Story
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">I will be joining 5 other amateur cyclists from the USA who are also raising funds for various charities. After a warm up ride on the evening of Wednesday 13th July, we will ride portions of three actual Tour De France stages in the Pyrenees Mountains aprx 5 hours ahead of the actual race as follows:-</span></strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Thur 14th July 2011</span></strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Today is the first of the “big mountains” and the race will finish atop the HC climb of Luz Ardiden – last featured in the 2003 Tour de France. The total ride distance is 75km with 1825m of elevation gain.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Fri 15th July 2011</span></strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Today's ride is 70km (1550m elevation gain) of the stage - including the col d'Aubisque - into Lourdes.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Sat 16th July 2011</span></strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">The ride today will be 85km and will still feature 1450m elevation gain</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">In total, we will cover 150 miles of TDF course in the three days but more importantly, this will involve just over 3 miles of vertical ascent!</span></strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"></span></p>
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