Asterix relaxing and talking to Asbestos before the start of the race
Asbestos is a character from The Twelve Tasks of Asterix.
Winning a race against Asbestos is the first task Asterix and Obelix have to complete. This is no small feat, since he is the champion of the Olympic Games and can, according to Caius Tiddlus, run faster than a horse and a storm wind howling through the trees. Asterix agrees to race Asbestos, and is forced to drink some magic potion to keep up with him. He runs faster and faster to stay ahead of Asterix, eventually turning into a rocket and crashing headfirst into an apple tree when he doesn't watch where he's going. Asterix walks Asbestos across the finish line, and Obelix remarks that "the race has improved his profile" upon seeing his swollen nose.