WE'VE MADE IT TO PAU & ARE ALL KITTED UP FOR THE MAIN EVENT TOMORROW. 

THE AIR LOCK OPENS AT 05:00 & WE WILL BE IN OUR PENS READY FOR THE OFF AT 06:30 - ALONG WITH 9,496 OTHER RIDERS.

THE TEMPERATURE IS A BALMY 26 DEGREES - HEADING FOR 29 TOMORROW (THANK GOODNESS FOR ALTITUDE!).

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT - HERE'S TO YOU MYLES.........................

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE JUST VISITED THIS SITE FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE IS THE STORY:

‘Fire & Water Plumbing & Heating’ engineer, Christian Johnson takes up L’Etape Du Tour Mondovelo in the Pyrennes this summer, the single stage of the Tour De France, open to amateurs.

On the 18th July 2010, a few days before the Tour de France professionals, Christian will join 9,500 other riders in this gruelling race. 

As a rider in the ‘Live2Ride’ team (www.live2ride.co.uk), he will cover a distance of 181km, starting from the city of Pau, climbing 3 mountains of the Pyrénées: col de Marie-Blanque, col du Soulor, culminating in a 19km ascent of the formidable Tourmalet(4,400mtrs of climbing). The etape route is always brutal and challenging, but this year’s event is sure to be one of the toughest yet. 

Christian, 34, a registered plumber and gas engineer in Frome, Somerset, will be gearing up & donning his lycra on July 18th to ride the 181km, raising money for Paternoster School in Cirencester. The school provides education for children with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Let’s hope he stays in the saddle and remains puncture-less!

"I'm more used to mountain biking through Longleat forest than road racing," says Christian. "Now I'm getting up every day at 6 am to go for a ride on tarmac before work.”


The hard work will all be worthwhile for him if he succeeds in raising £500 for Paternoster School. The school are halfway through completing a sensory garden and are counting on Christian’s legs earning them enough sponsorship to help finish the project. 

Christian’s close friends’ son, Myles Henderson, was diagnosed with autism 2 years ago and the school have provided amazing support for the now 4 year old and his family. His parents commented “When Myles was diagnosed with autism it was a very difficult and confusing time for us. We moved to Leigh near Swindon in November last year and needed a nursery/school for Myles that would support his challenging needs moving forward. Paternoster School was recommended by a friend and Myles was lucky enough to be accepted, as there are limited places & funds. Paternoster is an outstanding school for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. The school have given us the hope that Myles will achieve the best possible future outcome, for a boy with his diagnosis. Paternoster have been a vital lifeline.”

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Many thanks for your support!