78.50km – 10H59’
Altitude : 97m
I have been at my computer for 4 hours and haven’t done half of what I would like in order to be up-to-date. It’s crazy!
And Serge does not feel well. Once again he has a sore throat, of late a recurring problem, and he does not want to decrease his mileage, as he explained yesterday! But how will he hold to the rhythm once he is back in France? Frankly, I think he is going to have to let up a bit if he wants to see Paris on October 17. I am consumed with worry and more than ever feel the need to be precise and to make decisions that will keep Serge from losing time, so that he will get his much needed sleep.
I think that Serge is very worried about losing everything he has accomplished up to now, once he arrives in France. He lacks energy; he is the shadow of himself and is only able to go forward because of his indomitable will to end this year-long race by clocking as many kilometers as possible.
For me, I no longer say anything, like I did in the past. I am resigned, but uneasy, since Serge said to me one day « I am not here to adapt to your organization ». It was not nasty, but he just wanted to say that his race and his daily goal come before everything else.
And tomorrow will be another hectic day. For a start, the center of London will be blocked off for a bicycle race. And also, there are 128 km between us and Dover. We know it and I have decided to have Serge leave London and begin the stage further along, with no reconnaissance because there isn’t time (it would have taken me all afternoon, or more) it took me 45 minutes to drive 10 km in London this afternoon! And also, the guys are getting really tired… we are under pressure. We have decided to go directly to Dover and Serge will run in a loop there.
We will see if Serge has to abandon his goal. I am apprehensive!