightly exhausted but decides to take a break before tackling the Col de la Bonette during the night.

“The heat has worn me out; I’ll rest for a while and then head out,” she says.

This calculated pause will allow her to tackle Bonette’s 2715-meter summit in the cool of the night, a tactic that could work in her favor.

Three hours later, Maximilien Couvreur reaches CP2 as well. Benefiting from the evening cool, he is determined to keep up the effort and hopes to close his gap with Laurianne during the night.

“I slept a bit last night, so I still have some energy,” he shares.

He knows Laurianne has a solid lead, but he remains optimistic about his chances to bridge the distance.

A decisive night for the victory and the top 5

The battle for victory intensifies as Maximilien launches a race against time to close his three-hour deficit. Behind them, cyclists continue to compete for spots in the top 5, with close margins separating them. The remaining kilometers will be challenging as the conditions of this race continue to test the participants.

Conclusion of day 2: an exhausting and unpredictable race

This second day of BikingMan France 2023 confirmed the intensity of this event, where every participant must balance recovery and speed. Laurianne Plaçais still leads the race, but Maximilien Couvreur’s strategy hints at a decisive night for the podium. The extreme conditions, from intense heat to gusting winds, add an extra layer of difficulty, pushing everyone to their physical and mental limits.

As day three approaches, the question remains: will Laurianne be able to maintain her lead, or will Maximilien succeed in narrowing the gap under the cool night sky?

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