it was indeed a protest - against how ridiculously, utterly, foobared I was at CP2 (but still 30mins in time
)
That 550km felt like I'd ridden a 1000. Quite a few people didn't make it that far - I got to the spanish/french border ski station and found a guy with a broken frame - he'd hit a cow in the road. This was about 7hours in.
At CP2 we had a little Losers Party in the Andorran sun. A couple decided to continue on the route and do as much as they had time for, one (18-year-old Alex!) got the train back to Biarritz, and I headed back via a shortened route, taking in the Aubisque, Tourmalet etc, and several nights in proper hotels - bliss!
It was ... different. In a good way! I recommend it