I have now completed stage 2 of the Dallaglio Cycle Slam and ridden 650kms in 5 days - starting off in Nice and arriving in Paris five days later
The riding involved a large amount of hard graft but this was well balanced by a sense of achievement and a lot of fun. In the first two days we covered over 300 kms before easing back a little for days three, four and five. The 35 riders were split into teams of eight each with a leader from the core group of riders who were riding all five stages. We were led by Lawrence, himself - an inspiring mix of lycra clad muscularity and encouragement who soon created a clear team spirit and identity.
The details of the ride are on www.dallagliocycleslam.com and the blog and gallery sections are worth a look at.
Day 0 - Arrival in Nice to hear the horror stories of snow, potholes, Italian hill climbs and getting lost en route from the clearly tired and emotional stage 1 riders and then after a late night welcome party in a magnificent villa in Cannes, they were gone and it was our turn.
Day 1 Nice to Pertuis (165 kms and 6hrs 55mins cycling time) - we were mostly blessed with sun as we progressed along the French Riviera in the morning before climbing up into Provence and it’s vineyards and reaching Pertuis by late afternoon. Spirits were high all day, confident riders showed off by racing needlessly up hills and Paris suddenly didn’t seem so far away.
Day 2 Pertuis to Montelimar (149kms and 6 hrs 10mins cycling time) in the foothills of the Mount Ventoux was totally brutal and a horrible reality check. The morning was spent heading north in driving rain, being sprayed by the bikes in front and passing cars and the magnificent Ventoux was totally obscured by cloud and mist for the whole day. When the rain eased around midday we spent the afternoon riding wheel to wheel into a particularly strong Mistral - back breaking stuff. In contrast to the frivolous way we wasted energy in the Riviera sun, the finish couldn’t come soon enough!
Day 3 St Etienne to Nevers (112kms and 4hrs 15 mins cycling time) - was a more gentle day as we rolled through Frances agricultural heartland and although we were snowed on in the morning and everyones legs were pretty heavy, the kms rolled by. France seemed to be firmly shut and the search for the double expresso lasted all day.
Day 4 Nevers to Chablis (137kms and 5hrs 30 cycling time) was fancy dress day - a strong cross dressing theme prevailed with wigs, rouge, lipstick, bras and an impressive selection of french knickers on show all day. It was also a day for the speed merchants to remember - after a tough first couple of hours climbing the hills and attracting strange looks from the locals we speed downhill to Chablis in a well organised 8 man train maintaining speeds of 45km/hr. A sudden five man hi-speed crash just before lunch didn’t result in any long term damage and the peloton’s mood was further improved by a chablis tasting in the evening and Lawrence’s magnificent and very formal induction into the Confrerie de Chablis Vignerons!
Day 5 Nangis to Paris (104kms and 4hrs 10mins cycling time) saw us follow the Seine into Paris and perhaps seemed an overly short day as by now we all had the bit between our teeth (although it was longer than the London to Brighton ride). The Peloton negotiated the Parisian traffic without any major mishaps and we made our 4pm slot at the Eiffel Tower with a collective sense of real satisfaction and achievement.
The organisation was quite superb - The logistics of putting on an event like this are considerable and we were incredibly well directed, transported, accommodated, supported, fed and watered. These costs are met by a central sponsorship agreement allowing all the riders individual sponsorships to go to the nominated charities (Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation).
We made great friendships and all have wonderful memories - all of our peleton rode every km of each stage and when people were in difficulty, their team mates helped.
Lawrence was immense - last to bed and always at the head of the peloton - he inspired us all.
The ride is on target to reach well in excess of it’s million pound target. Now it’s back in the UK it will gain ever increasing exposure and should feature at the England v Ireland game this weekend.
It’s been a great adventure and I hope the riders on stages 3,4 and 5 get as much out of it as I did.
The Charities all have personal connections - my father was scientific director of Cancer Research Uk for many years and I was lucky enough to be involved as the team doctor at the Help 4 Heroes game at Twickenham in 2008 and see at first hand the committment and sacrifice shown by the armed forces. As a doctor working in rugby, I know how players who have been forced to retire as a result of injury or illness also need our support.
So as Lawrence cycles on (and on) please dig deep in your pockets and help us raise money for these good causes.
