Paris bound

Darren Franks has set a blistering pace (27.3kph), making it to Brest in under 24 hours. He’s now on the return leg to Paris.

Further back, Helen Kerrane has paused for a late lunch at Villaines-la-Juhel:

And four controls ahead of Helen, New Zealander Ian McBride is fighting the winds:

“I’ve arrived at Loudeac… the headwind has been strength sapping. Eating, then pushing on to the next control. Hopefully I can make Brest and sleep for a few hours.”

TCRNo7 winner Fiona Kolbinger is currently on the road after stamping in at the Loudeac checkpoint around an hour ago. She rode from Brest (the finish of this year's TCR) to the start-line of PBP, and joked that she was riding her own BBPBP (Burgas, Brest, Paris, Brest, Paris):

Stay strong out there, randonneurs!