Vendée Globe: The showdown approaches: Thomson attacks Le Cléac'h

Nervous times have dawned for race leader Armel Le Cléac'h. He has been under sustained attack from his rival Alex Thomson for days now. On Sunday evening, Thomson was only 95 nautical miles behind the Breton. Nautical mile by nautical mile, the "Boss" is closing the gap on the "Jackal". "Everything is actually fine with me," said Armel Le Cléac'h in an interview with a grin, "if it wasn't for the poor weather forecast and that damn piece of roast beef sitting on the back of my neck." By the latter, Le Cléac'h was jokingly referring to his English rival Thomson, whom he had previously called the "roast beef rocket".

Alex Thomson puts the pedal to the metal and fights: around 95 nautical miles still separated the Brit from French leader Armel Le Cléac'h on Sunday evening. Thomson continues to attack and let it be known via video message that his "Hugo Boss" is rapidly approaching the finish line: "The boat is on fire!" Thomson himself apparently is too.

A duel has broken out between the two skippers that could keep fans on the edge of their seats until the expected finish on Thursday. With around 1600 nautical miles to the finish line, Armel Le Cléac'h's 95 nautical mile lead on Sunday evening did not seem small, but in view of the complicated and "patchy" wind conditions on the way to Les Sables d'Olonne, it was not a safe cushion for victory either.

After a good 70 days at sea, Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson are fighting with all their remaining energy for their first possible victory. The Frenchman has finished the last two editions in second place and made it very clear before the race: "Anything other than a win would be a defeat for me." Thomson, who led in the early stages of the eighth edition of the Vendée, also wants to finally win at the fourth attempt and be the first non-Frenchman to storm the "Mount Everest at sea" as the winner. Both skippers know only too well what is important: the right weather strategy, good positioning and sensible use of physical reserves.

An area of high pressure is still blocking the direct course of the two rivals to Les Sables d'Olonne. However, it is slowly receding in the direction of the English Channel. This means that Le Cléac'h and Thomson will be able to set course for the destination harbour in around 36 hours and start their race to displace each other. It could turn into a sailing thriller.