Five Kiwis recently joined up with some 125+ Aussies and trooped across to France for the 4 yearly 1200km ride. Some 5300 riders started this epic, but with the worst (apparently) recorded weather in the rides history (started 1891) over 1500riders Dnf'd for various reasons but in the main the RAIN.

Of the Australians ,they had about 30 retire in keeping with the ride average. The rain  was most unpleasant at times, added to with buffeting side winds plus for the 90 hour start group they had a long wait in the start chute getting saturated before they even pushed a pedal.

N.Z and Scotland were two Countries to have a 100% finish rate, perhaps our climates are similar. Certainly for me , i think it was my NZ Merino underclothing that saved my bacon!

Josh Kench the 33 yr old Wgtn Plumber was the first of the Australasian team to complete, with myself in 4th. I at 59 yrs had the dubious *honour* (thanks to a touch of Delhi Belly to Josh) to be the first rider of the team at the 775km mark, this state of affairs didn't last too long tho, with Josh taking the bit between his teeth for the final 300km push to the finish, crossing in a shade over 60hours.

Top marks to the gutsy performance of Nelsons Marian Savage (who like the majority of the NZ team rode unsupported), it will be interesting to see her overall placing when the full results come out in early October.

Other Kiwi,s to ride/finish were  Douglas Mabey (Wgtn)  Steve Sharpe (Queenstown), plus NZ was represented by 3 other riders domiciled o'seas who also all finished, but sorry for the life of me I cant recall their names.

Photo below is of me at the finish line with a Canadian who I rode the final 200km or so with, Brian Lexir of Winnepeg (manitoba), Brian is the Canadian representive on the PBP cmtee, so we had interesting talks as we cycled along, plus he was on his 6th PBP, so his route knowledge was grand, especially during some of the wet night stages. Brian also has a daughter soon to give birth to a diagnosed HeartChild, so with my fundraising over past years with my Endurance rides for this cause it gave us  common ground to discuss.