After 45 days of competition, Romain and Laura were crowned winners of season 18 of Beijing Express titled In the footsteps of the golden tiger. The hairdresser and his client won against Corsican colleagues Patricia and Jessica by pocketing the sum of 77,660 euros. If their arrival on the 4th day of the race after abandoning could have been a handicap, the northern duo proved formidable by winning numerous amulets and escaping the final duel each time. Their atypical pairing, their hard knocks, their feeling after the Victory… They come back for Tele-Leisure on their entire adventure.
Laura and Romain (Beijing Express 2024) reveal what their biggest fear was before their departure
Tele-Leisure : How did you experience arriving at the 4th day of the adventure?
Roman: We were afraid of being in the sights of the other pairs. We said to ourselves that if we didn’t win this stage, we would go to the final duel.
Laura: We supposed that there was perhaps already a little complicity between them, even if the adventure had only recently started. That was our biggest fear.
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Did you have any other apprehensions before your departure?
L : With Romain, we really had our monthly meetings, we got along really well, but ultimately we didn’t know each other that much. We were afraid when we discovered each other that we wouldn’t get along but deep down I knew it was going to do it.
A: I knew we were going to get along well. I still have an easy character! (He’s laughing)
Did you set out with the goal of winning? Beijing Express ?
A: No way, we weren’t aiming for the final right away. It was already an incredible opportunity to join the race, because we had mourned the loss of participating in Beijing Express.
L : We aimed step by step but we never imagined ourselves in the final.
What was the hardest part of the adventure for you?
A: The peppers! I don’t even take mustard… It was horrible.
L : This is the ascent of the Kawah Igen volcano. We were there for five hours in the sun, with the 15 kilo bag and the wheelbarrow of sulfur. I’ve never experienced something so strong.
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And your most beautiful memory?
R and L : Victory !
L : It is improbable to say to ourselves that we should not be part of the adventure and we crack the mythical web of Beijing Express. I am proud of Romain because I knew that sport was not necessarily his strong point and he surpassed himself. I am proud of us.
A: I don’t realize since the show was filmed in September. It seems far away…
L : I think we’re going to broadcast this Saturday, May 4. When we experienced the final sprint, it was still very strong emotions and everything mixed up in our heads. We forget a lot of things. And I think that seeing each other again, we will inevitably achieve something.
Laura and Romain (Beijing Express 2024) are they still as close since the end of the adventure? They answer us
What moment sealed your friendship?
A: It started with the shower. I found that very strange! (laughs) We also share moments with families in the evening. It was my benchmark.
L : We had little looks that spoke volumes. And in the evening, before going to sleep, we talked a lot.
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Since your return, have you still been as close?
L : When I got home, I was surprised by Romain who sent me a little message saying: “But you miss“. It made me weird because I did too. We still live 45 days together, it’s intense.
A: We experience crazy things and even now, Only she understands what we really went through. When we get back, we resume our little routine and it clearly seems rubbish. We experienced some crazy things there on the other side of the world.
L : We talk every day and it’s true that I gained a friend, even a little brother. We are really very close.
A: I’ve experienced more with her in 45 days than with people who have been in my life for a long, long time.
You cried a lot when you won. Why were there so many emotions?
L : Everything that was contained for 45 days lets go: nerves, stress, fatigue.
A: The dancers behind their hats were also crying so much that we were crying. I told Laura before the final sprint: “You take away Louisa’s comforter (Laura’s daughter, editor’s note) from your bag.” If we have to pierce the canvas, three people pierce it with Louisa’s comforter.
L : When I think about it, it’s a lump in my throat because it was close to my heart. Before leaving, my daughter entrusted me with her blanket. She said : “Mom, I’m giving you the cuddly toy so you won’t be alone in the evening.” And he accompanied me all the way on the bag. And when we cracked the canvas, I told myself that my daughter would be so proud of me seeing these images.
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What happened the evening after your victory?
A: We were knocked out. Emotionally, I was at the end of my life, we didn’t speak that evening
L : When I came out of the bathroom, he was already asleep.
R : We slept in the same bed even though we had two beds to finish the adventure together until the end.
Did you warn those around you?
L : We announced it to our darlings and our parents by video the next day.
A: We pretended that we were second and that the Corsicans were in front. I have very good acting. (laughs)
L : And we took out the end of the canvas that we had recovered. We were all crying, it was crazy.
What has this adventure changed in your life?
L : To make my daughter proud.
A: To realize my biggest dream.
