She made it!!! And did very well.

Carolyn finished in a very creditable 9 hours 23mins,  beating the dreaded elimination bus by miles. She paced herself carefully and was able to ride up Ventoux steadily and consistantly when most others were having to walk. Over 1000 riders didn't make it and ladies made up just 3% of the field!

All her hard work has paid off and your generous support definately helped her deal with the pain.

Thankyou so much for all the donations, for any of you that missed out on contributing please feel free to donate and get her over her target figure.

Carolyn is feeling fine and already looking forward to next years event.

Well done Carolyn, Ali would be so proud.

 

Have a look at www.letapedutour.com to see all the results.

 

 

 

On 20th July, Carolyn, along with 9500 other riders, will attempt to complete the annual Etape du Tour cycle race. It's a chance for amateur riders to ride a tough, mountainous stage of the Tour de France, a few days before the pros do the same course.

Carolyn will be riding to raise money for the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhampstead. This is where our dear friend Ali Rainback spent the last few weeks of his life before losing his battle with a brain tumour at the age of 36. Ali was a keen cyclist and was on the start list for this same event in 2007, just as he became sick.

The race will start in Montelimar, passing over several climbs before finishing 172kms later at the summit of the legendary Mont Ventoux. This is a men's event where women are tolerated, if they can keep up! There is a strict elimination system in place where riders who are not fast enough are forced to retire by the police. In 2007, one third of the field suffered this fate.

It's a tough event, especially for a lady. Carolyn has been training hard for 6 months and has given herself a great chance for success. What she needs now is your cash, in memory of Ali Rainback and to help reward some of the pain she'll be enduring, especially for the last 3 hours of torture up Ventoux.

This might all sound a bit dramatic, but this will be a seriously impressive achievement if she makes it and if ever someone was going to really earn their sponsorship money, it's Carolyn.

Please give generously,

thanks,

 

John Thomas