The spring 2009 challenge was to individual riders to cycle 500 miles climbing over 12000 meters from Bordeaux to Chateauneuf du Pape over seven days raising a minimum of £250 for charity.  It was a huge success with everyone enjoying the superb scenery and demanding route and it raised £25,000 for a range of charities.

Participants flew from Gatwick to Bordeaux on the Sunday morning meeting the Marshal’s van with their bikes. Over the next seven days, they rode through the Midi region of southern France, along the river Dordogne, past the premier French “site” of Rocamadour before crossing the southern Massif Central rounding Puy Mary before heading south east over more mountains, past lakes and through amazing gorges to the Avignon Popes’ summer palace at Chateauneuf du Pape.

The daily rides ranged from 75 - 80 miles with  significant climbing on days 3, 4, 5 and 6.   Much of the route was quite high circa 1000 meters, and it was certainly challenging.  We cycled 535 miles over seven days climbing over 12,000 meters, and every penny of sponsorship was hard earned.