Wednesday 20 July 2016

Tour de France Challenge.

Our very own Stef and Phil have recently returned from the French Alps having undertaken a cycling challenge. It was all for a fabulous cause raising money for the children's charity Action Medical Research. The two chaps took on multiple mountain climbs, made famous by the Tour de France, over three days and the reports back are that it was tough with temperatures in the high 30s and climbs up to 26km long!
Stef managed to take some great photo's and even the odd movie or two and if you fancy seeing what his fast decent of the final mountain Alpe d'Huez looks like then follow this link. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgK6JI_R4PA

Stef and Phil (2nd and 3rd from left) pose for a group photo next to lake Annecy before their day one depart. 70 miles and two big mountains lay ahead with temperatures hitting 39 degrees!! 
Formation riding up the Col de Aravis heading towards the ski station of La Clusaz. 
Phil crests the Aravis.....
and poses for the standard photo!
Day two and heading up the Col de Madeleine at a mere 26kms long.
 A typical shot of a high hairpin bend on the Madeleine.
Stef at the top. 
Phil leads the way on day three as we tackle the fearsome Col du Galibier with it's stunning scenery and steep gradients. 

The group together as the altitude grows. 
With a couple of kms to go the scenery changes once again and reflects just how high the chaps were heading. 
Stef having thrown on a few warm layers stands at the top.
Just the small matter of the decent awaits!! 
Stef makes it up to the Tour de France finish up Alpe d'Huez and its 21 hairpin bends. Tough way to get up a mountain but incredibly rewarding. Watch his decent here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgK6JI_R4PA