I did spot a red kite too, somewhere on the first stage I think, but I was a bit too slow on the uptake to get a picture.
Now you mention it, I did notice on a few separate occasions, what looked like audax riders coming towards me. At first I thought someone must have left something behind at the control, but that explanation wore a bit thin after a few times!
Near the end. in the dark, I looked behind and saw what looked like a bike headlight gaining on me. But then when I looked again 30 seconds later it had vanished. This happened a few times. Either a very stop-start rider, or some sort of spooky apparition!
Pete