i think this merits a thread on its own.
Dave C reported last night after completing and no doubt Cyclops and Dr Afternoon have stuff to share.
Here's what DaveC said - just in case you missed it.
"Hello!
On the hotel interweb now.
The start was good. No collywobbles and I felt excited at the start line.
Flew out of Paris on a wave of cyclists, with no wind and flat riding most of the way. Stopped for 5 mins before 1st Ctrl for drink and sandwich in a town end route. Most towns had at the very least ppl on the route sitting in deck chairs clapping as we passed. Lots had drink and food either for a small donation or for free. Great support from the locals.
Rode through the night and morning stopping briefly for a nap for an hour at one control but carried on through the heat until Carhaix. Bed at 1am & up at 4am. Over that 350m hill outside Brest as it grew light, then down into Brest passing the new bridge! Looks wonderful. Bounced Brest and fed at McD's. By this time (40 hours in) dry baguettes with cheap ham and emenental cheese was more than I could take!
Out of Brest past Carhaix and more food for dinner at Loudeac before the last dash to Tinteniac and a rough night on the cafe floor. All beds taken. Then a big push yesterday (weds) through Rougeres and as far as Ctrl before Dreux. Here I booked a twin in Dreux Campanile and then rode to Dreux in 3 hours! In Dreux we had a lovely shower and 5 hour sleep before a nice 3 hour ride to the Velodrome in the increasing rain.
On the whole the support was great, food was pants! but as someone pointed out its intentionally bland to appeal to the masses, but we binned Ctrl food after Carhaix on the way out finding local stuff from Intermarche and local shops etc. I carried energy bars but only broke them out on my TT to Dreux as I'd skipped dinner at the Ctrl before when my riding partner had been told the hotel checking closed at 11pm and I had ~80km to go in less than 4 hours. Made it with an hour to spare.
Slept some today and caught up with sleep, hence posting here. Eurostar and Virgin East Coast home tomorrow.
Its brief and I'll filling names etc tomorrow."
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