Despite not having a road bike since I was 12 years old, I have entered the 2010 L'Etape du Tour.  This will be a huge personal challenge and one I'd like to use to the benefit of raising money for development work in Latin America via LA VIDA.

L'Étape du Tour (French for 'stage of the Tour') is an organised mass participation cyclosportive event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France stage. First held in 1993, it takes place each July, normally on a Tour rest day.  L'Étape du Tour is normally held over mountain roads in either the Pyrenees or French Alps, up climbs such as the Col du Galibier, Col d'Aubisque, Mont Ventoux or the Col du Tourmalet. Around 8,500 riders participate - many travelling from other countries in order to compete - and the event takes place on roads closed by the police to other traffic, with refreshment stops and medical support provided along the route.

So while Lance Armstrong has his feet up...I'm going to ride the same route the peloton will race over on the following Wednesday.  Its 175km from Pau to the ski station at the top of Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees, taking in 3 alpine cols and 4,100 m of vertical ascent. The tour orgnaisers have kindly given us the Col du Tourmalet to finish....19km of tough and constant 7.5% gradient with no rest. (take a look at the pictures on the left for the route)

Anything you can spare will go a long way and helps motivate us through the pain and grind of training!

£15 per month will sponsor a child's education

£20 will purchase esseentail school materials

£100 buys a computer for a school and £1000 can fund a specific project for a school such as a science lab.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks very much for your contribution!

Nick