Audlem 'Tour de France' stage

Four members of Audlem Cycling Club – Philip Hesketh, Ed Chatwin, Tim Reeves and Rob Valentine – are taking part in this year's Etape Du Tour. It's a timed event over a stage of the actual Tour De France. The route covers 172km (107 miles) from Montelimar with four cols to climb plus a finish on one of France's most famous mountains, Mont Ventoux.

Ventoux was the mountain where the British cyclist Tom Simpson died in 1967 (under the influence of drugs) with the infamous last words "put me back on my bike." There is a monument to him beside the road to the summit.

The route takes in some of the best Provencal countryside – however, the riders do not have much time to look at the views as there is a time limit in which to complete the course. Riders who fall behind the schedule are unceremoniously removed from the ride.

Given the Audlem boys don't want to end up in the broom wagon, they have been putting in some extra miles recently to ensure success.

Allez Les Audlems

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