I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
= 84 hr limit, so need to ride faster.
Not very much faster. With the much smaller numbers on the 84-hour start, there are
smaller no queues for stamping and food until you start catching up with the back of the 90-hour group. Loudeac was the first place I queued, and that wasn't long. I reckon my faster time in 2007 compared with 1991, 1995 & 2003 was largely accounted for by (a) less time lost queuing and (b) 3 nights on the road rather than 4.
But if it becomes too popular, this advantage will be lost, so please take no notice of me.