On Sunday 6th June, Alan Montague-Dennis and myself will set off from Calais towards our destination in Champagne 375km away, for what will be the 6th year of raising funds for the Wine Trade Benevolent Fund.

New faces in "le peloton" this year will be Ian Harris of the WSET, Andrew Reed of William Reed, Neil Bruce of Waverley Vintners, Eddie Hart of the Hart Restaurant Group and financier Jamie Alsopp. Supporting the ride will be ex-Mentzendorff Chairman Bill Page and current Mentzendorff-ers Rebecca Morrison and Lucy Roberts.

Day 1 will see us riding down to St Omer, Day 2 is a long-haul down to Peronne on the Somme, Day 3 is the hard leg up to Fismes, leaving the final morning's climb of the Montagne de Reims and descent to Ay - home to Champagne Bollinger.

Many thanks for all your support - we will once again to keeping followers updated via a daily blog!

Andrew