The CA Plaine des Cafres member happily took the plunge, from the Fournaise Volcano to the Cantal Volcano. Constantly, we witnessed a yo-yo between the first three ladies of this contested escapade in weather conditions that would discourage more than one. Rain from the start, on the ridges, at a temperature of around 5 degrees Celsius, before heading towards the villages of Velzic, Thiézac, then the ascent of Plomb du Cantal, followed by a descent to Lioran to climb via then Puy Mary, Pas de Peyrol, Puy Chavaroche. The last 30 kilometers ended in Mandailles, passing through Lascelles, Saint-Simon to arrive at rue des Carmes. Those who know will appreciate it.
TETANIZED BY THE COLD
The first three ladies in question were Aline Cocquard, Isabelle Dragon and Angélique Lesport from Réunion. She tells us about her journey: “I was in the lead until halfway through the race without knowing it, because I had no information. I set off again and saw a girl (Aline Coquard) who was in front. We were in the “wall”, a big, steep section, I decided to attack, she followed me and started again. A strategic error on my part, I was gradually being left behind. On the ridges, the cold paralyzed me, I had trouble moving forward with the increasingly violent gusts of wind. I had trouble eating because I couldn’t grab anything in my bag, with my frozen hands.”
“MY EYES ARE CLOSING !”
With a lot of apprehension at the start, very chilly and not used to running in such freezing weather, Angélique Lesport fought like the devil. She “cashes in” in a difficult race for her and tries to set the pace, “precisely so as not to be cold. My fingers and feet were frozen, I was freezing and I couldn’t even feel my face anymore.” She arrives at the “Mandailles” refreshment point in second position, 30 km from the finish and at that moment she comes out of the high mountains, the temperatures are getting milder… “On the climb I feel a big fatigue taking hold of me, my eyes are closing! I can feel that the cold has taken a lot of energy from me. The third girl catches up with me, I follow her but I get dropped because I’m too tired. In a surge of energy I catch up with her (10 km from the finish). We play cat and mouse for a few kilometers, I have her in my sights but unfortunately I drop out due to lack of freshness. 3rd finally with a lot of emotions because the race was intense, difficult, painful, the weather conditions made my life hell, I really suffered”.
Bronze medalist in 15h17 behind Lyonnaise Aline Coquard, (the only one to have gone under 15h) winner in 14h45, and Isabelle Dragon to whom she conceded a gap of 5 minutes, Angélique Lesport is already projecting herself into a new space of 100 km. She will head to a city with the same name. You guessed it, it will be in South Africa.
ROLAND CHANE
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