castéra and johnson both drew even numbers, which meant they went off in the first group, 30 minutes before the odd numbers. my father drew number 187. when the signal was given for the second group to move off, my father went right to the front and was soon on his own. it was raining, and it remained wet all day. right down the avénue de la grande armée and the avénue de neuilly, over the bridges of the seine, and on towards the first control at st germain-en-laye. as he pedalled hard up the steep hill near the town, he passed a group of stragglers from the first group who were pushing their machines. my father had gained 30 minutes on them in 12 miles!