Just realised I’ve never done a recap of my RAF500 attempt. I think it’s because I was so disappointed of how everything went. It started with the tragic news that one of the riders passed away after being hit by an inattentive driver. I don’t even want to talk about this cause my blood boils. And at this point I was asking myself wtf I was even doing there. No desire of riding or doing anything else. But my bestie drove 300km to get me there so, out of respect for him, I got to the start line. This year the start time was 18h30 and the previous night I slept like sh*t. It was morally tough to start knowing I’d be sleep deprived in the very beginning. My first stop was around 2h30 AM when by miracle I found the only vegan thing I could eat, mini pretzels in a night shop. But ok cause they also had Redbull and coffee. 😂 By 4h30 I arrived at the bottom of Ventoux I’ve done 184km 2000m. Started climbing it and bonked sooo hard I did a 3rd of it by walking. Lol. At least I descended it when the sun was warm. Arrived at the checkpoint and the only food available had pork in it. 😭 at this point I was awake for 25h so I took a 1h “nap” there. Then my gps bugged and wouldn’t turn on. After trying everything, I had to reset it and lost 1h with that faf. Restarted riding in the hottest hour and since it was Sunday in France and nothing opened I couldn’t find anything to eat. At km286 4754m an angel lady in a bar made me a lettuce sandwich cause she had pity. 💜😂 This sandwich was sent by the heavens but it was still far from the 8000 calories I needed. Lol. By km342 5890m I was pretty much done. I was incredibly slow, no legs, no body. lol I was ready to quit. Then I still climbed a col after that to be sure I was done and yea confirmation. 😂 Then my friend was supposed to get me but his car broke and I had another adventure to get to my hotel, but I save this story for later. 😂 It would be prob the worst bike experience of my life if it wasn’t by the people I met in the way and the gorgeous route💖 I’m not ready to try it again but it’s def in the back of my brain. Cheers to the hardest 360km 5900m of my life. 🎉 hope next time I’ll be quicker tho 😂🥵