While some celebrate their 30th birthday with a good meal, Marceau Sol chose to test his legs. He cycled a thousand kilometers, from the south to the north of Spain, guided only by a GPS. Upon arrival, he secured seventh place out of 50 competitors, despite two flat tires, but with a head full of memories.
The adventure began on September 16th, at 8 PM, in Águilas, on the Mediterranean coast. Participants in the Race Across Spain set off at one-minute intervals into the Spanish night, heading towards Santander, at the country's northern tip. For the cyclist from Brive, this was a first. The previous year, the Race Across France passing through Brive had sparked his interest. A member of Brive Agglo Cyclisme, he has been competing in weekend races for about ten years but desired something different. His 30th birthday provided the perfect occasion to embark on this adventure. He trained for a year, gradually extending his rides to 500 kilometers.
Marceau discovered Spain in a new light, traversing endless roads, plains devoid of trees for 200 kilometers, and arid mountains. The first night, several cars passed him a little too closely. As the hours passed, fatigue began to take its toll. 'Around 6 AM, you have to be careful. You're not fully lucid anymore, your reflexes aren't sharp after 24 hours,' he noted, a concerning observation given the remaining distance.
Fortunately, Marceau had distractions. His loved ones prepared playlists for him, ranging from 2000s hits to today's successes, with a few oldies thrown in. Meal options were less varied: sandwiches bought at gas stations, water to fill his bottles, and then back on the road. At the 500-kilometer mark, he experienced his first flat tire, followed by another a few hundred kilometers later. Each repair took fifteen to twenty minutes before he could remount his bike.
At the 600-kilometer point, Marceau finally found a bed, or rather a camp bed, at the support base. There, he met other cyclists who were also feeling the strain. 'That's when you realize this is an extraordinary race,' he commented. He allowed himself three and a half hours of sleep, which would be his only rest during the entire crossing.
The toughest part awaited him at the end: two mountain passes to conquer and the final 200 kilometers in the rain and fog, during the night. His legs, back, trapezius muscles, and neck ached. 'I was in pain!' But after a full year of preparing for this adventure, abandoning was not an option.
It was one in the morning when Marceau finally reached Santander, completing his first ultra-distance race in approximately 52 hours, including breaks. He finished seventh overall and second in his age category.
Back in Corrèze, Marceau is rediscovering his favorite routes around Saint-Viance, Beynat, Lanteuil, and Terrasson. After this initial ultra-distance experience, he hasn't ruled out doing it again. 'I'll try other things in the future, we'll see.'
