8 years after stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis and after 7 years on my first clinical trial it is time for a new challenge, and to say thank you to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for keeping me alive long enough to start a new clinical trial.

The efficacy of the initial immunotherapy trial at the Sir Bobby Robson Centre has gradually declined over the last 7 years to the point where some of my tumours are slowly growing. As such it was decided that it’s time for a new treatment option; a phase I trial of a completely novel drug (a Werner (WRN) Inhibitor - nope, me neither) in Manchester at the Christie Hospital which looks to be starting in March.

Being a Phase I trial, first in human type stuff there’s no guarantee of efficacy; the side effects are unknown, though from the first few patients nausea seems to be the primary; there’s a lot of tests, scans and time in hospital for the first few weeks to monitor how the drug is affecting me.

How to prepare for something like this? Something to take your mind off it; a different kind of challenge: The Cannibal Run. Virtual ride of the entirety of the 1974 Giro d’Italia, UCI World Championships and Tour de France in a year.

Why 1974? Well, two notable things happened for cycling in 1974: I was born, and Eddy ‘The Cannibal’ Merckx was the first man to win the Triple Crown of Giro, Tour and World Championships in the same year.

So what does this look like? In total more than 51 stages with over 8,000 km / 5,000 miles of cycling and 100,000 m / 330,000 ft of climb.

In order to fit this round working full time (or as full time as I can with treatment) and hospital visits the 51 stages have been broken down into 230 sections, all created in Bkool which will take the rides and virtualise them including altitude and gradient for all the climbs so that as the hills get steeper the resistance and effort are increased appropriately.

The first ride was January the 2nd and they will continue for as long as I can; the schedule is somewhat flexible when the new treatment starts and indeed this whole idea may not make it past first contact with the trial drug.

The Tour route can found on La Flamme Rouge and the official roadbook. The UCI World Championship course can also be found the La Flamme Rouge. The Giro on the other hand has been reconstructed as best I can from the route and major climbs information on bikeraceinfo, Wikipedia and a rough La Gazzetta dello Sport map.

The order of the rides is Giro, World Championships then Tour; this isn’t the order they were ridden in 1974 but the Worlds is 250 km in 21 repeated laps and is not how to anyone wants to finish a ride.

I will also be taking part in the Great Run Manchester 10K, as I will be spending a fair amount of time there, and having my third crack at the Great North Run.

For Anne, Mike, Jennifer, Michael, Sooz, Daniel

A little history:

Diagnosed with Stage IV bowel cancer in May 2017; 2 rounds of Chemo (FOLFIRI and FOLFOX) in July and September 2017 to no effect. No more standard treatment available.

January 2018: “50% of people in your position will die within 12 months.”.

February 2018: Referred by my oncologist to the Sir Bobby Robson Unit and start a Phase II immunotherapy trial.

September 2019: Great North Run, my first half marathon in 30 years.

March-July 2020: Rode the 2018 Tour de France in my kitchen while working full time and shielding

June 2022: Cyclone - first 100 mile ride

September 2023: Great North Run again

January 2025: Referred to the Christie ECMT, Manchester, for Phase I trial

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UPDATE: 2025-04-10

After 3 weeks of screening and pre-tests I am 5 weeks/2 and a bit cycles into the new trial. The last 8 weeks have involved extensive visits to Manchester, a minimum of 2 days a week for each of them. I have had 2 biopsies, 2 CT scans, 3 PET scans and innumerate bloods taken. So this has somewhat slowed me down but, despite my sudden resmblence to a pincusion, not stopped me riding.

I am a little over 1,000 miles into the ride and am gradually trying to get my running legs in order for the first challenge at the Manchester 10K.