by Anna Magrath | Jun 11, 2014
Tom Stewart leads Madison Genesis to double success in Woking
On the evening one Pearl Izumi Tour Series Yorkshire favourite bowed out for competition, another star from the same county was firmly launched in the Series.
Pre-race the news may all have been about five-time race winner and former Champion Dean Downing making his final appearance in the Series, but post-race the talk was of 24-year-old Tom Stewart, who clinched an impressive first victory in the Series.
Madison Genesis rider Stewart was to the fore throughout, first partnering NFTO rider Adam Blythe in a two-up move before being part of the race winning break, from which he flew with teammates Tobyn Horton and Andy Tennant keeping a watching brief that would ensure team victory too.
With a handful of laps remaining Stewart went clear from the small leading group, building an advantage he’d hold until the line.
The final two laps saw Blythe and George Harper in fast pursuit, but it was too little too late, with the only consolation for the latter being second spot individually, and third on the night for his Node4 Velosure team.
Stewart’s first win was also Madison Genesis’ second individual win on the bounce, following Horton’s Canary Wharf victory, with the Guernsey rider being another, along with Tom Scully, Madison Genesis rider prominent and aggressive throughout.
Their performances and the combinations of Stewart’s win with Horton’s fourth and Tennant’s sixth gave Madison Genesis the team win, their third of this year’s Series, but with Rapha Condor JLT coming second the deficit is still 16 points.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series heads to Jersey for its final round on Friday as a part of the Jersey Festival of Cycling, with an individual hill climb and circuit race posing a double-header challenge for teams. With 24 points left to score, only an unlikely disaster seems to be between Rapha Condor JLT and the feat of becoming the first squad to win the Series overall twice.
NFTO’s Jon Mould did enough in Woking to wrap-up the Sprints Jersey with a round to spare, sitting on top of a 22 point lead over Kristian House, with Graham Briggs a further two points in arrears.
Briggs himself was also a winner in Woking, taking the Costa Express Fastest Lap with a 1’43.298, in what is likely to for the second year in succession have been the Series’ fastest race, with at the halfway point the race having an average speed of almost 45 kilometres per hour.
For Downing, racing for the first time in the Series as teammate to brother Russell, who made his comeback from injury in Woking, there was to be no fairytale finish at the circuit where he was victorious in 2009.
There was one final top ten finish though to round out a six year spell in The Pearl Izumi Tour Series that has made him one of the stars and most feted riders, in a Series which focusses on the team.
Five wins (Exeter and Woking in 2009, Exeter and Peterborough in 2010 and Colchester in 2011) plus the Series title with, the then, Rapha Condor Sharp team in 2011, are what Downing leaves behind, plus a legion of fans at venues impressed by his showmanship and results over the past six editions of the Series.
Downing follows NFTO teammate James McCallum into Pearl Izumi Tour Series retirement, as the next generation of stars begin to make their mark, led by the likes to Woking one-two Stewart and Harper.
Highlights of the Woking round of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series are on ITV4 at 8pm on Wednesday 11 June, with a repeat at 12.50pm on Thursday 12 June. All of the highlights programmes are also available to view online and catch-up via the ITV Player.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Tuesday 10 June 2014, Woking
Round Nine Team Result
1) Madison Genesis
2) Rapha Condor JLT
3) Node4 Velosure
4) NFTO Pro Cycling
5) Team Raleigh
6) Starley Primal Pro Cycling
7) Pedal Heaven Colbornes
8) Metaltek Kuota
9) Great Britain
Round Nine Individual Result
1) Tom Stewart, GBR, Madison Genesis
2) George Harper, GBR, Node4 Velosure
3) Adam Blythe, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
4) Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis
5) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
6) Andy Tennant, GBR, Madison Genesis
7) Matthieu Boulo, FRA, Team Raleigh
8) Chris Opie, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
9) Morgan Kniesky, FRA, Team Raleigh
10) Dean Downing, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
Round Nine Costa Express Fastest Lap: Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 1’43.298
Round Nine Sprint Winner: Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Nine
1) Rapha Condor JLT, 106pts
2) Madison Genesis, 90pts
3) Team Raleigh, 82pts
4) NFTO Pro Cycling, 73pts
5) Node4 Velosure, 61pts
6) Metaltek Kuota, 45pts
7) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 39pts
8) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 38pts
9) Great Britain, 36pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Nine
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 69pts
2) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 47pts
3) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 45pts
Win for Roe seals Matrix Fitness GP Series title in Woking
Eileen Roe clinched the 2014 Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series title in style, winning the final race in Woking to head compatriot and best friend Charline Joiner at the top of the standings.
Roe outsprinted Redditch winner Amy Roberts and Grace Garner on the long drag to the Woking finish line to ensure she finished 13 points clear of Joiner at the top of the standings.
Joiner could only come in sixth, despite the best efforts of her Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team, who worked tirelessly for her in the front group.
Roe, who has held the Series lead since her victory in Round Two in Peterborough, now moves on to the Commonwealth Games, where she will represent Team Scotland in Glasgow this Summer, alongside Joiner.
Consolation for the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team came in the team prize, having led the classification throughout the Series, thanks to the two victories of Katie Archibald and string of consistent placings from Joiner, Dame Sarah Storey and Gabriella Shaw.
After their first winless campaign in the Series, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine drew some consolation from taking the Sprints Jersey, with Helen Wyman winning the Sprints prize in Woking to seal victory in the classification over Archibald.
In a fast race, averaging 39 kilometres per hour, the front group was consistently whittled down until only a dozen or so riders remained.
Most notable for her aggressive riding was Tamiko Butler, riding for local Surrey squad WyndyMilla Reynolds, who enjoyed noisy partisan support in Woking, with the Combativity Award falling the way of Butler post-race.
Come the final sprint though it was Roe heading to the line first in a messy affair, as the leader caught a trailing group coming out of the final bend. Behind Roe it was Roberts, whose second place on the night helped her into third overall in the Series, and Grace Garner, enjoying her best ever Matrix Fitness GP Series result at the circuit where elder sister Lucy has twice won.
Fourth spot on the night for Katie Curtis, who worked throughout for her Starley Primal teammate Roe, gave her fourth in the standings, with Clemence Copie fifth before Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International duo Joiner and Shaw.
Highlights of the final round of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series will be shown as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series highlights on ITV4 at 8pm on Wednesday 11 June, with a repeat on Thursday 12 June at 12.50pm.
Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Round Five, Woking
Race Result
1) Eileen Roe, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling
2) Amy Roberts, GBR, Wiggle Honda
3) Grace Garner, GBR, RST Racing Team
4) Katie Curtis, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling
5) Clemence Copie, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport
6) Charline Joiner, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
7) Gabriella Shaw, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
8) Laura Greenhalgh, GBR, Twickenham CC
9) Lydia Boylan, GBR, Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa
10) Jo Tindley, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine
Round Five Sprint Winner: Helen Wyman, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine
Round Five Team Winner: Starley Primal Pro Cycling
Final Overall Individual Standings, post-Round Five
1) Eileen Roe, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 104pts
2) Charline Joiner, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, 91pts
3) Amy Roberts, GBR, Wiggle Honda, 69pts
4) Katie Curtis, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 69pts
5) Helen Wyman, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine, 69pts
Final Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Five
1) Helen Wyman, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine, 30pts
2) Katie Archibald, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, 20pts
3) Katie Curtis, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 18pts
Final Overall Team Standings, post-Round Five
1) Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, 227pts
2) Matrix Fitness – Vulpine, 169pts
3) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 136pts
4) Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport, 88pts
5) Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa, 73pts
6) RST Racing Team, 64pts
7) Epic Cycles – Scott WRT, 49pts
8) WyndyMilla Reynolds, 46pts
9) GBcycles.co.uk, 3pts
by Anna Magrath | Jun 6, 2014
Rapha Condor JLT continued their dominance of the 2014 Pearl Izumi Tour Series with a fifth team win at Canary Wharf on Thursday night, but it was Madison Genesis’ Tobyn Horton hitting the headlines for his first individual win.
The Guernsey rider’s win also secured Madison Genesis’ first piece of individual glory, in their second season of racing in The Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
Horton headed Chris Opie in the final lap dash from an eight rider group around Canary Wharf’s 1-kilometre circuit, with the Cornishman taking the evening’s Costa Express Fastest Lap on the final tour.
Behind them, Alex Paton took Pedal Heaven Colbornes’ best individual result of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series, with third on the road, ahead of Marcin Bialoblocki and James McCallum, the latter on an emotional evening, as his final appearance in the Series ahead of retirement later on in 2014, following the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
For Paton third helped Pedal Heaven Colbornes to sixth on the night, and lifted them off bottom in the table to penultimate spot, sandwiched in a three-way tie with Great Britain and Starley Primal Pro Cycling, as the three squads rely on countback to separate them.
At the front no such measures are necessary, with Rapha Condor JLT now 18 points clear, with only 36 more available from Tuesday’s Woking event and Jersey’s double header final round. The men in black, who have become the men in Pearl Izumi’s red and yellow since Round Two at Barrow, took their fifth team win of the 2014 Series, equalling their tally from 2010 and 2011, when John Herety’s team also won the overall title.
Behind them come Madison Genesis, who are now just two points ahead of Team Raleigh, although neither team faired particularly well in Canary Wharf, taking fourth, in the case of the latter, and fifth for the former.
With two riders in the front group of eight – Bialoblocki and George Harper – Node4 Velosure enjoyed their best result of 2014, taking second on the night, while another rider to again feature near the front was Great Britain’s Matthew Gibson, who took victory in Peterborough earlier in the Series.
Kristian House won the evening’s Sprints prize to move into second spot in the standings, 15 points adrift of NFTO’s Jon Mould, who was rested from the Canary Wharf race.
Earlier in the evening Horton’s Madison Genesis teammate Mike Northey had helped the Madison corporate team to victory in the traditional Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix pro-am, just ahead of Barclays and Metaltek Kuota, with Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and Team Raleigh taking third.
Highlights of the Canary Wharf event are on ITV4 at 10pm on Friday 6th June, with a repeat on Saturday 7thJune at 8.35am, and will be available on the ITV Player online for 30 days after broadcast.
Next week sees The Pearl Izumi Tour Series make its annual trip to Woking, with the Surrey town hosting Round Nine on Tuesday 10th June, alongside the final event of the women’s Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series.
Teams will then head to Jersey in the Channel Islands for a double header final round, encompassing a hill climb event and the traditional circuit race on Friday 13 June, as a part of the Jersey Festival of Cycling.
The weekend includes the Pearl Izumi Tour Ride coastal sportive on Saturday 14 June allowing amateur riders to ride the island, before the Pearl Izumi Jersey International Road Race on Sunday 15 June, which will see the professionals back in action for a 140-kilometre, ten lap road race.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Thursday 5 June 2014, Canary Wharf
Round Eight Team Result
1) Rapha Condor JLT
2) Node4 Velosure
3) NFTO Pro Cycling
4) Team Raleigh
5) Madison Genesis
6) Pedal Heaven Colbornes
7) Metaltek Kuota
8) Starley Primal Pro Cycling
9) Great Britain
Round Eight Individual Result
1) Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis
2) Chris Opie, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
3) Alex Paton, GBR, Pedal Heaven Colbornes
4) Marcin Bialoblocki, POL, Node4 Velosure
5) James McCallum, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
6) Matthew Gibson, GBR, Great Britain
7) George Harper, GBR, Node4 Velosure
8) Yanto Barker, GBR, Team Raleigh
9) Felix English, IRL, Rapha Condor JLT
10) Ed Clancy, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
Round Eight Costa Express Fastest Lap: Chris Opie, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 1″11.551
Round Eight Sprint Winner: Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix Winners: Madison and Mike Northey, Madison Genesis
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Eight
1) Rapha Condor JLT, 96pts
2) Madison Genesis, 78pts
3) Team Raleigh, 76pts
4) NFTO Pro Cycling, 66pts
5) Node4 Velosure, 53pts
6) Metaltek Kuota, 42pts
7) Great Britain, 34pts
8) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 34pts
9) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 34pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Eight
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 60pts
2) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 45pts
3) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 42pts
by Anna Magrath | Jun 6, 2014
An artist impression of the stage for the ceremony
Four Weeks to the Yorkshire Grand Départ Opening Ceremony: Be Part of History
The Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014 kicks off exactly four weeks tonight with a spectacular Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation at the Leeds Arena, and a chance for spectators to become a part of history.
Defending champion Chris Froome and sprint sensation Mark Cavendish will be among top cycling stars to greet the crowd on July 3, as Yorkshire welcomes 22 of the world’s best cycling teams in a glittering ceremony showcasing some of the county’s top entertainment talent.
Yorkshire band Embrace will headline the event, which will be their first arena gig since their recent sell-out comeback tour and album. Their latest album went straight into the national album chart at number 5. Originally from Brighouse, Embrace have three number 1 albums, six top ten singles and over two million UK album sales behind them.
Embrace frontman Danny McNamara said: “It’s going to be amazing, to have one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world coming to our back yard and to be part of it is nothing short of massive, we’re really looking forward to it!”
Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh will join York singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin on stage to perform the track he wrote called The Road – the official anthem of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ 2014.
Kimberley, known the world over for her role in the multi-platinum selling group Girls Aloud, said: “It is going to be a night to remember and one where we make history together, giving the Tour de France a true Yorkshire welcome. Performing at this event with Alistair in our home county is going to be a special moment for me.”
To celebrate the collaboration between Yorkshire and France, million selling French singer Pauline Vassuer will sing her hit “Allo le Monde”.
The orchestra and chorus of Opera North will perform music specially created for the event live throughout the ceremony, conducted by composer Philip Sheppard, who composed music for London 2012.
The band Hope and Social, one of the stars of the hugely successful Yorkshire Festival, will also take part – teaming up with 100 performers of all ages who’ve joined them as they’ve taken their Tour of Infinite Possibility around the county.
Executive producer Martin Green, who was Head of Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics, said: “We’re breaking new ground here for the Tour de France with this ambitious show – it’s something much bigger and completely new to the cycling world. With the theme of the event The People of Yorkshire Welcome the World, this will give the riders the entrance they deserve as the Yorkshire Grand Départ celebrations begin.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We know how enthusiastic millions of people are to make sure they get a chance to be part of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire and their first opportunity will be at the Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation on Thursday July 3. Thousands of people will be able to see up close and hear from these cycling stars, witnessing a moment in history and making the Tour’s arrival an unforgettable experience.”
The show will be broadcast around the world, with a special programme in the UK on ITV 4.
Hosts, ITV sports presenter Jill Douglas and the voice of the Tour de France Sebastien Piquet, will interview riders from the teams and Team Sky will parade their top secret Pinarello’s Dogma F8 bikes which have been a year in the making and are reportedly the best bikes the team have ever ridden.
Tickets for the not-for-profit event start at £45 upwards (all the highest priced £85 tickets sold out in minutes) and are available at www.letouryorkshire.com/tickets by phone on 0844 248 1585 or from the box office in Trinity Leeds shopping centre where no booking fee applies.
by Anna Magrath | Jun 2, 2014
Check out this short film by Matt Pennell of the Doncaster Cycle Festival 2014 that took place at the weekend.
Results – Doncaster Town Centre Races
1. Ed Clancy, Rapha Condor JLT
2. Dean Downing, NFTO
3. James Moss, Velosure Giordana
4. Harry Tanfield, KTM
5. Alistair Rutherford, Wheelbase
6. Richard Hepworth, Velosure Giordana
7. Charlie Tanfield, Adept
8. Jacob Scott, Haribo Beacon
9. Jack Sadler, Rapha Condor JLT
10. Jake Womersley, Haribo Beacon
Women 2/3/4
1. Paige Willmard, bikepure
2. Abby Mae Parkinson, RST Racing
3. Penny Rowson, Matrix Volpine
4. Sam Burman, WNT
5. Lauren O’Bien, RST Racing
6. Rebecca Rimmington, Merlin
7. Sam Thoy, Jadan
8. Alison Kinloch, PH Mas
9. Nicola Moore, Squadra RT
10. Joanne Blakeley, GB Cycles
Category 3-4
1. Andy Bishop, Autocentres racing
2. Andrew Webster, GKV
3. Christopher Mark, NRG
4. Adam Turner, Autocentres racing
5. Jason Millar, Caesaren CC
6. Charlie Renshaw, Dinnington RC
7. Jake Beach, Velocity
8. Bobbin Gardner, Boneshakers
9. Kieran Simcox, Dinnington RC
10. Daniel Stoccero, 3RT
UNDER 12
1. George Southby, East Bradford
2. Matthew Baptista, Mid Lancs
3. Billy Lazenby, Clifton CC
4. Matthew Kingston, Lichfield CC
5. Thomas Bates, Mossley CRT
6. Ava Oxley, Kirkless
7. Rachel Earnshaw, Clifton CC
8. Joseph Pidcock, Aire Valley
9. Adam Fortune, Kirklees
10. Daniel Reynolds
Under 14
1. Jack Ford, Holmefirth
2. Alistair Leivers, Blackpool
3. Jim Brown, Holmfirth
4. Euan Cameron, East Bradford
Others @ 1 lap
Sam Walsham, Joshua Greenwood, Eddie Townend, Cavan Walker, Sam Watson, Isabel Darvill
Under 16
1. Thomas Pidcock, Aire Valley
2. Harry Hardcastle, Kirklees
3. Reece Wood, Velocity
4. Cameron Orr, Matlock CC
5. Jake Beach, Velocity
6. Robert Scott, Pedalsport
7. Jamie Ridehalgh, Kirklees
8. Max Williamson, Bikebox
9. William Turnball, Marton RT
10. Ben Turner, Dinnington RC
by Anna Magrath | May 27, 2014
All images ©chrismaher.co.uk / Cycling Shorts.
Mould masters Durham as Raleigh return to podium
Twelve months on and at the same venue as their last team victory, Raleigh returned to the top step of the podium after an impressive Durham showing, but it was Jon Mould’s individual win that took the plaudits.
For the second time in five days the Welsh NFTO rider was involved in a thrilling final sprint with a Rapha Condor JLT rider, but, unlike in Aberystwyth, Mould came out on top, narrowly pipping Graham Briggs for the individual victory, his second of the 2014 Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
The pair had been part of the lead group of riders for much of the race, including perennial Durham favourite Kristian House and Raleigh duo Evan Oliphant and Matthieu Boulo, with all seeming to take their turn off the front at one point or other.
Come the last lap around Durham’s tough South Street circuit it was Mould and Briggs who were left in front, with Mould squeezing past Briggs for the victory, to add to his Round One win in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Newport rider was at the front throughout, winning all three Sprints to extend his lead over Briggs in the Sprints jersey to four points.
But NFTO couldn’t take the team prize, with next best placed rider Josh Hunt down in 16th position, instead it was Raleigh taking the honours thanks to Boulo outsprinting House for third, and Morgan Kniesky in sixth and Oliphant in ninth making sure of the honours.
With Liam Stones just outside the top ten in eleventh is was comfortably the best performance yet for the Heron and enough to give them the win over Rapha Condor JLT.
The men in black, although now far more accustomed to wearing the yellow and red of Pearl Izumi, stretch their Pearl Izumi Tour Series lead to 10-points overall as Madison Genesis had an evening to forget. Kiwi duo Mike Northey and Tom Scully took eighth and twelfth, but their all-important third counting rider was Tobyn Horton, way down in 39th.
As a result Madison Genesis finished sixth on the night as several other teams enjoyed their best performances of the 2014 season.
There was also further success for the young Great Britain team, with Chris Lawless recording the Costa Express Fastest Lap, early on in proceedings.
Highlights of the Durham round are on ITV4 at 10pm on Wednesday 28th May, with a repeat at 6.55am on Thursday 29th May.
Round Six sees The Pearl Izumi Tour Series make its debut in Edinburgh on Thursday 29th May, with the Matrix Fitness GP Series also resuming, for Round Three of the women’s events.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Tuesday 27 May 2014, Durham
Round Five Team Result
1) Team Raleigh
2) Rapha Condor JLT
3) Node4 Velosure
4) NFTO Pro Cycling
5) Metaltek Kuota
6) Madison Genesis
7) Starley Primal Pro Cycling
8) Pedal Heaven Colbornes
9) Great Britain
Round Five Individual Result
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
3) Matthieu Boulo, FRA, Team Raleigh
4) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
5) Marcin Bialoblocki, POL, Node4 Velosure
6) Morgan Kniesky, FRA, Team Raleigh
7) George Harper, GBR, Node4 Velosure
8) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis
9) Evan Oliphant, GBR, Team Raleigh
10) Steve Lampier, GBR, Node4 Velosure
Round Five Costa Express Fastest Lap: Chris Lawless, GBR, Great Britain,
Round Five Sprint Winner: Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Five
1) Rapha Condor JLT, 64pts
2) Madison Genesis, 54pts
3) NFTO Pro Cycling, 48pts
4) Team Raleigh, 47pts
5) Node4 Velosure, 34pts
6) Metaltek Kuota, 29pts
7) Great Britain, 27pts
8) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 22pts
9) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 17pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Five
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 44pts
2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 40pts
3) Tom Scully, NZL, Madison Genesis, 22pts
by Anna Magrath | May 22, 2014
Explore the World, One Ride at a Time
Cycling around the world is a feat that many cyclists aspire to, but the time that such challenges require away from work and family make them impossible for most ordinary riders.
Ride25 is changing all that with a new flexible approach which allows riders to complete a round the world trip in 25 stages, completed months apart, one tour at a time. Individuals, groups, charities and companies are all invited to take part in however many stages they like, starting wherever they please, whether that be one stage through continental Europe or all 25 from the UK to Australia.
The concept has been set up by Rob Hamilton and John Readman – friends, cyclists and travel enthusiasts. The idea came after Hamilton organised a UK to Australia ride for the African children’s charity 1morechild. He experienced an incredible response to it, which sparked a curiosity between the pair as to how many more people would want to ride across the world if the challenge was made more accessible and flexible for them – the idea for Ride 25 was born.
“Ride25 is all about ordinary people who love to ride, being able to see the world from their bikes, and not having to put their life on hold to do it,” explained Readman.
All the legs have been carefully planned to accommodate seasoned riders through to new starters taking on their first very first cycling challenge, with support along the way for everyone. Every tour along the way comprises 4 days’ cycling, with each day involving between 70-100 miles in the saddle.
However – Ride25 isn’t just about cycling, it’s about the whole travelling adventure. Hamilton and Readman have handpicked the routes to take in the most interesting
landscapes, sights and experiences across every country that Ride25 travels – it might not always make for the shortest routes from A to B, but they’re certainly the most exciting.
After each day’s sight-seeing in the saddle, there’s a relaxing environment at every base hotel to share the day’s experiences over a few drinks and an evening meal. It’s not a contest or a training camp, so riders can enjoy themselves – so much so that Ride25 even buys every rider’s first drink at the end of each day’s riding.
While all entrants are invited to use Ride25 as a platform to fundraise for charities close to their hearts, unlike many extreme cycling challenges, there’s no obligation to do so in order to take part – it’s all just about having fun.
Ride25 is donating a bike to an African community for every person that takes part in one of the 25 stages, through its corporate charity partner Re-Cycle, and the brand also raises up to £100,000 each year for the African children’s charity 1moreChild.
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