Day: July 12, 2006

It was tough getting up, especially since it meant leaving a good bed at 4:00 AM.  Thomas, Max and Fulvio left in the Mizuno minibus with serge to the starting point.  Arrival is scheduled for 11H30, to the north of People’s Square, in the center of the city, not far from the Bund, which Serge will take at the end of his run.

At the 20th kilometer, Max got on a bike in order to feed Serge and that is where it became sport, not to say folklore, because really, the center of Shanghai is not made for cyclists.  The traffic is hellish and there are some lanes which are only for pedestrians.

While that was happening, the move continued at the hotel: sorting, eliminating, putting in boxes, bags……When the room was finally emptied of all the mess it was rather impressive.

At 11H10, Serge arrived, a bit in advance.  Thomas, his son, accompanied his dad on the last kilometers before showering him with Champagne on the immense podium.

The day was eventful and once back at the hotel we were faced with the last tasks: “what could I have forgotten?”

We met for our last meal together.  There were 11 of us: Liu and Sun were of course with us and we wish to thank them for all the work they did while they accompanied us.  This incredible Chinese journey will end at the Pudong airport at 18H00.

We had 24 checked bags which weighed 300 kilos.

The whole team was there: Thomas and Stéphanie will stay for a few days to help Zette take care of the vehicles, which will go as Cargo to France, then they will have a well-earned rest.  I know that it hasn’t always been easy for them, between Serge who imposed an infernal rhythm and I who was there with excess energy watching to ensure that everything was “up-to-date.” They lived an adventure with a capital A.  Serge already misses Stéphanie’s massages.  If you live anywhere near Rennes, a reflex massage by Stéphanie will put you back on your feet.  She has the hands of a fairy!  Thanks to Thomas for his beautiful photos.

As for Thomas and Maxime, they are dreaming of a good late sleep, happy that it’s over but happy to have been able to live this race on the inside.  They will have lots of things to tell when they get home.  Thanks to this young team (the youngest group of the race) which gave its best to support Serge during those suffocating days on the road.

As in a dream, the race is stopping.  We are taking the plane with the feeling of a happy end.

Time to wake up: 20H40, we are setting foot on Japanese soil.

22H30 and time to go to bed without thinking about tomorrow.