Hi, and thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This year Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England and Wasps rugby star, decided to undertake a huge fund raising event in aid of Sport Relief, Leukaemia Research, Debra (Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) - a very rare genetic condition affecting babies in which the skin and internal body linings blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds and for which there is no cure) and Help for Heroes. Lawrence set out to put a team of cyclists together to ride from Rome to Edinburgh during the course of the RBS 6 Nations Rugby competition, calling at each national stadium along the way. The full distance is 2888 kilometres. There is a core team of riders who will complete whole event and 5 stages during which other participants support. I was accepted to ride Stage 1 from Rome to Nice in France, a distance of 679 kilometres.

On day 1, 42 riders set out from Italy’s Flaminio Stadium in Rome on the first leg of the ride. It was a cold, wet morning but spirits were high as we excitedly headed out of the city under police escort for the first 20k. I chose the first stage thinking that at least the weather in Italy was likely to be kinder than it would be for any of the other legs. I was wrong! About 50k outside Rome the temperature was headed in the wrong direction and it was apparent that snow was imminent. As we climbed it started to snow heavily, covering the roads in a very short space of time. It started to lie and what traffic there was came to a standstill. It soon became impossible to cycle and most people had to dismount and push their bikes.  We ended up sheltering in a farmer’s barn when the snow completely demolished any chances of continuing. We had been joined in the morning by Italian rugby legend Diaego Dominguez who had flown in the previous evening from Buenos Aires. He said that he had never seen snow in Rome and he was frozen! In fact, he had stopped, got off his bike and knocked on a local’s door. They took pity on him and took him in for lunch!! Eventually, wrapped in space blankets, we were ‘evacuated’ to the hotel we were headed for at Lake Bolsena.

Day 2 started in a much brighter fashion. The sun was shining and although it was very cold we were all enthusiastic to get started for the day. We had been put into groups roughly equating to ability, I was fortunate (or was it unfortunate) to be in Group 1 with Lawrence.  We were the last ones to leave the town and it looked like it was to be a beautiful if long (170k) ride. We enjoyed flat roads and blue skies as we made our way through the vineyards of Orvieto, Montepulciano and Chianti only to enter a tunnel which when we came out of it gave way to snow, fog, minus 3 temperatures and strength sapping hills. We rode past Siena and up 43k of a climb ending in San Gimignano, a beautiful mediaeval town that sits up high above the surrounding fields. That was a hard day indeed but at least we were rewarded by a nice hotel that was receptive to 42 weary cyclists. I spoke with Les Ferdinand the former England footballer that night – he says today’s ride is one of the hardest things he has ever done. I have to say – it was hard, (but I have done harder things :-) )

We got a rest on Day 3, but Day 3 of riding took us another 170k North West to Pisa, along the coast, through the resorts of Viareggio and Forte di Marmi where we literally raced at an average of 40kph for over an hour on our way to La Spezia. It was the nicest day for weather so far and the first lunch stop that we had that was in the sunshine. In fact the day allowed us to get to know one another better as we had a chance to chat as opposed to concentrating on getting through the weather and traffic unscathed. I particularly enjoyed talking to the rugby guys, Damian Hopley (ex Wasps and England) and Simon Headley (ex Harlequins). We had 3 girls in our team too – they were formidable, all 3 of them top level triathletes.

Day 4 we left La Spezia in fancy dress! This was a surprise I wasn’t ready for. I donned pink tights and a pink dickie bow..... actually quite reserved in comparison with Lawrence, Lee and Les’s choices. I never cease to be amazed at how many men like to dress in women’s clothing!  We climbed over 2000 metres past Positano but unfortunately had to ride through the city of Genoa. This is not the prettiest city I have ever visited and it felt as though we were never going to get through it. I am amazed that we didn’t have an accident – Italian driving at its best but we survived. We arrived at Arrenzano for the last night of the stage – just as I was beginning to get warmed up! Lawrence had a power meter on his bike, a gadget that measures just how many calories you are burning – on this day alone he managed to burn 10,400 calories. No wonder I felt constantly ravenous. Eating and drinking while on the Cycleslam was a major preoccupation!

Day 5 – the final day of riding, from Arrenzano to San Remo. The coastal road is beautiful and the views are outstanding – allegedly. I couldn’t see anything because of the torrential rain. It was relentless and the traffic was the heaviest we encountered outside of the city of Genoa. It was absolutely necessary to concentrate on the bike, keeping it upright and not getting knocked off by the traffic or another rider. It was also bitterly cold. I got soaked to the skin and I was colder than I had been in the snow! To add to my frustration the team leader had decided that we weren’t going to stop at the drinks station nor for lunch!! I had missed the instruction, but it was clear that we were going to press on – after 90k we pulled up at a restaurant on the harbourside in a town called Imperia. To my eternal relief we went inside a beautiful dining room – all of us dripping wet – where we were greeted like long lost friends. We enjoyed a fantastic fish lunch and the warmth of the building – god it was hard to leave there, but we did. The last 40k were at least fuelled by the good meal and our coach was waiting at San Remo to take us across Nice to our hotel for the last night. Needless to say – we had a party and met the Stage 2 riders who were about to take over from us. I have to say it was a brilliant experience made all the better by knowing that the money we raise will go to really good use.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SPONSORS

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Thanks for all your support,

best regards

Carl