Last Saturday E and his friend A, with François d’Haene on last year’s photo, went up to the pass at 2 o’clock in the morning to encourage François. They had cow bells with them – so they wouldn’t go unnoticed… François D’Haene was largely ahead. Alas… a few kilometres further he had to give up: sprain.

For my part, I had a short walk around six o’clock in the morning and I met some trailers. I would have liked to be with them…