St Petersburg to Volgograd 1000 Miles
Philip Sibeth is raising money for The Royal British Legion
Participants: Phil Sibeth, Donald Smith, Rob Jones
Story
The British Embassy Remembrance Tour will take place in Russia over the period 29 August to 8 September 2007 (10 days). It is a Defence and Public Diplomacy event to contribute to the strengthening of Britain's image in Russia, by emphasising our alliance in World War II for the joint defeat of Nazism. 27m Soviets died in World War II, bearing the brunt of our fight against Hitler! Royal British Legion poppy wreaths will be laid at principal World War II Russian memorials on the route, with the participation of veterans, military personnel, our main sponsors and local dignitaries.
The Tour is also an endurance cycling event following the Russian line of defence between St Petersburg (Leningrad), via Moscow, to Volgograd (Stalingrad). A team of 3 riders from the Defence Section, British Embassy Moscow, will cycle from Victory Square in St Petersburg to the Mamaev Kurgan in Volgograd, a distance of 1000 miles that will be completed in 10 days. This is not a relay. We hope to average 30 kmph on the road: wind conditions permitting! The Russians are giving us terrific support, including police blue light escort for our safety!
The money raised from this event will go to the following charities:
The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2007
The All Russia Centre of Social and Legal Assistance to War Veterans
In addition to the 3 riders there will be a 4 strong support team (2 for representational support and 2 for cycling support) made up of serving members of the British Armed Forces, spouses and locally employed Russian members of staff.
Q. So how will the money get to Russian Servicemen? A. As we have already collected a large amount of money in Russia, we will ensure that the final split is even.
Visit our website at: http://www.britishclub.ru/1000Miles.html
£20,000 is equivalent to 1 million Roubles, please help us smash this significant target.
Progress Report
As at the end of Jul we have completed well in excess of 2000km of training, mostly indoors and mostly in our lunch hour. In addition, all 3 cyclists also trained hard in Riccione, Italy (at personal expense of course!) covering over 600km in the hills. Our 10 mile time trial basic fitness test times have all dropped remarkably over this period (by up to 8 minutes). Our rehearsal weekend in Jun 07, in the Ryazan Region, was a huge success and we made some new friends amongst the Russian cycling fraternity (see picture above). We also joined a Moscow cycle club for a hill marathon in late July and look forward to some of them joining us on legs in the Moscow Region.
On Fri 24 Aug the cyclists walked around the Embassy with a bucket and then held a leg waxing event in the bar, where the ladies got their revenge on us men by tearing a few strips: for a price of course! A big thank you to everyone in our very special community and all those online fundraisers listed below for giving so generously. We are now ready to go.
DAY -1
We were inundated by National and St Petersburg Press following a successful press conference at the British Council yesterday. 5 camera crews (incl Vesti, Channel 1) wanted to film every aspect of our preparations and departure. I think the result will be good. Our first ceremony was very moving, particularly with Donald playing 'Flowers of the Forest' on his bagpipes, and was very well received by the veterans and local dignitaries.
DAY 1
A tough start! Delayed until 0930 by the welcome press attention, we set off. The wind was strong and westerly, so heading South there was a nil effect. We took it easy and averaged 27 kmph. The roads were good and we didn't experience any problems with the traffic. Then of course down came the rain and at 14 degrees it felt icy in the wind. We were gibbering! Then we turned into wind towards Velikiy Novgorod and the effect was dramatic, but with hard work we finished the day at 150 km completed at an average of 26 kmph. Although slightly short of our day target, we had simply run out of time before the ceremony in Novgorod with the Deputy Mayor in the Kremlin. Tomorrow we fully expect to make up lost ground as we are heading South East and the westerlies will suit us fine! Phil.
Day 2
170 km completed successfully on a hilly leg, but without any discernible wind assistance. It remained cold, but thankfully very little rain. Our spirits were high today and Rob was particularly pleased that he had completed his personal longest distance ever. On the hills we maintained a creditable average speed of 27 kmph. The ceremony in Veliky Novgorod was small but impressive, and very well received by the Deputy Mayor and we were presented flowers from the local school headmistress!
Day 3
Arrived in Tver fit and in good form for our best ceremony yet. Veterans and military (including military band and rifle salute) were there to greet us. We were treated to some of the most genuine and heartfelt expressions of thanks and appreciation for our actions that we have ever heard. The point was well made that no matter what the politics we are all friends here. No rain on the road and some limited wind assistance gave us a good average speed of 28.5 kmph. At least we had our first day without a puncture.
Day 4
Interesting day! After another good massage we left beautiful Tver for Moscow and were soon joined by members of the Moscow Cycle Club http://www.velogearance.com/index.php, who were out in some force to help us on our way. In the end they stayed for our ceremony, but the strongest memory of the day will be steaming down the MKAD (Moscow's M25) at 35 kmph with police blue light escort front and rear, Bob Skilling in his Rangerover on one side (thanks Bob) and the Tour Minibus on the other as we altered our course for Victory Park and the 'Hill of Bows'. Whilst the Russian Police have been suberb in most cities and regions, we were however denied access to the Federal Highway in Moscow Oblast (region) today, so elected to take the scenic route for the last 100 km, despite the valiant efforts of Mike Titov (our superb driver, mechanic, negotiator, interpreter and just anything man) to give them a hard time. Representatives of our key sponsors (namely TNK BP and Shell) were again with us at the ceremony and reception and we thank them again for their amazing support. Maximuscle will, I am sure, be happy with some of the photos we have taken with their products. It seems we are becoming quite famous in Russia with the amount of press attention. Early start tomorrow!
DAY 5
After a night at home in Moscow we left the city at 0630 hrs to complete a stage slightly off our main route: this due to the Moscow Regional Police decision not to allow us on the Federal roads. This is a long story that began more than a year ago and despite receiving all the necessary permissions we were denied access at the last minute. Instead we cycled a training route of 170 km, which brought us directly to the hotel in Ryazan. We had a fair wind for the morning and were averaging 30.5 kmph on a fairly undulating route, but in the afternoon we tired as the wind turned against us and the final average for the day fell to 28.5 kmph. The ceremony in Ryazan was lively, as 3 Berezovskiy demonstrators threatened to disturb it, but they must have been 'moved on' by the police as they did not make a reappearance. We met up with members of the Ryazan Cycle Club and I presented them with my old Peugeot Galibier bike as they need 2nd hand bikes for the local children. Half way now!
DAY 6
Ryazan to Ryazhsk with Yuri and Olga from the Ryazan Cycle Club (GIT 88). We spent rather too long waiting for them and as a result were not able to compensate for Olga's speed, so ended up losing her into the back of the minibus. Yuri is an ex-professional cyclist with CSKA (military sport club). A fairly slow and fragmented day, although we completed the distance successfully. Mike Titov was also able to have a go on our spare bicycle and did 40 km with us. The ceremony in Ryazhsk was very well received by veterans and local dignitaries. As with all these events to date, we express our respect for those that died and veterans for their contribution to the defeat of Nazism. Russia paid a terrible price. There is without exception an outpouring of gratitude and thanks for our simple wreath laying ceremony, which is conducted entirely in Russian and includes quotes from the Kohima Memorial and 'Flanders Fields', a 2 minute silence and a lament and reveille by a kilted Donald Smith on his bagpipes. Very moving. It will be a special moment when we do this in Volgograd (Stalingrad).
DAY 7
Once again an easy and fast start to our ride (70 km) on smooth road and no wind. But it's never quite that simple and soon, as expected we reached the poor quality roads. The concrete slabs have wide and damaged gaps, surface tarmac is partly worn away and there are numerous potholes. The effect is bone jarring! 100 km of this today and we feel utterly worn. But only 3 days to go. The highlight of the day was our greeting by the local administration at the gates of the city of Tambov: we were afforded the greatest honour by the City with a bread and salt ceremony.
DAY 8
We left Tambov with our blue light escort and made great speed into Voronezh Oblast (Region) where the police conducted a rolling handover without stopping us. We were on fire today and averaged 30.9 kmph for the whole day, completing 178 km to Borisoglebsk. We had a beautiful ceremony this evening amidst a large crowd of spectators and honoured guests, and we were presented flowers by children. It had been our best day of cycling yet: no punctures, good roads, superb police protection, and finished in good order at 1515 hrs.
DAY 9
As expected, the winds in the south turned against us (prevailing strongly from the Caspian) and we began to battle from mid-morning. Our well practiced rotation of the lead every 5 km was as vital as ever, but there seemed to be very little cover from the wind's strength. As a result there was simply no relief from muscles at full strain and every ounce of momemtum had to be earned: going slower made no difference, downhill we could only reach 31 kmph and uphills were a soul-wrenching slog. On arrival in Volgograd Oblast we were again greeted on the side of the road by the Regional Administration with a bread and salt ceremony and traditional Cossack singing and dancing. Of course we joined in, but lost about an hour of cycling time that had a cost. We finished at 5pm having cycled (with short breaks) since 8.30am and completed 188km to Mikhailovka. I was cramping badly and Rob was simply in tears at the end. We looked like coal miners from the road dirt ingrained into our faces and legs, with salt 'maps' all over our clothing from the effort in near 30 degree temperatures. But the show went on and we were on time, in uniform, at the beautiful Mikhailovka memorial to pay our respects to Russian veterans, and if anything, the ceremony seemed more perfect, more moving, than ever. Our main press attention today came from Komsomolskaya Pravda, a tabloid newspaper that had us wearing their orange baseball caps.
DAY 10
Our final day's cycle is a bit of a blur. 193 km completed in the day in 34 degree temperatures with a head wind! Our Volgrad Oblast policemen deserve a special mention here. Front and back vehicles with sirens going for much of the time, directing traffic away from us by loudspeaker and genrally encouraging and cajoling us as cyclists, sometimes with music and often with humourous threats, they were nothing short of brilliant! On one occasion they shouted at passing motorists to 'move aside for the heroes of Stalingrad!'. The final cycle through the streets of Volgograd, with all juctions sealed for us and sirens on, was spectacular. We were sweeping down the avenues at 40 kmph, riding on pure adrenalin! At the finsh we were met by a large crowd: the Deputy Governor of Volgograd Region; the British Ambassador, Sir Tony Brenton; the Defence Attache; Administration representatives from sport, culture and associations; British Council, sponsors from TNK BP and MIG Security, University leaders and students; and our emotional families and friends. At the 'Hall of Glory' we met with some 20 veterans (Generals and Colonels) and conducted our ceremony, followed by an Orthodox Service of Remembrance in the Cathedral. Will never forget the sound of bagpipes at this most important Russian landmark.
Total actual distance cycled: 1655 km. Whilst this is has been no Tour de France (3607km in 21 stages) we have sought to complete this significant distance, as amateur cyclists, in as fast a time as we were able, and, with 11 ceremonies of Remembrance along the 1942 Russian Front, arrived at the finish (early) within 8 minutes of our target.
Thank you again to all our supporters.