Guide to the WCC-PBP Blog

The blog is split in three parts as follows

1. Rider Profiles and Progress
This will be updated through out the event with the times riders arrive at the 16 controls along the event. There is also a short not-too-serious summary of each rider's palmares

2. Directions to the Parc Etang camp site where most of the Willesden CC will be staying before and after the event.

3. News and photos from the event.

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Follow Andrew's Blog Log in the News and Photos section.

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Latest News!

Everybody's back. Exceedingly well done all of you, riders and Support Team alike. Those of us back home are thoroughly... grateful we weren't doing it with you - it's been tough enough watching!

Enjoy your post PBP picnic (try saying that after a few bottles of red); you certainly deserve it. Then we look forward to your personal accounts and hopefully some photos on the Blog when you are back.

Order home: (unofficial times)

Friday 24th August

Unaccounted for: Mike Ellison last seen on the PBP system at Dreux at 10:32. But then it didn't register his starting time either, so he's probably sitting in Paris with his feet up enjoying a long, cold beer!

16:28 Liam Fitzpatrick (89:58)

16:10 Bob McDowell (89:40)

15:52-15:58 John Davies (88:42), Dennis Falvey (89:23), Ian Oliver (89:08)

15:33-15:36 Steve Ayres (82:49), Darlene Rini (82:51), Yoshi Sekido (89:25), John Williams (82:52)

13:40 Andrew Deaner - 88 hours 19 minutes

12:12 Mark Green - 87 hours 28 minutes

11:46 Peter Turnball 86 hours 26 minutes

First 3 home - Thursday 23rd August

3: 18:37 - Ivo Miesen - 68 hours 45 minutes.

2: 16:07 - Mel Kirkland - 67 hours 11 minutes

1: 08:56 - Martin Lucas - 60 hours 41 minutes

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This morning we headline with a special mention for the Support Team

These 6 sterling souls - Vyv, Marianne, Wendy, Keith, Jim, and John Devine - have toiled ceaselessly in the same appalling conditions as the riders, yet have always come up with the food and encouragement when it's been most needed. As I write, the Support Team have not slept since Wednesday night, yet still managed to be on the button for the riders at Dreux, and are planning the grand picnic in Paris later today. A rider described their job as being "as hard as riding the event, but we couldn't do without them".

So one hearty thank you, and round of applause for our dedicated, non-stop Support Team!

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24th August 11:00

A great party is going on a Dreux! John Davies phoned in, and the sound of celebration was fantastic! After 1,200k, cyclists were dancing to the music and there was so much excitement it was difficult to hear. What are we missing by staying at home?!

It has clearly been a long hard night and the weather and exhaustion has taken it's toll. As we were speaking, some poor soul, only 65k from the end, was being carted off in an ambulance, and our own Darlene Rini is suffering horribly and receiving treatment. It sounds as if she'll have to be pushed the rest of the way home. Well over 1,200 riders from the original 5,500+ have already abandoned the ride, and in the night Ray Kelly was forced to pack at Villaines. Mark Brooking was riding with Ray and hasn't logged a time since 3:42 at Villaines, so perhaps he's packed too. If not he now has an almost impossible 4 hours to make up to finish in time - which he could do if he averaged about 20kph for the 200k from Villaines to Paris!

Barring a drama or crisis, Peter Turnball should be the 4th Willesden rider across the line around midday today, followed very closely by Mark Green who is only minutes behind him. Andrew Deaner is making good time on his own, and should arrive at St Germain around 14:00. And we then have two groups of John Davies, Darlene Rini, John Williams, Mike Ellison, Steve Ayres, and, about an hour behind them, Dennis Falvey, Yoshi Sekido, Bob McDowell, Ian Oliver, and Liam Fitzpatrick who will all be in between 16:00 and 17:00.

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