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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=4565">La Marmotte</a> is the toughest single-day cycle challenge on the calendar, boasting 174 KM of Alpine tarmac and over 5,000 metres of climbing. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Starting in </span><span><a title="blocked::http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&amp;amp;cp=7&amp;amp;gs_id=2g&amp;amp;xhr=t&amp;amp;q=bourg+d'oisans&amp;amp;gs_upl=&amp;amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&amp;amp;biw=1280&amp;amp;bih=822&amp;amp;wrapid=tljp1315296034499036&amp;amp;um=1&amp;amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;amp;hq=&amp;amp;hnear=0x478a6c1b41331b3d:0x287ec161e2e6d66e,Le+Bourg-d'Oisans,+France&amp;amp;gl=uk&amp;amp;ei=" href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&amp;amp;cp=7&amp;amp;gs_id=2g&amp;amp;xhr=t&amp;amp;q=bourg+d%27oisans&amp;amp;gs_upl=&amp;amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&amp;amp;biw=1280&amp;amp;bih=822&amp;amp;wrapid=tljp1315296034499036&amp;amp;um=1&amp;amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;amp;hq=&amp;amp;hnear=0x478a6c1b41331b3d:0x287ec161e2e6d66e,Le+Bourg-d%27Oisans,+France&amp;amp;gl=uk&amp;amp;ei=7dVlTowrh7">Bourg d’Oisans</a> in the heart of the French Alps, the race traverses four mountains – the <a href="http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-du-Glandon&amp;amp;qryMountainID=28">Col du Glandon</a> (1,924 metres), <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerald-davison/100158698/">Col du Telegraph</a> (1,556 metres) and <a href="http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-du-Glandon&amp;amp;qryMountainID=28">Col du Galibier</a> (2,646 metres), before finishing atop the 21 hair-pin bends of <a href="http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?qryMountainID=5">Alpe d’Huez </a>(1,780 metres). It is not a ride to be taken lightly. <br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Mark, Paul and Brian will be riding La Marmotte in support of <a href="http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/index.cfm">Ambitious about Autism</a>, the national charity for children and young people with autism. The charity raises awareness and understanding, influences policy and provides specialist services such as the pioneering <a href="http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/treehouse_school/index.cfm">TreeHouse School</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>And not content with just taking on La Marmotte, the boys will also be taking on the Grimpe d’Alpe, a 14 KM time trial up the infamous Alpe d’Huez. This event takes place the day after La Marmotte when most sane riders will be resting their legs, eating raclette and drinking beer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://voiturebalai.tumblr.com/">Read Mark's Marmotte blog </a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If tough to imagine how steep these climbs actually are so here area couple of photos that will give you an idea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51437989@N06/4796792142/in/photostream/">Alp d’Huez </a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32834218@N00/754552740/in/photostream/">Col du Glandon </a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are financing this trip ourselves so all money raised will go to Ambitious about Autism. You are not paying for us to go on holiday!</p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>