Weather continues to be temperamental on day two
The second day of the BikingMan Origine Aura 2024 took place under cloudy skies and difficult weather conditions. The rain, already present the day before, continued to accompany the riders, adding a further difficulty to this 1,000 km challenge. The leading group, made up of Théo Thaon, Laurent Boursette and Grégory Cassini, had already covered almost 450 km, engaging in a real night-time battle.
The battle for the lead: Théo Thaon takes the lead
The leading trio made it through the night with flying colors, and it was Théo Thaon who took first place, closely followed by event favorite Laurent Boursette and Grégory Cassini, who had already shone at the BikingMan Origine Corsica. These three leaders set an impressive pace and showed their determination to win this event.
Titouan Reydet shared his impressions of a tough night:
“Yeah, you land in the middle of the night and think, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ It was folksy, but no equipment or physical problems, so it’s fine. I even got chased by a badger!”
Despite the difficulties encountered, morale remained high among the front runners. They continued on towards the mythical Pas de Peyrol, a legendary Tour de France pass.
Progress towards Saint-Flour and managing fatigue
After crossing the 500 km mark, the participants reached checkpoint 2 in Saint-Flour. Laurent Boursette, who had taken the lead the day before, admitted that it had been a difficult night:
“It was a hard night because it rained a lot. It’s complicated to enjoy yourself when you’re soaking wet all night long. I’m probably going to sleep for an hour in Saint-Flour, just to get rid of the feeling of sleep.”
The riders must now tackle one of the toughest sections of the course: the Pas de Peyrol, which represents a major challenge even for the most experienced ultracyclists.
The chasers face the Col de la Chavade and the Col du Pendu
As the race leaders made their way towards the Pas de Peyrol, the chasing pack, located around kilometer 300, had to tackle the climbs of the Col de la Chavade and the Col du Pendu. These passes proved to be endurance tests, not least because of the weather conditions.
One of the participants encountered technical problems with his navigation equipment:
“I have two GPS units, but neither works any more. Luckily I had a backup GPS, but now nothing works.”
Despite the setbacks, the cyclists’ spirit of perseverance remains intact, and they keep going, hoping that the weather conditions will improve.
Checkpoint 1 closed and first abandonments
In the middle of the day, checkpoint 1 in Saint-Agrève officially closed its doors. Of the 200 participants, 192 made it through this first checkpoint, but some were forced to abandon due to fatigue, physical problems or difficult weather conditions. Among them, Mickael was unfortunately forced to stop. Isabelle, his team-mate, decided to continue the adventure solo.
Isabelle and Mickael’s arrival at checkpoint 1 was marked by strong emotions:
“I stopped at the bottom, near the stream, and I imagined doing these three bumps this morning to get here quietly, but they were really difficult. I made it to the end, but Mickael couldn’t go on,” shared Isabelle.
Mickael, for his part, explained his decision to give up:
“I came to test myself, but by then I’d reached my physical limits. With more time, it could have been managed, but with the race deadlines, it’s too difficult.”
A surprise retirement and the consequences for the race
One of the most striking retirements of this second day was that of Guillaume de Spoelberch, one of the contenders for the BikingMan series title. Confronted with trying race conditions, he preferred to drop out to preserve his strength for the next stage in Morocco:
“I’d rather recover and come back stronger for the Morocco stage than wear myself out here.”
The withdrawal was a real Trafalgar blow for the favourites, but it serves as a reminder of just how unforgiving this race is, particularly in the face of extreme weather conditions.
Climbing the Pas de Peyrol: a legendary challenge
The day ended with the ascent of the Pas de Peyrol, an emblematic pass culminating at 1,589 m altitude. This mythical spot, the scene of numerous battles during the Tour de France, has also been a must for the BikingMan Origine Aura for the past four years. Despite fatigue and accumulated mileage, more than a dozen ultracyclists managed to reach the summit, and another thirty or so were still in the midst of their ascent.
Weather conditions improved as the day progressed, giving the cyclists a little respite to enjoy this unique moment:
“The scenery here is really magnificent, and the sun is finally starting to come out. It’s a little comfort after all the rain,” said Axel Carion.
An event that tests mental strength and determination
This second day of the BikingMan Origine Aura 2024 was once again marked by difficult weather conditions, withdrawals and major challenges. Yet the participants continue to push their limits, guided by their passion and determination. The battle for the race lead intensifies, and runners continue their quest, despite fatigue and obstacles.
Stay tuned for the rest of this adventure, and follow the athletes’ progress in real time on social networks and Oaka’s live tracking platform. See you tomorrow for a summary of the third day of the race, which promises even more twists and challenges in this extreme e
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