It's taken a bit of commitment, this one. Since October, all my spare time has been taken up with endless hilly training rides. All my disposable income (and some that wasn't really disposable but got disposed of anyway) has gone on shiny new bike bits and lycra. I've not had a drink since New Year's Eve. I've binned 10kg. Actually, thinking about it, I should have cut out the middleman, donated the lycra money to charity and spent the last 9 months on the couch with beer and doughnuts. Next time I'll think this thing through. But in the meantime I'm riding the Etape Du Tour on the 18th July. Here's the route profile:
http://www.letapedutour.com/2010/ETDT/presentation/images/TDF10_profil_17_HD.jpg
Flat, it's not. In fact, the final climb is so severe, it is described by the Tour De France organizers as "Hors Categorie" or "beyond categorization". If all that wasn't traumatic enough, the voiture balai (broom wagon) drives behind the riders at a constant speed, accompanied by armed gendarmes on motorbikes who will physically pull you off your bike and stick you in the back of the van if it overtakes you. For you, rosbif, the ride is over. All things considered, the Etape is arguably the toughest 1-day amateur cycling event in the world.
I'd be very grateful if you could support my nominated charity.
The Optimum Population Trust is an organization that campaigns for policies to achieve environmentally sustainable population levels, both globally and in the UK. Here's what the OPT does in more detail:
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/intstatement.pdf
Please donate whatever you can. I'll be thinking of you as I try not to grind to a halt half way up the Tourmalet.
Many Thanks
Steve
