London to Paris Bike Ride 24-27 September 2009 Register 150 Minimum Sponsorship 1350 Ride with Laureus Academy member and 5-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain For more information visit www.laureus.com/foundation Sport has the Power to Change the World Laureus Patron Nelson Mandela
Please join us in using the power of sport to raise money for a worthy cause. The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation uses the power of sport to bring together children and young adults around the world, addressing their social issues such as gang and knife crime, depression and HIV / AIDS through a worldwide programme of sports related projects. We are offering you the opportunity to not only spend three days cycling from London to Paris to support a great cause, but also to ride with Laureus World Sports Academy member and five-time Tour de France winner, Miguel Indurain. The route will take you through the beautiful English countryside, across the Channel, via stunning vineyards and picturesque French villages before arriving, as the Tour de France winners do, for a celebratory finish at the Arc de Triomphe. The ride will set off from London on Thursday 24 September and arrive in Paris on Saturday 26 September. There will be a celebratory dinner in Paris on Saturday 26 September You will have Sunday 27 September free in Paris before taking the Eurostar home in the afternoon. You will be asked to cycle 226 miles over the 3 days. The longest ride is 100 miles, so you should try and make sure that you can ride something approaching this distance before you set off. When you enter we will give you a training pack, full of lots of helpful hints and tips, to help you prepare for the ride. Register for 150 Minimum Sponsorship 1350 Miguel Indurain - Laureus World Sports Academy member Miguel Indurain accomplished one of the greatest feats in cycling when he became the first man to win the Tour de France, the world s premier distance cycling event, five times in succession. At the time the only other cycling greats to have won the Tour five times were Jacques Anquetil, Eddie Merckx and Bernard Hinault, but none of them managed to post their wins in a row. His achievement has only ever been surpassed by Lance Armstrong. Indurain s extraordinary exploits made him one of Spain s greatest sportsman; his indomitable strength and the respect he showed both his fellow competitors and fans, made him one of the most popular cyclists of all time. Indurain, who was born in a small village in the Spanish province of Navarra, began cycling in his home region. He became a cadet cyclist under the Spanish federation in 78 and, as an amateur, was Spanish champion in 83. The following year, he turned professional, but had an inauspicious start, dropping out of the Tour in 85 and 86. However he improved year by year, eventually finishing 10th in 90. After his breakthrough win in 91, he went onto dominate the Tour over the next five years, propelling him to the position he now occupies in the annals of international cycling. In 94, Indurain set a world hour record of over 54 km/hr and, in 96 he won gold at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in the individual time trial. He is unequivocally one of the greatest cyclists of all time and this is your chance to ride with him!
Itinerary Day 1 London to Portsmouth London 100kms/63 miles 1200m Ascent We meet early on Thursday morning at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands, Weybridge. Following a short welcome meeting, we make our way out of town along small country roads to our lunch spot in the heart of rural Surrey. We pass through the prettiest of villages, along small roads, heading up and over the North Downs, to our tea break before dinner. Accommodation is in a local hotel in Portsmouth. Day 2 Caen to Bernay 100kms/63 miles 630m Ascent We take the 7am ferry departure from Portsmouth, having breakfast on board. We arrive in the village of Ouistreham, France, near Caen, before mid-day. We head off into the French countryside with a fabulous picnic lunch just a couple of hours away. As we pass tiny hamlets, rustic farmhouses and fields of horses we end our day s cycling in the historical town of Bernay, heralded for its medieval buildings. Day 3 Bernay to the Arc de Triomphe, Paris 163kms/100miles 1035m Ascent The final morning is another early start to give time for our 100 mile day! We pass fields of sunflowers and corn and stop for refreshments in tranquil little villages along the way. The route takes us past the large town of Evreux, before once again passing through the undulating hills towards the Palace of Versailles, former home of the French Monarchy. We rest here before embarking on the last leg of the journey that will take us all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, Paris. We celebrate our ride with dinner at a restaurant in Paris. Paris Day 4 Free Day! Make the most of all that Paris has to offer before taking the Eurostar back to St Pancras at 4pm. Travel times to other European destinations may vary. DIFFICULTY This isn t an easy ride, but then it wouldn t be a challenge if it was! Cyclists of all abilities should feel free to sign up - this event has been specifically designed to cater for all abilities, whatever your speed, endurance or experience. The participants will be divided into groups according to the speed with which they feel comfortable riding at. Each group will have it s own guide to show the riders the way, provide support and offer motivation. As with any challenge, the more you put into it the more you will get back! This is true for the training, fundraising and for the event itself. Experience tells us that you will have a great deal more fun if you are fully prepared for the event. In addition, if you choose to get involved, we will send you a whole host of ideas on how to get fit and a training schedule to help you prepare for the big day. B TERRAIN The terrain generally consists of some gentle rolling hills and some long flat sections. However, there are some substantial hills, on the first day in particular. We would therefore recommend practicing a few hill climbs before the event, not least because they help with all round fitness. All riding will take place on roads, so road bikes are recommended. However, the ride can (and has) been carried out on hybrid and mountain bikes. When you sign up we will send you a full equipment list, including details on the type of bike you will need and other accessories that will make your ride more comfortable and enjoyable.
Costs Registration/deposit If you would like to register you will need to send us a 150 non refundable deposit by 1st August 2009. Minimum sponsorship: The minimum sponsorship amount that we ask you to raise is 1350. Please note there is no maximum amount you can get sponsored for. Every penny you raise over the cost of the event will go to help Laureus funded projects. Once you register we will send you a fundraising pack, designed to give you lots of handy hints and tips to raise the most money you can. Deadlines If you would like to take part we will need the following amounts by the given times: Deposit: 150 by 1 st August 2009 Remaining balance: 1 st September 2009 Price includes: 3 nights accommodation (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen Eurostar from Paris to London St Pancras All food from morning snack on Day 1 to breakfast on day of departure Celebratory dinner Guides at a ratio of 1 per team of 10 people Medic support Support vehicles Luggage transfers between accommodations Mechanic support Price does not include: Bike and other cycling equipment Drinks with meals Personal insurance Bike insurance Lunch on free day in Paris Accommodation options: You will be staying in mainly 2/3* hotels. We will ask all participants to share a room. If you know who you would like to share with, before the ride commences, please let us know and we will do our best to arrange this. If you would prefer some peace and quiet we can arrange a single room for you for an additional single supplement.
FAQ FAQ 1. How fit do I need to be? You should have a basic level of fitness, which will allow you to be cycling about 6-8 hours each day over three days. Please read the itinerary carefully to make sure you know what it entails. There is a Training Programme available for you to follow. There will be stops for lunch, drinks, photographs, etc. 2. What if I am not fit enough to keep up? We will split people up into smaller groups of similar fitness levels so that everyone is cycling with a group of a similar standard. There will therefore be faster and slower groups. There will be experienced guides and the ride organiser who will be able to take care of you and encourage you to get to your next destination. 3. What equipment will I need? You will need to bring your own bike (we recommend a road bike or alternatively a hybrid or mountain bike with slick tyres), helmet, bottles, and cages. You may also want to have a saddle bag or bar bag to carry your essential items. You will need a suitcase/holdall and a separate day bag (backpack), which will be transported by vans. You will also need a light waterproof/windproof top. 4. What will I need to carry each day? Each day you will need to carry your sunscreen, water, camera, a light top, money, etc. You will occasionally be able to access your day bag at some of the rest stops, however you should not rely on accessing this at all times and therefore you should make sure you carry essential items on your person. Your other luggage will be transported separately to your hotel each day. You should not rely on being able to access this before you get to the hotel in the evening. Your lunches and refreshment stops will be provided at fixed points. 5. What is the accommodation like? Each night will be spent in very comfortable 2-3* hotels. The rooms will be twins and occasionally triples or quads. Single rooms can be requested for an additional supplement. If you are travelling on your own, we will pair you up with a person of a similar age and the same sex. 6. What are the other participants like? Participants come from a whole host of backgrounds but all are united by a common cause: they are like-minded people who have chosen to give up their personal time to fundraise, train and to go on a unique event which will benefit the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. 7. What will the weather be like? You should have warm days and slightly cooler evenings. This being England, there is, of course, a chance of rain. Temperatures can range from mid teens c to mid 30 c. 8. Can you cater for disabilities? If you have a note from your doctor that states you are fit and able to do this event, then we will welcome you on the event. 9. Who will be looking after me on the event? To give you the safety levels you deserve, we will operate a policy of having one guide looking after 10 participants all of a similar standard. The guides on the event are all English speaking, with extensive years experience of bike mechanics and guiding. There will be at least one first aid qualified ride organiser and a medic. 10. Can I extend my stay? Yes, but if you decide to extend your stay you will forfeit your return journey on the Eurostar and will have to purchase another ticket at your own expense. Unfortunately we cannot help you with accommodation for your extension. If you are extending your trip, please advise us of this. 11. What are your top tips for this trip? There is no replacement for training and spending time in the saddle. The more you train the more you will enjoy the trip. Do your body a favour by building up to distances, which will increase your stamina and muscle strength. If you are going to spend money on clothing buy a technical breathable waterproof jacket that will last you for years. If you have any further questions, please contact Tom Soper: tom.soper@laureus.com / 0207 514 2799
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation The goal of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people around the world. Sometimes sport is the only language they understand. The only way to reach them. We fund sports projects on every continent which break down social barriers and bring young people together. Inspired by our Patron Nelson Mandela, we go into our second decade focused on our mission: to bring hope where there is despair, to bring reconciliation where there is conflict; and to bring a brighter future for countless young people around the world. The Foundation supports over 65 projects in 28 countries worldwide and since its inception 10 years ago has improved the lives of over one million children. This work is carried out through its Global Foundation and a growing network of nine subsidiary National Foundations in Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. www.laureus.com/foundation