I started cycling just a few years ago when I set myself a challenge to raise money for charity - to climb the 3 highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales and cycle the 500 miles between them. In setting up Viva Velo Cycle Tours I was keen to create a cycle tour company which inspired people like me - relative newbies to the sport - to take up cycling and expand their horizons as a result.
Riding the entire route of a Grand Tour is something that a few brave souls have done so when I decided that I'd ride the entire route of the 2020 Tour de France I thought I'd make it just a tad more challenging, by also riding between stages where they finish and start in different places.
Because of Covid the 2020 version had to be cancelled but I have rejigged the route to now follow the 2021 tour AND still do the bits in between stages! This adds around 2,000 kilometers and 20,000 metres of ascent to an already tough ride. Add in the fact that, unlike the pros, I will have no 'rest' days and I hope you'll agree that the resultant 5,500 kilometre ride with 73,000 metres of climbing - the equivalent of riding up Everest from sea-level 8 times! - is a challenge worth supporting.
Please sponsor me by donating to Barnardos, Bike 4 Cancer, Bloodwise, and Bowel Cancer UK.
