In September 2012 ‘LTDC’ embarked on its first big event, a gruelling 165mile cycle from London to Paris. Most official cycle events do this in 3-5 days, not the tour, they aimed for 24 hours. The event attracted 29 riders who after months of training around Richmond Park became a peloton to be reckoned with. On some stretches of French roads the locals were heard to be whispering “I didn’t realise they moved Le Tour to September?!”. They didn’t, there is a new tour on the block.
The first stretch from Buckingham Palace to the outskirts of London saw the peloton cruise past hoards of screaming schoolchildren looking for high fives from “Team GB” (no need to correct them), followed by a battle with London’s motorists as they edged their way into the countryside. The inevitable first crash happened about 40miles in where one rider, chortling at another’s misfortune of a puncture, ploughed straight into the back of another rider and the first blood was drawn.
All patched up, the peloton edged southwards. Ably led by the lead navigator they wound their way along chilly back roads bolstered by a team spirit that only the lads of LTDC can possess. It was on the hilly outskirts of the Newhaven ferryport where the first signs of tiredness kicked in, the peloton became stretched along miles of dual carriageway and in the pitch black with howling winds and scant visibility it was every chopper for himself. Upon arrival in Newhaven a local pub had been placed on high alert and the riders trickled in to find a feast of carbs awaiting them. The swift mandatory pint was raised and then downed and the boys were aboard the ferry.
A mere 3 hours later at 3am the alarms sounded, DOMS set in, bodies ached, dubious creams emerged from backpacks and the peloton geared up for their most brutal stage yet. As they emerged from the warmth of the ferry the riders were hit with bitter French winds and the sobering pitter-patter of rain. Their fears were to become a reality. The boys faced their biggest challenge yet, a 4 hour cycle in the pitch black and freezing cold along a disused railway line in the driving rain. The spirit of Le Tour shone through at this point, riders took it in turns to lead at the front whilst gents in the middle of the pack plucked out iPhones and cranked up the sounds of One Direction for a team sing-along! The sight of the French sun rising couldn’t have been more of a welcoming sight, the gloves and jackets came off as warmth seeped back into the riders bodies and the prospect of the pre-arranged croissants and hot chocolate loomed at a local bakery.
After our French friends had suitably refuelled the peloton they were back on their way in the glorious sunshine. What followed was a long yet fantastic ride as the lads hit silly speeds and ploughed through miles of the beautiful French countryside. As the peloton came within sight of Paris’ suburbs an extra kick was found and the dash to the Eiffel Tower was on. Never before has the Champs Elysee seen 29 cowboys covered in pink lycra cruising down it, but they did that day and boy did the locals love it. Cars tooted, pedestrians held out sweets, cameras were drawn.. forget wiggo, Le Tour De Chop had arrived.
The peloton pulled up in the shadow of the great Tower, dismounted from their bikes, hugged (some kissed, no names), and the elation of finally arriving kicked in. There was one final thing to tick off though; each rider made their way to the support van to grab their pre-purchased bottle of bubbly, what followed was an eruption of fizz, some unsuspecting tourists getting a Moet shower and a lot of hazy memories from there on.
The Route
This year, the tour took an unconvential route from London, the historic capital of the UK, through to the city of Love and romance – Paris. Starting at Buckingham Palace the riders cruised through London passing many iconic landmarks, into the rolling hills of Surrey on their way down to the seaside town of Newhaven on the beautiful south coast of the UK.
An overnight ferry crossing landed the riders in the port of Dieppe, known for its scallops and 15th Century caste. After making their way through the winding streets and backroads and into the open country, the riders then had over 100 miles of French country side to travel, before arriving in France’s capital late afternoon on the Saturday, whilst stopping off on route to take in the view, some good pub grub and a few 1664’s to fuel their finely tuned engines.
