Completed Successfully: Almost wiped out after crash descending Galibier, almost boiled due to 38c heat up Alpe D'Huez, but now back home with a silver medal after conquering the Marmotte :)

Thanks to all who generously donated to EveryChild! If you haven't yet, please feel free to donate, it's never too late :)

Full ride report now on www.jansz.com

UPDATE You can now track my progress during the actual race on Saturday the 4th here (My entry number is 148423, but my race number is 6032 which I think is the one you need to use)

And now you will be able to see video near-live (3 mins after passing) at three spots (Valloire / Bourg d'Oisan / Alpes d'Huez) here. The video may be near-live, but I'll be going at a snail's pace so you get plenty of time to see the agony :)

Thanks for looking, and feel free to donate!
       
On the 1st of April as a true fool I decided to enter La Marmotte in July.

Those who know me, know that I have always held that road cycling is for wooses, and mountain biking is where it's at. However this race may change my mind on that! I am not a roadie, and have just three months to turn into a road cyclist.

La Marmotte is probably the most famous - and one of the the most challenging - Cyclosportive in France. 174 kilometres (108 miles) and 5,180 metres vertical ascent (16,995 feet) eek!

It includes three legendary hors category climbs: Col de la Croix Fer/Glandon, Col du Galibier via Télégraphe, and finishes at the top of one the most famous Tour de France climbs, Alpe d’Huez.

The charity EveryChild, which you are hopefully going to contribute to, helps children in the worlds poorest countries.

I chose this charity because during my travels to many of these countries I have met and seen many children who are in need of help. I will never forget walking through a village in northern Laos affected by a yellow fever outbreak, with children lying dying of a disease which they could have been inoculated against; or the numerous times I have seen children and whole families sleeping rough on the streets of India; or the children disabled by mines in Cambodia; or the kids picking through rubbish tips in Myanmar to eke a living from recycling.

Hopefully these memories and your donations will encourage me to pedal up the mountains.

Many thanks,

Menno

PS Training updates (ie whinging) will be put on the www.jansz.com website.

PPS I'm paying for the flights, entry fees, accommodation, etc. so all cash which you donate will go to the charity.