And they’re off

The first wave of riders in the 2019 PBP has departed Rambouillet. TCR veteran Darren Franks is among them, in a group aiming for the fastest finishing times (the record is 42 hours 26 minutes). This wave hopes to set a blistering pace of 28kph average over the course.

Currently Darren and fellow British rider Will Armitage are approaching the 40km mark, with around 80km to go before their first checkpoint at Mortagne-au-Perche, kilometre 118. Once here, their timing chips will be scanned with times published by PBP, and we’ll be able to gather an impression of their overall position on the road.