What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced for charity? A group of plucky cyclists has managed to raise just over £34k for the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research charity by completing a stage of the Tour de France route, to celebrate 100 years of the world’s most famous cycling event.
From the group of 35 an amazing 25 riders made it to the finish, a true testament to their dedication in seeing it through. Their efforts saw an amazing £34,799 raised for a very deserving cause; the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research charity – an accomplishment which Richard Evans of Endsleigh Insurance, one of the 35 chosen cyclists, described as “the biggest challenge of my life!”
The 35 cyclists took on the Mount Ventoux area of the route, which started in Givors, near Lyon, and ended at the top of “the giant of Provence”! Setting out at 6.45am in three groups, the first part of the route brought them to the foot of the stunning mountainside. Although still a gruelling distance in its own right, the first 100 miles travelling through French towns on level ground was the easiest part of what they faced that day! With several mechanical issues such as punctures and a broken spoke before even arriving at the toughest part of the challenge, our biking heroes had to slog their way to the foot of Mount Ventoux in enough time to make it up there before the deadline – in 37-degree heat no less.
Once you start on up Mont Ventoux the 20km climb builds to a 10% incline, which is challenging enough for the professionals – let alone charity fundraisers! Hours of blood, sweat and tears later and the ride was finally completed at 8.30pm – although not every man was left standing at this point, the support of the locals on the mountain side kept the majority of them going. At the top there was just enough time for a few photos of the team’s achievement, before a heavenly breeze back down the mountain and onto the coach.
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