Trans Gaule 2006 Options

[Kelvin]

Quite a few people on Coolrunning know that i'm doing Trans Gaule a 1,150 KM stage race across France later this month, however i'd decided to not post a thread about it till i finally made the list of starters (if you click on my name it's all in French and there is an incorrect date for the Rolling Stones concert - should be August . There is a blog up and running which i will update as often as possible (and assuming i'm not totally stuffed day after day). Having only done one genuine multi day race before, The Simpson Desert Challenge over 6 days, i go in with no predetermined plans and will be taking it day by day. Have spoken numerous time to UK based Sydney Strider David Sill who ran this three years ago i'd like to think i have some idea what's ahead of me. With a typhoon closing Hong Kong Airport am posting this at Singapores Changi Airport, just not really knowing when i'll hit France.

This post has been edited by Kelvin: Aug 4 2006, 11:41 AM

[Vegie-girl]

Kel that's such a huge adventure to embark on. No doubt you will do Aussies proud out there.

Don't worry about missing the flight into HK. Its not the same since they changed airports. You used to be able to fly in between the buildings and make a sharp right turn at Mrs Wong's clothesline before landing. Now that was flying

Take care out there. The way I see it there are a few things to avoid.
1. Getting lost (obviously).
2. Drinking too much wine, which may lead you down a perilous path on the express route to point 1.
3. Displacing a hip whilst dancing at the Stones concert.

Of course you should also try to avoid p@ssing off a Frenchman . . . good luck with that one.

Have fun.

[RMC]

Will be watching (reading) with interest Kelvin. Good luck with it.

[Will]

WAOOO! That's one of the races I'd like to do one day when I go back home...And when I have a few more years of running in my legs.

I heard it was pretty tough.

Regarding the Frenchmans, I guess you'll be alright as long as you stay out of Paris and other big cities... But don't expect them to speak a word of English...And even if they do, they won't understand your aussie accent.

you'll be going through beautiful french country side, and you can expect anything from the weather. But you're lucky the heatwave is gone I think.

Bonne Chance!

[Spud]

Just been reading about this race on the website Kelvin, what an adventure you got lined up there.
All the very best, look forward to some updates on the blog.

Spud

[Blue Dog]

Go get 'em Kelvin!

Best wishes for a successful traverse.

Dog.

[Will]

For once, I can make my French useful: Here is what is said on Kelvin's presentation:

04 Kelvin Marshall (Victoria, Australie), 42 years old
2h49’/Marathon, 8h33’/100 KM.

His impressive running resume includes 128 marathons (with 57 under 3 hours) and 162 ultramarathons in Australia, with some 1st places in 50km races.

His long summer holidays in France will be busy and eclectic and they will look like an interval training session (fast pace - recovery - fast pace):
Rolling Stones Concert in Nice on the 8th of August, récovery, Transe Gaule from 16 August till 2 September, recovery, Marathon du Médoc on the 9th of September, recovery...

This post has been edited by Will: Aug 4 2006, 04:23 PM

[Ultraphil]

Best of luck Kelvin. Look forward to your reports on the blog!

[run2work]

Kelvin,

A running tour de france!!! Go well and enjoy.

Regards Run2Work

[Paul Every]

Have fun Kelvin and relish the adventure. And don't listen to Vegie Girl; drinking too much wine is have the point of Marathon du Medoc!

[lostboy]

[attachment=58:attachment]
Serveur, cette votre baguette est-elle en mon potage?
Have a fantastic time Monsieur Kelvin (& oh yes...be sure to kick some bottoms )

[Beki]

Good luck Kelvin and enjoy the concert

Looking forward to following your blog....providing you manage to write in it

[Whippet Man]

Gee Kelvin, the lengths you'll go to to see a Stones concert.
Have a great run and soak up some French ambience en route.

[blondegirl]

Serveur, cette votre baguette est-elle en mon potage?

Hmmm, Lostboy, when was your last French lesson???
"Waiter, this your breadstick is it in my soup?" <_<
Careful what you write, you never know when there are frogs watching...

Kelvin: you are one sick dude....

[Kelvin]

Bonjour,
Have updated the blog, absolute saga, but glorious in Nice,
Kelvin
P.S. very good glue they use when billposting tried to free a Stones poster from wall in Paris but ended up
ripping :-(

[homo]

Good luck Kelvin - an absolute tour de force.

The route looks like something a roman soldier would have done running away from the mad Gauls in the northwest (ie. Asterix & Obelix & consorts), less the 60 lbs pack of course (delirant isti romani ) !

We'll be following your progress with interest.

[Phibes]

Bonjour Kelvin- ca va?

Hope you have a ripper of a time over there.

Did you grow that moustache to blend in with the locals?? All you need is a shirt with navy and white stripes and a beret and you'll be set.

Allez, allez!

Phibes

[omni]

Good luck Kelvin, have fun at the stones tomorrow (or whenever it is), hope that recovery happens and the running goes well.

This post has been edited by omni: Aug 7 2006, 08:38 PM

[Kelvin]

Updated the blog, even mentioned some running in it , escaped unscathed from both the Stones coverband gig (that was more dangerous as plenty of room to do something stupid and reinjure the calf) as well as at the real thing, absolutely exhausted though and i'll have to get used again soon of getting up early.
Shame the mo is no more at the moment however i've got plenty of time to grow it back before i return. I could say i've really been missing Coolrunning and the instant internet access but i would be lying (well maybe some of the coolrunners )

[Kelvin]

Another update, not much running content but the race is getting near (back permitting). Great to see the results from the Gold Coast Ultras

[Vegie-girl]

Test Message from Kel received yesterday afternoon:

"With only 40 hours to race start no net access in Roscoff I can find, if lucky I can use someone's laptop later. Just hope chiro fixes me. Tired of cold and rain in Paris (Melbourne of Europe!) As well has rained most way today. Just want to get running (back permitting) and warm. Nervous as!"

The race kicks off tomorrow from Roscoff with a casual 68k stroll down the road. I have no idea what time, but if it started at 7am it would be 3pm our time.

Hope our boy's back is up to it. Happy running Kel.

[RMC]

Yeh good luck tomorrow Kelvin. I will be following this one with interest over the next 18 days. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kelvin in the first few places on DAY 1 (68k stage), looking at last year's times.

[Paul Every]

Go Kelvin! Indulge yourself in the journey and coddle those legs. It's all about the recovery mate. Nail that and it will all fall into place.

Allez!! Allez!!

[Will]

First day finished, 68km

Here are the results:

1 14Ferreira da Guia* Sebastiaõ BRA 5:40:50 10,914
2 32Sirat, Jacques 5:45:54 10,755
3 35Brand'honneur, Raymond 5:52:10 10,563
4 10Selch*, Werner GER 5:54:03 10,507
5 38Candé, Patrick PYF 5:56:20 10,440
6 34Nabuurs, Jan NED 5:59:55 10,336
7 11Schöberl, Sebastian GER 6:24:23 9,678
8 27Micaletti, Pierre-Michaël 6:27:00 9,612
9 04Marschall, Kelvin AUS 6:28:30 9,575
10 03Muller****, Daniel 6:57:53 8,902
11 23Monot, Jean-Michel PYF 7:00:55 8,838
12 39Rosset, Philippe SUI 7:00:55 8,838
13 15Rudig, Jim USA 7:18:50 8,477
14 31David, Pascal 7:19:55 8,456
15 17Savigny*, Christian 7:21:26 8,427
16 09Viaux, Thierry 7:22:07 8,414
17 13Neumann, Klaus GER 7:22:07 8,414
18 22Broersen, Jos NED 7:22:07 8,414
19 28Duquesne, Yves 7:23:30 8,388
20 06Coldicott, Selina GBR (F) 7:34:55 8,177
21 29Lebas, Malou (F) 7:37:54 8,124
22 30Roudaut, Yvon 7:37:54 8,124
23 20Valle*, Romain 7:43:18 8,029
24 08Brunschwig, Philippe 7:43:59 8,018
25 16Viaud*, Fabrice 7:48:18 7,944
26 12Meyer, Hans-Joachim GER 7:51:35 7,888
27 36Morand, Frédéric 7:54:15 7,844
28 26Frugère, Bernard 7:59:38 7,756
29 37Feldmann, Hartmut GER 8:09:40 7,597
30 24Von Kocemba, Rosem. GER (F) 8:11:46 7,565
31 21Servel, Xavier 8:12:43 7,550
32 07Brueyre*, Laurent 8:20:54 7,427
33 02Winkley****, Don USA 8:33:00 7,251
34 18Mütze*, Willem NED 8:37:22 7,190
35 19Jäckel, Heinz GER 8:37:22 7,190
36 25Van Geene, Regina NED (F) 8:41:54 7,128
37 33Kuijpers*, Theo NED non connu
38 01Eichner**, Sigrid GER (F) non connu

(The little * show how many Transe Gaule, the runners have finished)

There is a report for every stage in french. if they don't translate it in english, I'll try and summarize the essential

This post has been edited by Will: Aug 17 2006, 08:28 AM

[Vegie-girl]

Thanks for that update Will. Heard from Kel on Tuesday night. At that stage he was in better spirits having arrived safely to the much warmer and sunnier Roscoff. The race director managed to organise an appointment with a chiro. I think Kel's words were, "As long as I have two legs I will keep going . . . I would rather die than pull out". Sounds like just another day at the office then.

Apparently the beer is cheap, bananas are cheap, and he ate fish and chips. I think he's in heaven. There will be one challenge facing him at the end of each day . . . he has a blow up mattress. He has assured me he will keep enough hot air in reserve to blow it up.

Latest update from Kel received this morning:
Late start because of presentations with Mayor. Think I was 8th in 6.5 hrs. Struggled a bit in rain. Will look for internet after lie down.

Edit: Kel, my apologies for not posting sooner. Took a tumble on the trail yesterday. . . never did like my vegies peeled.

This post has been edited by Vegie-girl: Aug 17 2006, 08:37 AM

[Will]

Here is the report for stage 1. i did this quickly, excuse the bad English:

Wednesday 16 August 2006

Roscoff-Plounevezel

We were hoping for an uncertain Transe Gaule, it looks like it is going to be the case this year. We would like the 18 days to be as thrilling as this first stage was.

A changing weather, which will alternate between dark clouded skies and showers during the day.

As soon as the gun goes off, Jan Nabuurs starts very quickly and takes the lead, leaving Seb Ferreira da Guia*, Pierre-Michaël Micaletti, Kelvin Marschall, and a bit further down Werner Selch, organise a pursuit which will cause some damage in this leading group. Once Jan is caught back, the lead of the stage changes regularly, with some runners slowing down as the kms pass. From the back of the pack, some runners, which had been quite conservative during the first 20-25 km, start catching up the leading pack: The Breton Raymond Brand'honneur, the Tahitian Patrick Candé and Jacques Sirat from the Gers, settle themselves in the 5 leading-runner peloton, their position changing regularly.

7km away from the finish, 2 runners are in front, da Guia* and Sirat, but Sirat stops to walk a hill, victim of a « fringale » (don t know the word in English, when you haven’t eaten enough, and you have no more energy). The aid station is in 300m, Sirat takes a long break, while the Brazilian, seeing that he could do something, hurries up and takes out his national flag. After a 5mn break, Jacques Sirat goes back running, R. Brand'honneur is 3mn behind, but will not be able to catch up, he will even lose some ground in the last kms.

It is in this order that the podium of the first stage of the TG2006 arrives at Plounévezel.

Behind the majority of runners realize how hilly this course is, while the experienced runners of the TG pace themselves, they know what lies ahead in the days to come.

First woman, the english Selina Coldicott followed by the breton Malou Lebas 3mn behind.

A very rich day : At least 9 runners have shown their will to be the main actors of this TG2006: Ferreira da Guia*, Sirat, Brand'honneur, Selch*, Nabuurs, Micaletti, Marschall and also to a lesser extent Candé and Schöberl.

Among the woman, one favorite, Selina Coldicott, who has the big advantage of having a pacer.

Fact of the day : 3 runners got lost, Christian Savigny and Laurent Brueyre who ran an additional 12km. And Sigrid Eichner also ran an unecessary 6km.

Injuries: Nothing important: Bernard Frugère has a big blister due to running under the rain.
Theo Kuijpers* has a knee-ache (arthritis )due to humidity

Tomorrow : Another hilly stage, 65km long, between Plounévézel and Pontivy, with a changing weather with some showers. Cut-off time: 11h50

Every stage starts at 6:30am (2:30pm Sydney time) every day.

This post has been edited by Will: Aug 17 2006, 08:48 AM

[Spud]

Will, this is awesome, thank heaps for the translation.
Kel looking good on day one, let's hope he paces himself well and manages his recovery each day.

Go Kelvin!

[Davo]

Will, that word "fringale" is translated into English as "bonk".
Actually the word "bonk" has two meanings in English: one to describe a very very pleasant experience, usually acknowledged as the nicest experience a man and a woman can have together.....(I'll let you work it out for yourself from there).
But the other meaning is the one you're looking for in this instance, meaning complete exhaustion mainly due to lack of food.

Cheers, Kelvin. Go for it mate!

[RMC]

Good result Kelvin on day 1. Interesting that 3 runners got lost on Day 1 and it wasn't Kelvin !

[Davo]

Good result Kelvin on day 1. Interesting that 3 runners got lost on Day 1 and it wasn't Kelvin !

Give him a chance! There's a lot of trails to go yet!

[Will]

They have some pictures on the site.

This is Kelvin, behind stage winner Brazilian Sebastiaõ Ferreira da Guia* and French Pierre Mickaël Micaletti

[Blue Dog]

Thanks Will, please keep up the good work.

That is a nice photo of Kelvin, wearing the not-so-traditional green headband.
I suppose he will put on the yellow one if he becomes the race leader.

Go Kelvin!!!

PS. Is the Brazilian guy carrying a spare pair of socks, or is he a little excited about leading?

This post has been edited by Blue Dog: Aug 17 2006, 02:04 PM

[chilliman]

Thanks for the updates Will, Vegie and Kelvin, brilliant thread.

5 years ago we wouldn't have had a clue that Kelvin had shaved his grub off until he returned to AUS

Go KELVIN !

[run2work]

Enjoying the thread. Keep it going guys.

[Kelvin]

Day 2 of the Tour De Rain another wet day, but sitting here in pub with internet access am feeling good. Will say no more as my blog says it all (and i'm knackered ).
Thanks for keeping the updates going Legume Madamoiselle (or something like that) when i'm back you can explain what artichokes are to me as that is the main crop of Pol St Leon.

This post has been edited by Kelvin: Aug 17 2006, 11:11 PM

[Will]

Bien joué Kelvin! Enjoy the French gastronomy!

Stage 2 result

Class Nom, prénom Temps Moyenne
1 32Sirat, Jacques 5:58:00 10,726
2 14Ferreira da Guia*, Seb. BRA 6:03:00 10,579
3 10Selch*, Werner GER 6:04:00 10,549
4 35Brand'honneur, Raymond 6:16:00 10,213
5 38Candé, Patrick PYF 6:19:00 10,132
6 07Brueyre*, Laurent 6:35:00 9,722
7 17Savigny*, Christian 6:35:00 9,722
8 11Schöberl, Sebastian GER 6:43:00 9,529
9 09Viaux, Thierry 7:00:00 9,143
10 27Micaletti, Pierre-Michaël 7:00:00 9,143
11 04Marschall, Kelvin AUS 7:06:00 9,014
12 39Rosset, Philippe SUI 7:10:00 8,930
13 23Monot, Jean-Michel PYF 7:11:00 8,910
14 03Muller****, Daniel 7:34:00 8,458
15 31David, Pascal 7:36:00 8,421
16 02Winkley****, Don USA 7:37:00 8,403
17 06Coldicott, Selina GBR 7:42:00 8,312
17 13Neumann, Klaus GER 7:42:00 8,312
17 16Viaud*, Fabrice 7:42:00 8,312
20 36Morand, Frédéric 7:45:00 8,258
21 22Broersen, Jos NED 7:46:00 8,240
22 34Nabuurs, Jan NED 7:48:00 8,205
23 08Brunschwig, Philippe 7:52:00 8,136
24 15Rudig, Jim USA 7:52:00 8,136
24 28Duquesne, Yves 7:52:00 8,136
26 37Feldmann, Hartmut GER 8:02:00 7,967
27 26Frugère, Bernard 8:04:00 7,934
28 29Lebas, Malou 8:07:00 7,885
29 30Roudaut, Yvon 8:07:00 7,885
30 20Valle*, Romain 8:28:00 7,559
31 12Meyer, Hans-Joachim GER 8:38:00 7,413
32 24Von Kocemba, Rosem. GER 8:51:00 7,232
33 18Mütze*, Willem NED 8:53:00 7,205
34 19Jäckel, Heinz GER 8:53:00 7,205
34 21Servel, Xavier 8:58:00 7,138
36 25Van Geene, Regina NED 9:30:00 6,737
37 01Eichner**, Sigrid GER 9:50:00 6,508
37 33Kuijpers*, Theo NED 9:50:00 6,508

General placing after stage 2

1 14Ferreira da Guia*, Seb. BRA 11:43:50 10,741
2 32Sirat, Jacques 11:43:54 10,740
3 10Selch*, Werner GER 11:58:03 10,529
4 35Brand'honneur, Raymond 12:08:10 10,382
5 38Candé, Patrick PYF 12:15:20 10,281
6 11Schöberl, Sebastian GER 13:07:23 9,601
7 27Micaletti, Pierre-Michaël 13:27:00 9,368
8 04Marschall, Kelvin AUS 13:34:30 9,282
9 34Nabuurs, Jan NED 13:47:55 9,131
10 17Savigny*, Christian 13:56:26 9,038
11 39Rosset, Philippe SUI 14:10:55 8,885
12 23Monot, Jean-Michel PYF 14:11:55 8,874
13 09Viaux, Thierry 14:22:07 8,769
14 03Muller****, Daniel 14:31:53 8,671
15 07Brueyre*, Laurent 14:55:54 8,438
16 31David, Pascal 14:55:55 8,438
17 13Neumann, Klaus GER 15:04:07 8,362
18 22Broersen, Jos NED 15:08:07 8,325
19 15Rudig, Jim USA 15:10:50 8,300
20 28Duquesne, Yves 15:15:30 8,258
21 06Coldicott, Selina GBR 15:16:55 8,245
22 16Viaud*, Fabrice 15:30:18 8,126
23 08Brunschwig, Philippe 15:35:59 8,077
24 36Morand, Frédéric 15:39:15 8,049
25 29Lebas, Malou 15:44:54 8,001
26 30Roudaut, Yvon 15:44:54 8,001
27 26Frugère, Bernard 16:03:38 7,845
28 02Winkley****, Don USA 16:10:00 7,794
29 20Valle*, Romain 16:11:18 7,783
30 37Feldmann, Hartmut GER 16:11:40 7,780
31 12Meyer, Hans-Joachim GER 16:29:35 7,640
32 24Von Kocemba, Rosem. GER 17:02:46 7,392
33 21Servel, Xavier 17:10:43 7,335
34 18Mütze*, Willem NED 17:30:22 7,197
35 19Jäckel, Heinz GER 17:30:22 7,197
36 25Van Geene, Regina NED 18:11:54 6,924
37 01Eichner**, Sigrid GER 19:00:09 6,631
38 33Kuijpers*, Theo NED 19:00:09 6,631

[Will]

Report for stage 2:

Thursday 17 August 2006

Plounevezel - Pontivy

An important stage today, 65km, under on going showers which bother more the aid stations than the runners. This year, the aid stations have a real menu « à la carte » which the runners really seem to appreciate. Great success for the « pâté Henaff » and local pancakes at St Pol Morlaix (Where the French National 10km championship will be held on the 29th October).

Another thrilling stage, with a fight for the leading position: Jacques Sirat, who started slowly like yesterday wins just in front of yesterday’s winner Sebastiaõ, who got lost for a few hundreds metres. We also saw other runners at the front , apart from the two above, like Werner Selc'h and Raymond Brand'honneur.

Good news : Christian Savigny and Laurent Brueyre made up some of the time they lost yesterday when they took a wrong course. They end up 6th and 7th, and are back at the level we have seen them in past Transe Gaule. Ch. Savigny’s goal is to run the whole Transe Gaule at a minimum speed of 10km/h.

German Sebastian Schöberl cruised on the road today, while Pierre-Michaël Micaletti , who started with the Brazilian, loses a bit of ground.

Among the women, Selina Coldicott wins her second stage, Malou Lebas finishes second.

Also, some runners start working in couples. In the past Transe Gaules, we have seen a lot of runners running almost the whole course of the race together

Finally, 38 started this morning, 38 finished.

Restaurant, picnic, Bolino.. Tonight, each runner eat what they want.

Man of the day: Jacques Sirat, 41 yo, 2h37’ PB marathon, Tour d’Europe running (1994/95).



The former postman has one day thrown away his job and decided to run around Europe. It took him 16 months to run the 18000km. As soon as he came back home, he was gone again to cycle around the world on a mountain-bike for 7 years (thus giving up running). He was a volunteer on last year Transe Gaule, and decided to participate this year in this small journey compared to his long travels. Very little training but huge mental strength.

Injuries: Some runners were sick during the stage, vomiting probably due to the on-going rain.

Fact of the day : The bad luck of the son of Thierry Viaux, who follows his father on a bike : He had 3 flat tyres today. Keep up the spirit son !.

Tomorrow: Third Stage between Pontivy and Guer, a course between the north of the Morbihan and the border of the Ille et Vilaine region. It is the second longest stage with 75km, which will probably cause greater time gaps between the runners, and of course muscular fatigue. Changing weather with showers. Cut off time: 13hours 39mn

Every stage starts at 6:30am (2:30pm Sydney time) every day.

[RMC]

Thanks Will for the updates.

Good work Kelvin.

[Vegie-girl]

Thanks Will, those updates are terrific.

Sirat's story is pretty amazing.

Willing to bet there will be a few more flat tyres by the time this is finished - not just on the bike.

[kanangra]

This is fantastic. Kelvin up to 8th and 4 secs between 1st and 2nd!! And no doping scandals.

[Blue Dog]

I'm going to really savour watching all this unfold!
Dog

[Virtual]

We're all watching you kelvin. keep it up mate. you're doing wonderfully. Brendan

[Will]

Kelvin came second behind the Brazilian in yesterday's long stage (75km), report coming up soon.

Results of Stage 3 (75 km)

1 14Ferreira da Guia*, Seb. BRA 06:57:00
2 04Marschall, Kelvin AUS 07:07:00
3 10Selch*, Werner GER 07:14:00
4 38Candé, Patrick PYF 07:25:00
5 11Schöberl, Sebastian GER 07:30:00
6 32Sirat, Jacques 07:44:00
7 35Brand'honneur, Raymond 07:47:00
8 17Savigny*, Christian 07:50:00
9 07Brueyre*, Laurent 07:58:00
10 34Nabuurs, Jan NED 08:15:00
11 09Viaux, Thierry 08:28:00
12 23Monot, Jean-Michel PYF 08:30:00
13 39Rosset, Philippe SUI 08:30:00
14 02Winkley****, Don USA 08:51:00
15 13Neumann, Klaus GER 08:51:00
16 27Micaletti, Pierre-Michaël 08:59:00
17 06Coldicott, Selina GBR 09:00:00
18 22Broersen, Jos NED 09:02:00
19 08Brunschwig, Philippe 09:07:00
20 31David, Pascal 09:10:00
21 03Muller****, Daniel 09:16:00
22 20Valle*, Romain 09:16:00
23 16Viaud*, Fabrice 09:24:00
24 28Duquesne, Yves 09:38:00
25 30Roudaut, Yvon 09:38:00
26 15Rudig, Jim USA 09:49:00
27 26Frugère, Bernard 09:50:00
28 29Lebas, Malou 09:50:00
29 37Feldmann, Hartmut GER 09:50:00
30 36Morand, Frédéric 09:52:00
31 12Meyer, Hans-Joachim GER 10:11:00
32 18Mütze*, Willem NED 10:35:00
33 19Jäckel, Heinz GER 10:35:00
34 21Servel, Xavier 10:39:00
35 24Von Kocemba, Rosem. GER 10:41:00
36 25Van Geene, Regina NED 11:33:00
37 01Eichner**, Sigrid GER 12:01:00
38 33Kuijpers*, Theo NED DNF

General placings after stage 3

1 14Ferreira da Guia*, Seb. BRA 18:40:50 10,760
2 10Selch*, Werner GER 19:12:03 10,468
3 32Sirat, Jacques 19:27:54 10,326
4 38Candé, Patrick PYF 19:40:20 10,217
5 35Brand'honneur, Raymond 19:55:10 10,091
6 11Schöberl, Sebastian GER 20:37:23 9,746
7 04Marschall, Kelvin AUS 20:41:30 9,714
8 17Savigny*, Christian 21:46:26 9,231
9 34Nabuurs, Jan NED 22:02:55 9,116
10 27Micaletti, Pierre-Michaël 22:26:00 8,960
11 39Rosset, Philippe SUI 22:40:55 8,862
12 23Monot, Jean-Michel PYF 22:41:55 8,855
13 09Viaux, Thierry 22:50:07 8,802
14 07Brueyre*, Laurent 22:53:54 8,778
15 03Muller****, Daniel 23:47:53 8,446
16 13Neumann, Klaus GER 23:55:07 8,403
17 31David, Pascal 24:05:55 8,341
18 22Broersen, Jos NED 24:10:07 8,317
19 06Coldicott, Selina GBR 24:16:55 8,278
20 08Brunschwig, Philippe 24:42:59 8,132
21 28Duquesne, Yves 24:53:30 8,075
22 16Viaud*, Fabrice 24:54:18 8,071
23 15Rudig, Jim USA 24:59:50 8,041
24 02Winkley****, Don USA 25:01:00 8,035
25 30Roudaut, Yvon 25:22:54 7,919
26 20Valle*, Romain 25:27:18 7,896
27 36Morand, Frédéric 25:31:15 7,876
28 29Lebas, Malou 25:34:54 7,857
29 26Frugère, Bernard 25:53:38 7,762
30 37Feldmann, Hartmut GER 26:01:40 7,723
31 12Meyer, Hans-Joachim GER 26:40:35 7,535
32 24Von Kocemba, Rosem. GER 27:43:46 7,249
33 21Servel, Xavier 27:49:43 7,223
34 18Mütze*, Willem NED 28:05:22 7,156
35 19Jäckel, Heinz GER 28:05:22 7,156
36 25Van Geene, Regina NED 29:44:54 6,757
37 01Eichner**, Sigrid GER 31:01:09 6,480

This post has been edited by Will: Aug 19 2006, 07:34 AM

[Vegie-girl]

SMS from Kel

Finally a day with no rain and some sun. Both me and 1st took a wrong turn at 70km - arrow faced left but should have been straight.

(Later) Have searched the town but no net (at least a supermarket) with no shops open Saturday arvo or Sunday will be a while before I post. Officially I was 2nd 7:11:24. Winner 7:01:30. 37 Finished.

Note from Vegie: the times don't correlate with the reported official times, but the positions match. Must be kosher.

Thanks again Will . . . top job.

This post has been edited by Vegie-girl: Aug 19 2006, 07:56 AM

[Will]

Report for stage 3:

Friday 18 August 2006

Pontivy-Guer

Sebastiaõ signs his second stage win, even though he lost a few minutes going into the wrong direction, because some course markings had been removed. Same thing for the Australian Rolling Stones fan Kelvin Marshall and for Laurent Bruyere from the Ardèche region. 4mn will be deducted from their stage time.

A beautiful sunny day, which ended with a flat 19km along the old unused railroad. The runners did not really appreciate, too straight, and not enough trucks which endanger your life at any moment...

A few runners have eased their pace a little, after animating the first 2 stages : Pierre-Michaël Micaletti, Jan Nabuurs, but the road is still long…

Don Winkley betters his time by 01h07mn compared to last year, and it is the first stage this year during which he doesn’t walk at all. Romain Valle betters his time by 01h24mn.

The runners from Brittany are doing fine. Unfortunately, Malou Lebas will not take the start tomorrow, because she has to attend a wedding she will be back on the TG from monday, but without a placing for the rest of the race.

Tonight, the runners had drinks at the Town Hall, then dinner in a restaurant held by a 100km runner. Everyone sleeps at the town gymnasium.

The first abandon today, the Dutch Théo Kuijpers who stopped after the 17th km. He will probably be at the start tomorrow but without a placing for the rest of the race.

Man of the day: Patrick Candé: He makes no noise in the peloton, has never taken the lead, 5th for the first 2 stages, 4th today and in general. He is one of the runner from Tahiti.

Resident in French Polynesia, he was looking for bike stage race in France, but the one he was aiming for wasn’t on this year. He found the Transe Gaule accidentally. Hesitating a little at the beginning, he thought it was a good way to discover France, and finds the challenge interesting. He is not really afraid of the total length of the race, but more of the duration. He hasn’t done much training, he thinks he will run depending on his potential, with one goal: to finish without an injury. Essentially a road runner in Tahiti (but does a few multi-sport raid from time to time), he has done a lot of hiking to train for the TG. His fears: Boredom. He is not too worried about injuries, even though he has a split meniscus. Two followers with him, the first one from Tahiti, will follow him the whole way on roller-blades and car, the second one will do half of the TG with him

Injuries: No injured, but a few niggles start to appear...

Tomorrow: Another long stage between Guer and Châteaubriant (68km - 530m vertical ascent). Cut off time: 12h 22. Last year, the first runner finished in just above 6h, while the last one finished in 12h15, just before cut off. It is now going to be difficult for the slowest runners, because their recovery time will be shorter, thus making the next day start even more difficult.

Uncertain weather, showers and thunderstorms.


Every stage starts at 6:30am (2:30pm Sydney time) every day

[Blue Dog]

Kelvin, on the podium in stage 3! Really good effort mate. Keep hanging in there, you are going great.

Le Chien Bleu.

[Spud]

Thanks again Will, I look forward to these updates each morning.
Go Kelvin, great result yesterday.
A very intriguing race indeed.

[Horrie]

Fantastic effort for a podium finish for Stage 3 Kelvin. You are building into it well.

Thanks for the fantastic updates Will.

[RMC]

Fantastic result Kelvin for 2nd. As the weather warms up so does that "Australian Rolling Stones Fan". Keep it going, just another day in the office for you.

[Kelvin]

Latest update is done, had to see how the Mighty Tiges had gone and then i find it's tomorrow , all the details from bustling dontown Chateubriand are on the Blog, Will thanks very much for the translations, i just stagger on speaking to the locals they must think i'm this strange foreigner (nevertheless i did manage to get Voltatren gel at the Pharmacie) and tabac owners always ask if i want a drink when i buy ice creams .
Bit sore (and feeling back but tomorrow is another day, off for a lie down and possibly another beer, pizza is sounding good tonight!)

This post has been edited by Kelvin: Aug 20 2006, 12:44 AM