Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

After a year off (to recover!!) I am once again donning the Lycra and getting back on the bike in support of the St James’s Place Foundation which raises money for some incredibly worthy causes.

Unfortunately this year we are not venturing through the undulating terrain of the Champagne Region or the Loire Valley,  instead we are tackling Yorkshire stage of the Tour de France. Over the three days we will be travelling a distance of 205 miles – but more worryingly an elevation of 3,362 metres, which I am reliably informed is equivalent to cycling up Ben Nevis two and a half times!!  

The ride takes place on 12^th 13^th and 14^th of June, so with only a few weeks left to go I am just glad of some decent weather  to get out and do some much needed training.  If you do feel able to sponsor me I would be extremely grateful and every pound that I raise St James’s Place will also match.

Thank you for your support!

Phil

Our Group Itinerary

Everyone converges on the vibrant city of Leeds for a pre-cycle dinner and a briefing on tomorrow's ride. 

A spectacular first day of cycling through the beautiful scenery of North Yorkshire.  We are soon out of Leeds and into a picturesque landscape criss-crossed with dry stone walls for which this area is famous.  It'spredominantly steep up and downhill riding to the historic market town of Wetherby.  We then follow a flat route through a succession of pretty villages to the Roman walled city of York, here we admire its quaint cobbled streets before cycling back into rural Yorkshire.  A highlight of this afternoon's ride is the market town of Tadcaster, known for its ancient viaduct bridge and three famous breweries John Smith's, Coors and Samuel Smith's. From Tadcaster our route undulates back to Leeds where we prepare for the longest day of the ride tomorrow.

Saddle up for a stunning day of cycling through the Yorkshire Dales, chosen as a fantastic backdrop to Stage 1 of the world's most famous cycling race.  The Yorkshire Dales is one of the finest landscapes in the country, with dramatic limestone formations contrasting with heather clad moorlands. 

We begin with a 60 minute (50 km) transfer from Leeds to Skipton.  The first climb of the day is the iconic  Kidstones Pass which starts with a gentle ascent but the gradient soon steepens towards the top.  Once over the Pass the road plummets between hedges and dry stone walls to the picturesque Dales village of Aysgarth, known for its dramatic tiered waterfalls on the River Ure.  This morning we pass near Hawes, home of Wensleydale cheese.  From there it's a long climb through spectacular open moorland over Buttertubs Pass.  The road then descends steeply along Swaledale, one of the most beautiful sections of the route. There are sweeping views of sheep grazing in pastures and heather moorland.  After lunch just past Reeth there will be a decision to be made: a shorter, flatter choice continuing towards Richmond and onto Darlington, or an extra 10km with 360m more climbing, following the Tour de France route over Whipperdale Bank to Leyburn, before turning north to rejoin the shorter option.

It’s the final day of cycling in Yorkshire’s great outdoors.  The route will go south towards Masham and around Ripon to the historic site of Fountains Abbey for lunch.  We cross the finish line at the Victorian spa town of Harrogate. This evening everyone will come together for a well-earned celebration dinner to reflect on a memorable Tour de France Yorkshire Grand Départ ride. 

After breakfast everyone says farewell and makes their separate ways home