Tour de France Special Events
Over the course of the Grand Depart weekend, our Regional Go-Ride Staff helped to support events run by other Tour de France partners, including; ASO 20:20 and Nestle NESQUIK’s La P’Tite Boucle.
The ASO are the organisers of the Tour de France, as well as several other major races on the professional calendar. This year the ASO organised for 8 young riders, aged between 15 and 18, to ride over the first and last 20km of each stage. For the first stage into Canterbury, 8 riders were selected from Team Darenth and Sutton CC. Both clubs are Go-Ride Clubmark Accredited clubs and are based close to the route.
The riders; Samantha Bryant, Kurt Warner, Mark Baldwin, Joe Weatherall (all Team Darenth), Jack Donovan, Charles Parkinson, Brian Randall, and Alex Ward (all Sutton CC); met at the publicity caravan parking area and were presented on the podium vehicle to the local crowds. They then cycled over the first 20km of the stage route just a few hours before the pro peleton started their journey over the very same 20km. At the end of their journey, riders were collected by AG2R vehicles and driven, to a point around 20km from the end of the stage. They quickly collected their bikes and were off again to cycle over the final kilometres into Canterbury in front of the biggest crowds any bike race has ever experienced in the UK.
The day was a fantastic experience for all the riders who took part. By the time the riders had set off, the crowds were 4 or 5 people deep at every point along the route. There are few opportunities for pro riders to experience such support in the UK, so our young Go-Ride club members really were privileged. On their arrival into Canterbury, they were taken onto the Tour de France podium for a photo opportunity in front of the spectators that had massed around the finish line. The participants then took their place in the VIP area to watch the stage finish.
La P’Tite Boucle took place on the final kilometre of most of the road stage at this year’s Tour de France. The event was split into two age group races, one for 9 riders born in 1995/6 and one for 9 riders born in 1997/8. The winner of each race was rewarded with opportunity to go to Paris to compete over the final kilometre on the Champs-Elysees, just before the professionals sprint for victory! Travel and accommodation for each rider is paid for by Nestle and the winner on the Champs-Elysees even gets a Giant road bike.
La P’Tite Boucle in Canterbury was a race between 18 young riders from our 5 Go-Ride Clubmark Accredited clubs across the South East. It took place just hours before the pro peleton came flying into the finish, allowing the young riders to demonstrate their racing skills in front of an appreciative crowd.
The races in Canterbury were won by Daniel Forster from Preston Park Youth, and Sam Maslen from Team Darenth, who will now have the opportunity to race over the final kilometre of the Champs-Elysees. Nestle will pay for the rider and up to two adults to travel to Paris, stay in a hotel, and watch the race finish. Hopefully, Daniel and Sam will be the fifth and sixth British riders to reach Paris this year alongside Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, Charles Wegelius, and Geraint Thomas.
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish Daniel and Sam the best of luck.
In recent years, Cycling has gone from strength to strength in the UK. The Olympic success of the Great British Squad has certainly played its part, but it’s now important for us to capitalise on the impact the Tour de France had when it set off from London and increase the opportunities in cycling for young people.
