24/06/2023: Tour de France countdown (T - 5 days)

andygriffin2023
Jun 21, 2023
2 min read

So with just 5 days to go, having spent my entire professional life working in IT and technology, I've chosen this very moment to setup and become a social media star - old dog, new tricks right???

For those who know me I have probably already bored you countless times already with my forthcoming cycling exploits, but for those arriving here from "The Gram", "The Twitter" or just by mistake, I will explain below in a level of detail that can be matched to your available time, what I am doing.

No time to spare - read here

Ride my bike a very long way to fundraise and promote an amazing charity supporting disadvantaged young people (William Wates Memorial Trust)

Eat huge amounts of food, probably cake

Spare 2 mins - interesting facts

Starting on 24th June 2023, one week before the professionals, I am attempting to cycle the entire 2023 Tour de France route for charity.

According to media reports and data it is the hilliest Tour de France ever.

21 days cycling in 23, covering the exact same route that the superstars like Tom Pidcock, Tadej Pogacar, Mark Cavendish, Wout Van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard will undertake a week later.

Eat huge amounts of food, definitely cake, probably chocolate

Grab a coffee and settle in...

I am cycling Le Loop, which is an event that follows the exact 21 day route of the 2023 Tour de France

Participants can choose the number of stages they undertake and foolishly, over-confidently, and most definitely now, worryingly, I am tackling the entire Tour de France route that the professionals will ride. Some simple facts which will put it into perspective are:

21 days cycling out of 23 (up to 11 hours per day)
3,500km (equivalent of London to Cairo)
Nearly 50,000m of elevation / climbing
>185,000 calories burnt
Try and consume 185,001 calories via cake, croissants, cheese and rice

I love bikes and mountains, but until now the mountains involved snow and après-ski, and the bikes involved engines - all that is about to change...

Why am I doing this?

To raise funds for the William Wates Memorial Trust - WWMT.

I see myself as hugely fortunate, privileged and lucky in the opportunities that I have had, but it is all too easy to take these for granted.

WWMT's mission is to help the most disadvantaged young people keep away from a life of crime and violence and fulfil their potential. This is achieved by providing grants and opportunities through sport, arts and education – it has and will literally save young people’s lives.

How is this possible?

Simply put, the support provided by my family (partner Karen, our boys Harrison, Jude, Josh and Ethan, as well as parents) is the sole reason this challenge could even be contemplated - without their support and encouragement it doesn't get off the ground.

Added to this is my fantastic employer, Altus Group, who not only have encouraged and supported me on this journey financially, but have provided some go-faster Lycra that I will be proudly rocking.